Yes lipase will work on body oils....lipase does not *remove* oils, but rather breaks them up allowing the surfactants and hot water to remove them.

Without igniting a debate on cold-water washes (you know where I stand in this), I wonder what chemical or enzyme P&G is hoping will remove body oils in detergents like Tide Coldwater. Since heat is out, what do they think will shift the oils/wax?

Alex...I'm not sure P&G has addressed the body oils being removed with their cold water detergent. I don't recall there being mention of it which wouldn't surprise me. I doubt most people out there even give body oils a thought.

Gross.

Consumer Reports detergent tests include dust/sebum or "ring around the collar". The detergents marked very good at dust/sebum removal are:

For HE and standard washers:

Persil ProClean Power-Liquid 2in1 (Walmart) liquid

Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release liquid

Tide HE Plus Bleach Alternative powder

Member's Mark Ultimate Clean (Sam's Club) laundry detergent liquid

Kirkland Signature Free & Clear laundry detergent liquid

Sears Ultra Plus Concentrated 9879 (Sears) laundry detergent powder

All Free Clear Oxi Active laundry detergent liquid

Legacy of Clean SA8 Laundry Detergent liquid

Purex Plus Oxi laundry detergent liquid

Pods/Packs:

All Mighty Pacs Oxi laundry detergent

Tide Pods laundry detergent

Wisk Deep Clean PowerBlasts laundry detergent

Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean Pacs (Costco) laundry detergent

All Mighty Pacs Stainlifter laundry detergent

Purex DirtLift Action UltraPacks laundry detergent

For standard top-loaders:

Tide Ultra Free & Gentle laundry detergent powder

Sebum is body oil. So, what's the experience here with these detergents in less than hot water? Do they get out body funk, or just the surface dirt of "ring around the collar"?

Doubt you will find many here that wash anything that contains body funk with less than hot water.

I also have absolutly no faith in what CR reports. I know they don't test in hot water.

IMO it takes hot or at least very warm to remove any type of oils.

I think you're right, MamaP, but that's exactly what I'm trying to prove or disprove. Can modern, cold-water detergents shift sebum by increasing the chemical and perhaps time elements? I don't think so, but I'd like to know for sure --- especially since I'm so vocal about washing sheets and any skin-facing items in warm/hot.

Beagle, what detergents contain lipase?

In theory, lipase in combination with a good surfactant could remove body oils in cool and perhaps even cold water.

Greeny...how so? What makes you think that?

Mama, it's only a theory of mine. Just googled the function of lipase...Lipase breaks down lipids (fats) to simpler molecules such as fatty acids and alcohols.

So with the addition of powerful surfactants it seems like it would be easy to wash away these broken down fats in cool or cold water, no?

@ littlegreeny, Ionly know of two, Persil 2&1 liquid and Persil powder.

@ Mamapinky, no worries on the highjacking.HAHA! I fully agree about warm and hot water. Although with my SQ warm is more tepid. Guess so many washing in cold explains the popularity of scent boosters and gastly scented detergents. YUCK

I am surprised Wisk liquid wasn't on CR's list. It's supposed to get the gunk out of clothes. But with my limited knowledge, I don't see anything in the ingredients and for the life of me I can't see All cleaning that good.

I would say TEST it...rub some butter into a rag..now put that in cold water along with a helping of Persil...see what happens.

I for sure believe colder temps 75-85F will clean much off of textiles, depending on detergent and Time...but I don't believe for a second anything less than very warm will remove oils. Theres really only one way of knowing this...use one set of sheets for several months and wash in cold water...but this is one test I'm NOT doing. LOL.

Mama, don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating cold water washing though I admit I use Tide coldwater for a few designer shirts that I want to last.

I wash virtually everything else in hot, well the dumbed down "hot" on my machine.