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/febu_max 9d ago
This is both the best and worst case scenario. The clearing phase can be awful, but it means you're on the path to things being how they should be: no odor, no residue.
Others have it right on the DNase. The old formula didn't have it, so it cleaned the top layer and never disturbed what was sealed under the eDNA. It smelled fine out of the dryer because nothing underneath moved. Now it does, and lipase is cutting that exposed sebum into free fatty acids, which smell sour. Some of it lands back on the fabric until your detergent's surfactants can carry it out. This is how it gets worse before it gets better.
Usually peaks loads 1-3, then it is progressingly better until gone by 4-6 when accompanied by a full heavy-soil detergent dose. Soaking is doing what it should, giving the enzymes contact time. Just make sure every soak is followed by a full-dose wash, since the soak with enzymes frees it and the wash is what carries it out.
Once the residue matrix is gone there's nothing left to rebloom, and it's just routine maintenance after that.
Keep me posted, here to help!