JLA customers will often get in touch to ask us which commercial laundry detergents work best with the washing machines in their laundry rooms.
As lots of factors can decide whether commercial bio or non-bio is right for you and the items you clean, we’ve pulled together this quick guide to help you understand the key differences and make more informed choices before you place your next order.
The biggest difference between bio and non-bio: enzymes
Biological detergents contain enzymes, which are naturally occurring proteins that help break down and clear away tougher stains like grease, fat, and starch. This makes bio detergents especially handy when it comes to removing food spills, body oils and stubborn grime, even at lower temperatures.
Non-bio detergents, on the other hand, don’t contain any enzymes, which makes them much gentler on sensitive skin and delicate fabrics. However, this means that using non-bio detergents might see you needing to use higher temperatures to achieve the same level of stain removal as bio detergents on a cooler wash.
What are the benefits of commercial bio detergent?
As well as being specially formulated to deep-clean items in ways that domestic detergents simply can’t, commercial biological detergents have a few performance advantages over non-bio detergents.
The obvious benefit of bio is that it generally removes tougher stains with more consistent results, including common staining from dirt, grease and fat. Bio detergents also perform much better than non-bio detergents at lower temperatures, leading to energy savings on every cycle, an improved carbon footprint, and reduced utility costs – ideal when you consider how often your commercial washers are used.
Where will you find commercial biological detergents?
Thanks to their power against grease, starch and other hard-to-clean stains, commercial bio detergents are trusted in a variety of catering and hospitality businesses, including hotels, pubs and restaurants. You’ll also find them being used by organisations that need to tackle a lot of ground-in dirt – think football clubs, factories and other industrial businesses.
What are the benefits of non-bio detergents?
People with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions can have negative reactions to the enzymes used in biological detergents. Non-bio detergents are therefore much kinder to the skin and less likely to cause irritation.
As commercial non-bio detergents are gentler, they’re also ideal for cleaning delicate fabrics like silk and wool, as these materials contain proteins which the enzymes of bio detergents can damage.
Where are non-biological detergents used?
In environments like schools and shared accommodation, where a variety of different people live, work or study, a non-bio detergent may be more suitable to accommodate those with more sensitive skin.
So which commercial detergent should I use?
The best choice for your business depends on the sector you’re working in, the needs of the individuals who’ll be using the items being washed, and the nature of stains and grime you come up against from day-to-day. In our experience, many businesses opt to have both types of detergents on hand, then make sure their staff are trained to choose the best option for the application.
The JLA Ultra detergents range
JLA’s Ultra laundry detergent range includes wash powders, conditioners, destainers, and emulsifiers, all developed to maximise the performance of your commercial washing machine.
In recent testing, our Ultra Bio Liquid Laundry Detergent outclassed third-party detergents in every category – providing improved stain removal and effective cleaning even at wash temperatures as low as 40°C. If you’re looking to browse and buy from the range, don’t forget that it’s easy to shop and set up a detergents subscription online in myJLA, our customer portal.
If you’d like more help from our experts, please get in touch today.
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