Guide
How to use the Enzyme Oxygen Laundry Booster
Add 1 scoop of Enzyme Oxygen Laundry Booster to the washer drum with your usual scoop of detergent, or 2 scoops for large or heavily soiled loads. To pre-soak, dissolve 1 to 2 scoops in warm water and soak for several hours or overnight. Use the warmest water the care label allows, and skip wool and silk.
Updated October 2026
At a glance
- What it is
- An unscented powder you add alongside your detergent: washing soda, an oxygen booster and three enzymes.
- When to use it
- Whites, towels, bedding, work and play clothes, and anything you want to pre-soak.
- How much
- 1 scoop a load. 2 scoops for large or heavily soiled loads.
- Where it goes
- In the drum, not the dispenser. HE and standard washers.
- Skip it on
- Wool, silk and other protein fibers.
Dosing
One scoop is a standard load. The scoop is in the bag.
| Use | Booster | Water | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard load | 1 scoop, plus your detergent | Warmest the care label allows | A normal cycle |
| Large or heavily soiled load | 2 scoops, plus your detergent | Warmest the care label allows | A normal cycle |
| Pre-soak in a sink or bucket | 1 to 2 scoops | Warm | Several hours or overnight, then wash |
| Pre-soak in a tub | Extra scoops for the larger volume | Warm | Several hours or overnight, then wash |
In the washer, step by step
- Spread 1 scoop in the drumAround the drum, not in the dispenser. Use 2 scoops for large or heavily soiled loads.
- Add laundry and detergentLoad your laundry on top and add your usual scoop of detergent.
- Start a normal cycleChoose the warmest water the care label allows.
Water temperature
Use the warmest water the care label allows.
When sodium percarbonate dissolves, it releases hydrogen peroxide,4 and that does more as the water gets warmer.2 So warm and hot cycles get the most from each scoop.
Cold water works too, and warm and hot get the most from each scoop. Always follow the care label on your garments.
Routines by load
The same scoop, set up for what's in the basket.
Whites
- 1 scoop of Booster with your detergent, 2 for a full or heavily soiled load.
- The hottest water the care label allows.
- For whites that have gone dull, pre-soak overnight first, then wash as usual.
Towels
- 1 scoop with your detergent, 2 for a full load of bath towels.
- Warm or hot water, as the care label allows.
- Towels are usually cotton, which handles warm and hot cycles.
Sheets and bedding
- 1 to 2 scoops, depending on the size of the load.
- The warmest water the care label allows.
- Skip it on wool blankets, silk pillowcases and wool-filled duvets.
Workout clothes
- 1 scoop with your detergent.
- Most performance fabrics are synthetic and many have a lower temperature limit, so follow the care label.
- Wash them soon after wearing, and skip fabric softener if the care label says to.
Work clothes
- 1 scoop with your detergent, 2 for heavily soiled loads.
- The warmest water the care label allows.
- Pre-soak heavily soiled pieces before washing.
Kids' play clothes
- 1 scoop with your detergent, 2 for a muddy load.
- Pre-soak grass and mud overnight, then wash as usual.
- Check the care label on printed or embellished pieces.
Pet bedding
- Shake loose hair off outside before washing.
- 1 to 2 scoops, depending on the size of the load, in the warmest water the label allows.
- If the bed has a foam insert, wash only the removable cover.
Pre-soak
- Dissolve 1 to 2 scoops in warm water. Large tubs may need extra scoops.
- Submerge the laundry and soak for several hours or overnight.
- Wash as usual, with your detergent.
Deep soak vs. laundry stripping
Laundry stripping is a long hot-water soak, usually made with a homemade mix of borax, washing soda and detergent, that people use on towels and sheets. A Booster deep soak is a simpler routine: one powder, dissolved in warm water, then a normal wash.
| Compare | Laundry stripping | Booster deep soak |
|---|---|---|
| What goes in | Usually borax, washing soda and detergent, mixed at home | 1 to 2 scoops of Booster |
| Water | Hot | Warm |
| Time | Several hours, stirring now and then | Several hours or overnight |
| After | Drain, then wash as usual | Wash as usual, with your detergent |
Either way, soak only what the care label says can be washed in water, and leave out wool, silk and anything marked “Do not bleach.”
What to skip
- Wool, silk and other protein fibersCashmere, mohair, angora and alpaca too. The protease in the Booster works on protein-based messes, and these fibers are made of protein.
- A care label that says "Do not bleach"Sodium percarbonate is an oxygen (non-chlorine) bleach. If the label rules out all bleach, leave the Booster out of that load.
- Dry-clean-only itemsAnything the label says not to wash in water.
- Mixing with ammonia or chlorine bleachUse the Booster on its own with your detergent, and keep the bag sealed in a cool, dry place.
Not sure? Check the bleach line on the care label.3 “Only non-chlorine bleach, when needed” means the Booster is fine. “Do not bleach” means leave it out.
Hard water
Hard water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium. Those minerals react with soap and detergent, so it takes more of them to get the same wash.1 The Booster has two ingredients for this: washing soda softens the water, and sodium gluconate binds hard-water minerals.
| Water | Hardness (mg/L as calcium carbonate) |
|---|---|
| Soft | 0 to 60 |
| Moderately hard | 61 to 120 |
| Hard | 121 to 180 |
| Very hard | More than 180 |
Ranges from the U.S. Geological Survey.1 Your water utility's annual water quality report lists your hardness, or you can check it with an inexpensive test strip.
Pair it with your detergent
The Booster doesn't replace your detergent. Add one scoop of each straight to the drum. It's unscented, so it goes with any Laundry Powder scent. Buy any 3 bags and we add a Booster free. New to the powder? See how much Laundry Powder to use.
What's in it
Purposefully chosen ingredients, each with a job. Tap any of them for the full story in our ingredient glossary.
- Washing SodaSoftens the water.
- Sodium PercarbonateAn oxygen booster. Releases oxygen when it meets water.
- Sodium GluconateBinds hard-water minerals.
- Sorbitan CaprylateHelps water rinse away.
- EnzymesProtease, amylase and mannanase, for protein, starch and plant-gum messes.
- SilicaKeeps the powder free-flowing.
What's not in it
- No chlorine bleach
- No added fragrance
- No dyes
- No optical brighteners
Questions
Do I still need laundry detergent?
Yes. The Booster works alongside your detergent, not instead of it. Add one scoop of each to the drum.
How much Enzyme Oxygen Laundry Booster should I use?
1 scoop for a standard load. Use 2 scoops for large or heavily soiled loads.
Where does the powder go?
Straight into the washer drum, not the dispenser. Spread the scoop around the drum, add your laundry on top and start a normal cycle.
Can I use it in cold water?
Yes. For the most from each scoop, use warm or hot water when the care label allows.
Can I use it on colors?
Check the care label. If it allows non-chlorine bleach, or doesn't mention bleach at all, the Booster is fine to use. If it says "Do not bleach," leave the Booster out. If you're unsure, test it on a hidden seam first.
Can I use it on wool or silk?
No. Wool, silk and other protein fibers, like cashmere and mohair, should be washed without the Booster.
Can I pre-soak with it?
Yes. Dissolve 1 to 2 scoops in warm water and soak for several hours or overnight before washing. Large tubs may need extra scoops.
Does it work in HE (high-efficiency) washers?
Yes. It works in HE and standard washers. Add it to the drum either way.
Does it contain chlorine bleach?
No. The oxygen comes from sodium percarbonate. Don’t mix it with products containing ammonia or chlorine bleach.
Does it have a scent?
No. It’s unscented, with no added fragrance, so it goes with any Pronounce Laundry Powder scent.
Can I use the Booster to strip laundry?
You can use it for a deep soak. Dissolve 1 to 2 scoops in warm water in a tub or sink, soak for several hours or overnight, then wash as usual with your detergent. Large tubs may need extra scoops.
How often should I use it?
On the loads that need a little more, like whites, towels, bedding and work clothes. There's no need to add it to every load.
How many loads are in a bag?
Each bag is 60 loads (1.76 lb) at 1 scoop a load.
How should I store it?
Reseal the bag between uses and keep it in a cool, dry place, out of reach of children and pets.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, “Hardness of Water,” Water Science School (opens in a new tab)
- Taylor & Francis Knowledge Centers, “TAED” (textile chemistry: percarbonate bleaching and water temperature) (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission, “Clothes Captioning: Complying with the Care Labeling Rule” (opens in a new tab)
- PubChem, sodium percarbonate (CAS 15630-89-4) (opens in a new tab)
Ready for the loads that need more?
60 loads a bag, unscented, with the ingredients on the front.
