Hi

many years ago there was a laundry powder called Ariel in the UK.

It was called "biological" and I think it had an enzyme in it.

I still remember dear old Mum saying

"You just soak difficult clothes in a bowl for the night then you can just squeeze out the stain in the morning."

(Normally of course you would use a washing machine)

So missus just took a mattress protector off a bed which has nothing nasty.......good condition......except for a general cream staining.

Is there a Thai equivalent to Mum using Ariel so we can get it looking fresh again?

We need enzymes!

Thanks

ps on having the sense to Google I see Ariel came out in 1967 and was the first to use enzymes.

I can vaguely remember health warnings in Europe for some "bio" cleaning products...

Don't remember clearly enough if it was serious or not though

Haven't heard that term used in ages to advertise a cleaning product though

hmmmm.....

Many of the "OXY" type of stain removers contain, in addition to peroxide based bleach, a good detergent plus enzymes (referred to on the label as "protease").

Big C sell their own brand in an orange plastic tub which works very well for overnight soaking and is competitive in price, but any of those "oxy" type stain removers will do , as long as they contain "protease". The absolute cheapest ones don't.

Edited August 7, 201510 yr by partington

Oh well Thai Visa seems to have morphed into a cross between Women's institute Good Housekeeping, Travel agency etc etc.

Anyway, the enzymes in detergents are exacted from thermophilic bacteria - the sort of thing that grows in hot springs . Generally enzymes are denatured above 40C - but these will still function at higher temperatures .

To be honest I have not a clue if the standard powders you buy at Tesco etc have them- my tip is buy the most expensive powder, for whites add Vanish and use a hot wash.

My cleaning team change sheets every week and wash the mattress cover every two weeks- always sparkling white!

If one is concerned with the environmental repercussions of toxicity, my advice is to Google it..you can make your own. The great thing is that all you need readily available in Tesco Lotus or similar.

Many of the "OXY" type of stain removers contain, in addition to peroxide based bleach, a good detergent plus enzymes (referred to on the label as "protease").

Big C sell their own brand in an orange plastic tub which works very well for overnight soaking and is competitive in price, but any of those "oxy" type stain removers will do , as long as they contain "protease". The absolute cheapest ones don't.

I'll go to big c ASAP.

I can't imagine anything else working.

Anything else worth buying there?

Think they have a good deal on muesli.

ps in case no one noticed Australia all out in 93 minutes.

Oh well Thai Visa seems to have morphed into a cross between Women's institute Good Housekeeping, Travel agency etc etc.

Anyway, the enzymes in detergents are exacted from thermophilic bacteria - the sort of thing that grows in hot springs . Generally enzymes are denatured above 40C - but these will still function at higher temperatures .

To be honest I have not a clue if the standard powders you buy at Tesco etc have them- my tip is buy the most expensive powder, for whites add Vanish and use a hot wash.

My cleaning team change sheets every week and wash the mattress cover every two weeks- always sparkling white!

Interesting hot spring information

I used what I thought of as 'Enzyme washing powder' in the 70's. I developed a skin condition and it took me some time to make the connection.

I used what I thought of as 'Enzyme washing powder' in the 70's. I developed a skin condition and it took me some time to make the connection.

Sorry to hear about that Cooked...

Two things come to mind.

1. Better rinsing

2. Mattress protector will not be next to skin.

Note to self:

Real men CAN talk laundry.

(Now remembering that a Viking was not a man if he could not sew)

Started so may as well finish:

From wiki

Controversy

It has been said that some people may be allergic to the enzymes which can be transferred to the skin when wet clothes that have just been cleaned with biological detergents are touched.[citation needed] The enzymes then restart the breakdown reaction on the skin—particularly protease. A study by a manufacturer found that "The biological products did not produce more irritation than the non-biological products, confirming that the addition of enzymes to a detergent formulation does not result in an increase in the skin irritation caused byprofile [sic] of the detergent."[4] A study by hospital dermatologists published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that "ultimately, the balance of all the enzymes in laundry detergents are not a cause of either skin irritation or skin allergy ... the supposed adverse effects of enzymes on the skin seem to be a consequence of mythology". Three of the authors of the paper had conflicts of interest relating to Unilever, which they declared.[5][6][7]

Started so may as well finish:

From wiki

Controversy

It has been said that some people may be allergic to the enzymes which can be transferred to the skin when wet clothes that have just been cleaned with biological detergents are touched.[citation needed] The enzymes then restart the breakdown reaction on the skin—particularly protease. A study by a manufacturer found that "The biological products did not produce more irritation than the non-biological products, confirming that the addition of enzymes to a detergent formulation does not result in an increase in the skin irritation caused byprofile [sic] of the detergent."[4] A study by hospital dermatologists published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that "ultimately, the balance of all the enzymes in laundry detergents are not a cause of either skin irritation or skin allergy ... the supposed adverse effects of enzymes on the skin seem to be a consequence of mythology". Three of the authors of the paper had conflicts of interest relating to Unilever, which they declared.[5][6][7]

Right, I got the allergy before I ever heard about potential effects. I was an idle student so maybe I didn't rinse.

Well ac couple of days ago I put two or three caps of Breeze (in Thai but it has Protease and Amylase so I thought I'd give it a try.

I told Missus Mum the idea was to leave it for 24 hours.

Half an hour later I found her scrubbing at it with something.

I asked what's happening.

She was using what looked like an extra long bar of soap.

She said it was special and it came from Mae Sai and it would get the stains out of this severely yellowed mattress protector.

I just cam back to the house and have learned missus put it in the machine.

She said something about maybe we'll try bleach.....so it may be errrr not perfect.

Will inspect tomorrow and report.

I know you're all waiting the results with bated breath.....