I tend to think of the universe as a naughty, dirty place but don’t believe that pure evil exists except when it’s time to do laundry. The frustrating tedium of gathering, sorting, pre-treating, washing, drying, hanging, and folding squarely qualifies as a descent into an known unknown rung of hell. Invariably a sock or headband will disappear or an expensive, silky unmentionable will wind up in too hot a wash cycle. The worst case scenario, linens will not smell boutique hotel-fresh, and gym clothes will smell as if they live at the gym. The old-school standbys, harsh detergents and chlorine bleach help a bit, while polluting the environment and wrecking sustainably sourced cotton tees.
It’s high time for next-level laundry solutions. Dirty Labs, a Portland-based cleaning innovations lab launched with this specific mission in mind – to create forward-looking, sustainable solutions that clean and freshen laundry more efficiently than the common petrochemical-derived detergents. Using cutting-edge green chemistry, Dirty Labs has formulated a cleansing system from bio-renewable alternatives, similar to the actives and ingredient attentiveness seen in skincare, to leave your wash spick-and-span.
Instead of harsh sulfates, Dirty Labs’ cleansing system is derived from Phytolase, their proprietary 5-in-1 cleaning technology. It combines the most advanced
bioenzymes and biobased ingredients to deliver turbo cleaning power that will rival, if not exceed, typical laundry detergents without the toxic chemicals and pollutants. Phytolase, similar to our favorite facial enzymes like papain, digests layers of dirt and detritus, even coffee and oil stains. As I said, Dirty Labs is on par with a deep-cleaning facial for your laundry.
For optimal results, bright, clean, and crisp-smelling laundry, the brand suggests combining its liquid Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent with the 4-in-1 Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster Powder. The liquid detergent is available in an unscented Free & Clear, Signature Scent (Magnolia, Bergamot, and Cedar), and the newest Japanese-inspired scent, Murasaki (Jasmine, Matcha, and Vetiver). Each metal, not plastic, canister delivers enough ultra-concentrated cleaning solution for 32 normal-sized loads, free of the ickies – sulfates, parabens, dyes, and phthalates. In the final coup de grâce, it’s even formulated to work in cold water. The liquid detergent is kicked up a notch by the cleansing enzyme-rich powder placed in the laundry drum for direct, immediate contact with the washing.
I had to put this enzyme-based liquid and powder to the test. The first time I used the Dirty Labs solution, I couldn’t decide on which to try. Both the Murasaki and Signature versions deliver clean, non-synthetic scents on par with my favorite luxury, indie fragrances. I decided upon Murasaki for clothes and Signature for linens. After a few 90-minuted Tracy Anderson-inspired sculpt and cardio sessions, I set my malodorous gym clothes on a cold-water cycle for synthetics. In they went with a scoop of powder directly in the basin and a half cap of the Jasmine and Matcha scented liquid – no additional odor-reducing pre-treatment or rinse as I usually do. When finished, I braced for a bouquet of workouts past that always seem to linger. No trace of sweat, just a light powdery whiff of cleanliness. As for linens… The light citrus aroma of bergamot is the perfect accompaniment to refreshed, soft sheets and pristine towels. Your laundry will feel just like you do after a facial, rejuvenated, immaculate, and ready for the next round of whatever dirtiness you have planned.
