Consumers today are becoming increasingly discerning and seek safer, more effective alternatives for their everyday products. When it comes to laundry, this means brands need to offer safe, high-performance options that save time and money while extending the life of clothes.  

Laundry refreshers are a great option to meet this need. By including a laundry refresher option in your product line, you can meet growing customer demand and build brand loyalty. 

What are laundry refreshers? 

Many people tend to wash their clothes far more than is necessary. Noticeably dirty clothing from a hard day’s work requires a detergent to wash away sweat and grime. But a shirt worn once to the office, or a jacket that absorbed a smoky smell after an evening around a firepit, only needs a quick refresh. 

Laundry refreshers are a quick alternative to a full wash cycle—they effectively remove mild odors, help eliminate wrinkles, and bring life back to clothes.  

They can come in various formats: 

• Sprays: Use Itaconix zinc polyitaconate (ZPI) in a pressurized spray formulation to remove wrinkles, lift stains, and add a freshly laundered scent in a matter of minutes 

• Dryer sheets: A quick cycle through the dryer solves most wrinkle issues—add a sheet loaded with a deodorizing formulation, and clothes will come out as good as freshly washed.  
  

Extend the life of clothes 

Repeated wash cycles can be tough on clothes. Over time, laundry cycles break down clothing structure, fade colors, and dim whites. Hot water can break down dye and fabrics, harsh detergents can damage threads, and the friction of clothes rubbing together in the wash wears out fabrics and dye particles. 

Certain detergent ingredients can also contribute clothing wear. Enzymes, for example, are an excellent bio-based option for removing tough odors and stains. However, they can also eat at the fibers in the clothing they’re cleaning and over time will wear down fabrics.  

By offering a fabric refresher alongside detergents, you can give your customers the options they need to maintain their wardrobes. 

Managing microplastics

Microplastics—tiny fragments of plastic shed from larger plastic items — have received increasing attention in recent years for their harmful impact on humans and the environment.  

Polyester clothing is a culprit in the microplastic issue, as the material sheds tiny fibers into the water every time they are washed. Using a fabric refresher to keep polyester fabrics clean will reduce the frequency of wash cycles, resulting in less plastic being released into waterways and impacting the planet. 

Need to wash? 

Of course, your customers will need to actually wash their clothes at times. When you’re developing a laundry solution to manage dirty job, use ingredients that are highly effective in smaller doses. Itaconix’s line of patented ingredients, from TSI to ONZ, seamlessly replace polyacrylate ingredients and phosphate-based additives in laundry detergent formulations.  

Choose ingredients that do more with less and make sure your customers have the products they need, whether for a quick refresh or a deep clean.