Laundry stains are mixtures, so a good detergent needs more than one trick. Surfactants lift soil; builders help in hard water; oxygen bleach tackles color bodies; and enzymes break large stains into smaller, washable pieces.
proteinAmylase
starchLipase
fats & oils
Why lipase?
Lipase targets fatty soils: cooking oil, sebum, collars, pillowcases, and the film that can hold onto odors. It is not magic, but it fills a gap that protein- and starch-focused enzymes do not.
Powders worth checking
- Ariel Original Powder — the current U.S. ingredient disclosure explicitly lists subtilisin and lipase.
- Tide Clean & Gentle Powder — an unscented powder whose current retail ingredient disclosures list lipase alongside protease and amylase.
- Alpiniå Labs Unscented Powder — a smaller-brand option listing six enzymes, including lipase.
Use it well
Follow the machine and package directions, dose for soil and water hardness, and avoid overfilling the drum. If powder struggles to dissolve in a cold, short cycle, use less, choose a longer cycle, or dissolve it first. Keep detergent closed and away from children and pets.
Formulas change. Check the ingredient panel on the exact box you are buying for “lipase,” especially when shopping through third-party sellers.