Dreft Stage 1: Newborn Liquid Detergent

This is a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent powered by a multi-surfactant complex and a triple-enzyme blend engineered for deep stain removal and fabric care.

Performance Rating: 9.2

This detergent features an exceptionally potent formulation driven by a robust multi-surfactant cleaning system that combines anionic agents like Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate with nonionic C10-16 Alketh and amine oxide to effectively tackle tough grease and oily soils. Its cleaning power is significantly enhanced by a comprehensive multi-enzyme complex containing subtilisin, amylase, and cellulase, which systematically breaks down protein and starch stains while caring for fabric fibers. Supported by Sodium Citrate and Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate for water softening, alongside alkoxylated polyethyleneimines to halt soil redeposition, it delivers outstanding stain removal and overall wash performance.

Safety Rating: 7.1

The safety profile reflects a typical conventional detergent balance between cleaning strength and mildness. The formula benefits from safer modern builders like Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, which is readily biodegradable. However, the reliance on concentrated surfactants such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Alkylbenzenesulfonate creates moderate potential for skin and eye irritation. Furthermore, the presence of synthetic fragrances, active enzymes, and the preservative Benzisothiazolinone poses potential risks for contact allergy or sensitization in sensitive individuals. Despite these standard formulation concerns, the product remains devoid of severe environmental toxins or outdated harsh builders.

Final Rating: 8.4

Altogether, this formulation stands out as a highly capable, heavy-duty cleaning solution that maintains an acceptable safety standard for everyday use. Its combination of advanced enzymes, diverse surfactants, and specialized anti-redeposition polymers ensures remarkable cleaning efficacy against a wide variety of stubborn stains. While users prone to skin sensitivities or allergies should exercise standard caution due to the presence of fragrances and isothiazolinone preservatives, the overall ingredient composition represents a modern, efficient, and well-stabilized design that comfortably satisfies demanding laundry care needs.

Verdict

This formula represents an exceptionally potent cleaning system anchored by a robust combination of anionic and nonionic surfactants, including Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Together with C10-16 Alketh and amine oxide, this surfactant matrix delivers outstanding detergency capable of dissolving stubborn grease, body oils, and heavy particulate soils. The addition of fatty acid soaps and sodium cumenesulfonate ensures balanced sudsing and uniform formula stability, making the detergent effective across a wide variety of water temperatures and wash cycles.

A standout strength of this product is its targeted multi-enzyme complex, which features Subtilisin (protease), Amylase, and Cellulase. Subtilisin efficiently hydrolyzes tough protein-based stains like blood, dairy, and grass, while amylase breaks down complex starches and food residues. Furthermore, the inclusion of cellulase smooths cotton microfibers to prevent pilling, brighten fabrics, and prevent microscopic soil entrapment. The presence of calcium formate and propylene glycol ensures these biological catalysts remain stable and active throughout the product’s shelf life.

The detergent excels in water conditioning and soil suspension through modern chelating agents like Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate and Sodium Citrate. These builders bind hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium, allowing the primary cleaning agents to perform at peak efficiency. Working alongside these chelators, alkoxylated polyethyleneimines provide advanced anti-redeposition technology that suspends lifted dirt in the wash water, preventing garment graying and ensuring soils are completely rinsed away rather than settling back onto fabrics.

Despite its superior cleaning power, the formulation contains added fragrances and the preservative Benzisothiazolinone (BIT), which are known sensitizers capable of triggering contact dermatitis in allergy-prone individuals. Furthermore, because subtilisin breaks down protein structures, this detergent is unsuitable for washing delicate animal fibers like wool and pure silk. However, for everyday cottons, synthetic blends, heavy bedding, and heavily soiled garments, this detergent delivers top-tier stain removal and reliable fabric maintenance.

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Ingredient Evaluation

📁 Surfactants / 表面活性剂

🧪 Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate / C10-16 烷基苯磺酸钠

Purpose: Primary anionic surfactant for removing oily and particulate soils.

Concerns: Can cause skin and eye irritation in concentrated form.

Notes: One of the most widely used synthetic detergent surfactants globally due to its strong cleaning efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

🧪 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / 十二烷基硫酸钠

Purpose: Anionic surfactant that enhances foaming and aids in soil removal.

Concerns: Known to be a potential skin irritant at high concentrations.

Notes: Highly effective at lifting grease and particulate soils in laundry formulations.

🧪 C10-16 Alketh / C10-16 脂肪醇聚氧乙烯醚

Purpose: Nonionic surfactant that targets greasy and oily stains.

Notes: Nonionic surfactants are particularly effective at lower wash temperatures and help solubilize greasy soils.

🧪 C10-16 Alkyldimethylamine Oxide / C10-16 烷基二甲基氧化胺

Purpose: Amphoteric surfactant that boosts foam, aids cleaning, and improves formula mildness.

Notes: Provides synergistic cleaning performance when combined with anionic surfactants.

🧪 Sodium Salts of C12-18 Fatty Acids / C12-18 脂肪酸钠

Purpose: Soap-based surfactant that aids detergency and acts as a foam regulator.

Notes: Naturally derived soap that helps control excessive lathering in high-efficiency (HE) washing machines.

📁 Active Ingredients / 活性成分

🧪 Subtilisin / 枯草杆菌蛋白酶

Purpose: Protease enzyme that breaks down protein-based stains such as blood, grass, and food residues.

Concerns: Enzyme dust or concentrated solutions can trigger respiratory or skin sensitization.

Notes: Optimized to function across a broad range of wash temperatures and pH levels.

🧪 Amylase Enzyme / 淀粉酶

Purpose: Enzyme that targets and breaks down starch-based stains like sauces, pasta, and baby food.

Notes: Works catalytically, allowing effective stain removal at very low concentrations.

🧪 Cellulase Enzyme / 纤维素酶

Purpose: Enzyme that removes microfibrils to prevent fabric pilling, maintain color brightness, and release trapped dirt.

Notes: Helps rejuvenate cotton fabrics by smoothing worn fibers.

🧪 Polyethyleneimines Alkoxylated / 烷氧基化聚乙烯亚胺

Purpose: Anti-redeposition polymer that prevents suspended soil from reattaching to fabrics during the wash cycle.

Notes: Significantly improves whiteness retention and overall soil dispersion in liquid detergents.

📁 Solvents / 溶剂

🧪 Water / 水

Purpose: Primary liquid solvent and carrier for all active ingredients.

Notes: Typically deionized or softened to ensure stability and maximum surfactant efficacy.

🧪 Propylene Glycol / 丙二醇

Purpose: Solvent and enzyme stabilizer that helps maintain liquid clarity and prevents freezing.

Notes: Commonly used in liquid detergents to prevent enzyme denaturation during storage.

🧪 Alcohol / 乙醇

Purpose: Solvent that aids formula viscosity control, clarity, and rapid dissolution.

Concerns: Flammable in high concentrations during industrial manufacturing.

Notes: Acts as a processing aid and prevents phase separation.

🧪 Sodium Cumenesulfonate / 异丙苯磺酸钠

Purpose: Hydrotrope that increases the solubility of surfactants in aqueous solutions.

Notes: Helps maintain a clear, single-phase liquid detergent across varying storage temperatures.

🧪 Fragrances / 香精

Purpose: Provides a pleasant scent to the detergent and freshly washed laundry.

Concerns: Certain fragrance allergens may trigger contact allergies or sensitivities in sensitive individuals.

Notes: Usually a proprietary blend of synthetic and natural aroma compounds designed to deposit on fabrics.

📁 Chelating Agents / 螯合剂

🧪 Sodium Citrate / 柠檬酸钠

Purpose: Builder and chelating agent that binds hardness ions (calcium and magnesium) in wash water.

Notes: Biodegradable, eco-friendly builder that also assists with pH buffering.

🧪 Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate / 谷氨酸二乙酸四钠

Purpose: Readily biodegradable chelating agent that inactivates metal ions to boost detergent performance.

Notes: A high-performance green alternative to conventional aminopolycarboxylate chelants like EDTA.

🧪 Calcium Formate / 甲酸钙

Purpose: Enzyme stabilization agent providing calcium ions essential for preserving enzyme structure.

Notes: Provides free calcium ions that prevent protease enzymes from self-degrading during shelf life.

🧪 Benzisothiazolinone / 苯并异噻唑啉酮

Purpose: In-can preservative that prevents bacterial and fungal contamination.

Concerns: Known skin sensitizer that can cause contact dermatitis at elevated concentrations.

Notes: Effective broad-spectrum biocide commonly used in household cleaning products within strict regulatory limits.