Hey, What’s that smell?
Defunkify
Enzyme-Based Laundry Detergent Review
You know the drill. Pull a shirt out of your bag, drawer or off the pile on the floor, and see if it passes the sniff test to wear another day. It seems like the older the layer, the lower the chance it will pass the test. Nothing develops its own special funk quite like synthetic base layers. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a runner, cyclist, climber or backcountry skier. We’ve all got base layers that, even when freshly washed, let alone after a wear or two, are hard-pressed to pass the sniff test. They’ve just seen too many sweaty days in the field.
We’ve been testing out a laundry detergent called Defunkify that promises to address the base layer funk factor. Defunkify laundry detergent is an enzyme-based detergent that claims to remove odor-causing bacteria down to the microscopic level.
Defunkify Laundry Detergent Works
I’ve been putting Defunkify to the test for a year on everything from heavily used cycling kit to my go-to base tops for hiking and running. Without belaboring the point, let’s just say there’s no shortage of shirts in my life that, despite being fresh out of the laundry, seem to smell just like they did the last time I wore them.
I am happy to report, as are my ski partners that Defunkify works. The Defunkify Laundry Detergent replaces your normal laundry soap and is super simple to use. Just use a half to full cap of liquid per load, like your regular detergent.
Defunkify is also environmentally sound. It features “Green Science,” as the company calls it, and does not rely on a toxic blend of chemicals or perfumes. Defunkify works by using enzymes to break down odor-causing bacteria rather than by masking odor with perfumes or soap residue.
Best Practice
The company suggests keeping laundry loads small and using warm or hot water for best results. I’ve been doing exclusive baselayer loads – socks, shirts, underwear, etc., so as not to dilute the process on a bunch of jeans or hoodies. The results are noticeable and good. Shirts smell clean and stay smelling clean until they’ve been put through a full day or two of wear – when you would expect them to be funky. For truly stubborn funk, you can soak items in a solution of Defunkify before washing. Soaking gives the enzymes extra time to work on the odor-causing bacteria.
How it Works
With regular laundry soap, it’s far too common that a freshly washed layer smells okay when first pulled on, but within minutes of breaking a sweat smells just like it did at the end of the last day it was worn. Defunkify addresses this phenomenon. That’s not to say that my stuff never stinks, but at least it stays reasonable through a day or two of use when washed with Defunkify. According to Defunkify, the enzymes in their laundry detergent remove the bacteria’s food source down to the microscopic level and leave zero detergent residue behind. For expeditions and longer trips where laundry is not an option, Defunkify makes a laundry additive called Active Shield Booster that keeps layers from developing stink-blooming bacteria between washes.
Summer mountain season is nearly upon us. Renew your base layers for another season of adventure with Defunkify. Your nose and adventure partners will thank you. You can read more about the science and environmental rating at defunkify.com, and you can support offpistemag.com when you purchase Defunkify
Defunkify Laundry Detergent $20
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