Are you a fan of black cotton clothing?
Then you know the challenge of keeping black and dark-colored cotton items looking vibrant and new wear after wear, especially if you machine-wash them. Fuzzing, pilling and dye transfer can make dark cottons look faded and old long before their time, so they get relegated to the back of the closet – or thrown away. That can be hard on the family clothing budget.
When the laundry care scientists at Amway realized they could help customers protect their wardrobe investment if they could slow down that aging process, they set to work.
“We know black and dark cottons are a perennial wardrobe staple for much of the world, and they’re especially prevalent in the greater China region,” said Phil Sliva, principal research scientist – Amway home care R&D. “So we began looking for technology that could help consumers extend the appearance of their newer dark cotton items in one economical, convenient and easy-to-use laundry solution.
“In addition to helping families save money, a solution that reduces the visible effects of machine washing could help slow the flow of these items into the waste stream,” Sliva said. “That’s good news for the environment.”
Sliva’s team developed a breakthrough detergent technology that preserves the appearance of dark cottons, and even improves the appearance of many dark cotton items that show fuzzing, pilling and fading from previous washings in other detergents.
The technology is used in a liquid laundry detergent that is now available in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and is expected to be available in Japan and Europe later this year. The product is SA8™ Black Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent with BIOQUEST™ formula exclusively from the Amway Home™ brand.
The technology is an advancement in the enzyme cellulase, which eliminates the tiny microfibrils that form on cotton fabrics in machine washing. It is these microfibrils that cause the fuzzing and pilling that make items look worn and faded.
“The enzyme breaks specific bonds in cotton molecules without meaningfully damaging or weakening the fabric, when used as directed,” said Sliva. “This effectively trims off the tiny microfibrils and microfibril ‘pills’ that form on cotton fabrics and make them look fuzzy and dull.”
The team paired the enzyme with a dramatically improved color protection polymer that keeps dyes in the fabric more effectively, preventing colors from fading (and from transferring to other clothes during washing – solving yet another laundry challenge). They added a chlorine neutralizer to eliminate color loss from sanitizing agents like chlorine that may be present in tap water, and pH buffering that protects fabric dyes that are sensitive to more alkaline or acidic cleaners.
In tests performed in Amway and supplier partner labs, black and dark-colored cotton clothes laundered with SA8™ Black Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent looked newer and more vibrant after repeated machine washings than items laundered the same number of times in other standard powder detergents.
Like all Amway laundry products, this new laundry liquid product is made with cleaning materials and surfactants extracted from natural resources like coconuts, naturally produced organic acids and fragrances derived from natural essential oils. It is biodegradable and contains no phosphates or chlorine, so it is gentle on the environment – yet it delivers powerful cleaning performance. It is dermatologist tested, so users can be assured it is safe for their families and won’t cause skin irritation when used as directed.
SA8™ Black Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent is one of many home care products from Amway that help conscientious families transform their homes for healthy living while caring for the environment.
“The latest developments in laundry care technology are specialty products that address specific needs to help consumers maximize their clothing investment,” said Sliva. “Our Amway Business Owners are great about keeping us apprised of their laundry care challenges. Their needs are our inspiration.”
