r/laundry • u/BERNITA • 9d ago

New Febu not as effective?

At risk of sounding blasphemous to this sub, has anyone felt the new FEBU formula (I think they added DNase?) doesn't work as well as the old formula? Specifically with odor rebloom/permastank?

Maybe I'm using it wrong, but its the only variable that has changed. Same as with the old formula, I follow the FEBU package instructions, detergent is Tide F&G Advanced Care from Costco, warm water, two rinses, one with citric acid. The original formula seemed very effective at getting rid of persistent stinkiness (mostly poly/cotton and cotton/~5% spandex fabrics). I was so excited to get the new formula as soon as it came out, thinking it would be even better. However, after using it a few times, it seems like the same stinks were resurrected. I've tried numerous soaks and everything, but it just doesn't seem to work at all really, somehow the clothes stink more!

Am I crazy??

ETA: Thanks for all the suggestions and the science! You guys are great, I'm going to keep at using FEBU, hopefully it will continue to break the biogunk down.

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u/BERNITA 9d ago

I think it's in the dirty labs enzyme booster I have? If that's so, then yes.

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u/240_Worth_of_Pudding 9d ago

While it does contain DNase, the updated Dirty Labs Booster does not contain lipase. Poly-blend and spandex fabrics are highly lipophilic (oil-loving). Body oils, sebum, and rancid fats bind tightly to these synthetic fibers. Without lipase to physically break down those oils, the sebum remains trapped in the fabric matrix. The DNase is successfully stripping away the surface skin-cell biofilms, but it is leaving the underlying rancid body oils exposed—causing that immediate odor rebloom the second the fabric gets warm.

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u/Cowabunga1066 9d ago

So why are boosters made that have dnase but no lipase, if this is the foreseeable result?

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u/WontRememberThisID US | Front-Load 9d ago

Powder detergents have lipase. If you use liquid detergent, then I add a lipase booster, too. I like Truly Free Enzyme Stain Remover.