What Is an Enzyme Laundry Booster? How It Works and When to Use It
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An enzyme laundry booster is a powder you add to the wash alongside your detergent. It contains enzymes that digest the organic stuff detergent tends to leave behind: sweat, food, grease, grass and the odors that come with them.
That's the short answer. The longer one is more useful, because "booster" gets used for a lot of different products and most of them aren't doing the same job.
How enzymes clean differently than detergent
Detergent works on dirt mechanically. It surrounds grime and lifts it off the fabric so the water can carry it away. That handles most of what's in a normal laundry load.
Enzymes work chemically. Each one is built to break down one kind of molecule, so a stain that's stubborn for detergent can be easy for the right enzyme. Think of them as scissors cutting a big sticky stain into pieces small enough to rinse out.
Different stains need different enzymes:
- Protease targets proteins like sweat, blood, grass and baby formula. Papain, from papaya, is a protease.
- Amylase targets starches, like food and mud.
- Lipase targets fats, oils, grease and makeup.
- Cellulase works on cotton fibers and helps keep fabric from looking gray and dull.
- Bromelain, from pineapple, is another protein-digesting enzyme. We include it for deodorant buildup and yellowing.
A booster with a single enzyme handles one category. Our Natural Enzyme Laundry Booster uses all five (papain, bromelain, amylase, lipase and cellulase), because a real laundry basket has all of those stains in it at once.
What's actually in it
The enzymes are only part of the formula. Here's the full ingredient list, since I think you should be able to read it: Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Percarbonate, Enzyme Blend (Papain, Bromelain, Amylase, Lipase, Cellulase), Maltodextrin and Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil.
In plain terms, baking soda and washing soda give the wash the right alkalinity and cut grease. Sodium percarbonate is an oxygen-based whitener, so there's no chlorine bleach. Sodium citrate softens water. Maltodextrin is a plant-derived carrier that helps protect the enzymes, and lavender essential oil is the only scent.
The formula runs at a pH of 8.5 to 9.2, which is the range where these enzymes stay active. It's also why the booster works in cold water. Hot water can break enzymes down early, so a formula built for a gentler range does more of its work during the wash.
Is it the same as laundry detergent?
No, and you don't use it instead of detergent. It's an add-on. Detergent (or our Natural Laundry Soap) handles the everyday cleaning, and the booster goes after what's left. The two are built to work as a system. For the rest of it, see the coconut-free laundry routine, explained.
It's also not the same as a stain stick. A stain stick is a pre-treater you rub on a spot before the garment goes in the machine. The booster goes in the wash, or into a soak or paste. Both are useful, and they cover different moments.
When a booster is worth using
Protein buildup doesn't rinse out with soap alone. It accumulates load after load, which is why towels and activewear can smell off even straight out of the wash. I reach for the booster when something is going on that detergent alone doesn't fix:
- Workout clothes, work clothes and towels that still smell after washing
- Whites and light colors that have gone dull
- Food, grass, sweat and baby formula stains
- Pillowcases and bedding with body oils built up
If your laundry comes out clean and smells fine, you don't need it every wash. A load of lightly worn dress clothes probably doesn't need it. A week of workout gear almost always does.
What it can't do
Enzymes only work on organic stains. They won't do much for ink, rust or dye transfer. And because several of them break down protein, I'd skip it on silk and wool, which are protein fibers themselves.
On delicate or worn-thin fabrics, skip long soaks. And don't mix it with chlorine bleach or other cleaners.
How to use it
- Everyday boost: 1 to 2 tablespoons in the drum before the clothes go in.
- Stain fighting: Mix 1 teaspoon with warm water into a paste, let it sit 15 minutes, then wash with 2 tablespoons of booster added.
- Whitening or odor: 2 to 3 tablespoons for dingy whites or smelly loads. It's safe for colors when used as directed.
- Deep soak: Dissolve 2 tablespoons in warm water, soak for 30 minutes, then wash normally.
A few handling notes: avoid breathing the powder, keep the bag closed, and keep it away from children and eyes. Stored cool and dry, it holds its enzyme activity for 24 months.
If you want the deeper how-to, we have guides on using it on every fabric type and a stain removal guide.
Is it coconut-free and fragrance-free?
It's coconut-free. There's no coconut oil and no coconut-derived ingredients in it. It does contain lavender essential oil and no synthetic fragrance, dyes, optical brighteners, phosphates or sulfates. If you're fragrance-sensitive, start with the lower amount and add an extra rinse. Coconut-free is a formulation choice, not a medical guarantee, so check the ingredient list against your own needs.
Questions We Actually Get Asked
What does an enzyme laundry booster do?
It adds enzymes to your wash that break down organic stains and odors, like sweat, food, grease and grass. It works alongside your detergent, not in place of it.
Can I use an enzyme booster every wash?
You can, using 1 to 2 tablespoons per load. Many people save it for loads that need extra help, like workout clothes, towels and stained items.
Does an enzyme booster work in cold water?
Ours does. The formula runs at a pH of 8.5 to 9.2, which keeps the enzymes active through the wash instead of breaking down early.
Is an enzyme booster the same as OxiClean?
Not exactly. Oxygen whiteners like sodium percarbonate brighten fabric. An enzyme booster adds enzymes that digest stains and odors, and ours includes sodium percarbonate too, so it does both jobs.
What shouldn't I use an enzyme booster on?
Skip long soaks on delicate or worn-thin fabrics, and I'd avoid silk and wool, which are protein fibers. Enzymes also won't remove ink, rust or dye transfer.
Can I use the enzyme booster with the coconut-free laundry soap?
Yes. The booster is coconut-free and works with either laundry soap. They're built to work together as a system.
Make It a Habit
If you go through it every few weeks, Subscribe & Save handles the reorder for you. You can also see everything it pairs with in the Natural Laundry collection.
Detergent gets most of your laundry clean. A booster is for the rest.
