An Enzyme Often Used in Laundry — Cellulase

1) What is cellulase? Which bond does it cut in the enzyme classification?

Laundry cellulase usually corresponds to EC 3.2.1.4 (cellulase / endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase), and its standard reaction is:
endo-hydrolysis of the (1→4)-β-D-glucosidic bonds in cellulose(it can also act on some β-D-glucans).IUBMB Nomenclature+1

In practical terms: it is not as simple as “washing off the dirt”; rather, itmakes a controlled surface modification of the microfibrils / fuzz on the surface of the cotton fibre, which then brings an improvement in appearance and hand.

2) Why laundry uses cellulase: the core is “treating the fuzz on the cotton surface → reducing pilling / greying”

The surface of a cotton fibre has a very fine microfibril structure. Everyday friction and washing loosen the microfibrils, formingfuzz and pills, and they more readily catch particulate soils, so the item looks “older the more you wash it.” Novonesis (a major detergent-enzyme manufacturer) says publicly of this:cellulase can remove loosened fibres, making the cloth surface smoother and less apt to adsorb particles, so the clothes look newer.Novonesis+1
Another supplier, AB Enzymes, also explains its effects in terms of “clearing loose fibre ends on the cotton surface” —anti-greying, reduced visible wear, and prevention of pillingand the like.Abenzyme

An “exfoliating treatment for cotton fabric”。

• The principle: When a cotton garment has been worn for a long time, the surface becomes fuzzy (like a build-up of dead skin), which scatters light and makes it look whitish and old.

• The action: Cellulase is like a fine scrub (or an AHA peel), “dissolving” the old, spent fuzz on the surface.

• The result: The smooth fibre underneath is exposed, light reflects better, black looks blacker and colours look more vivid (which is why it can “enhance colour”).

3) Main uses (a classification useful to both laundry operators and consumers)

A. “Appearance care” for cotton / man-made cellulose fibres

• Reducing pilling and fuzz, a smoother cloth surface, more uniform reflection of light, and a visually cleaner look.Novonesis+2Novonesis+2

• Suppliers and the research literature often call this type “care cellulase”, and distinguish it further from cellulase directed at cleaning / anti-redeposition.ScienceDirect+1

B. Lowering “greying / redeposition after the wash” and improving cleaning performance (more on the formula side)

A 2024 study centred on a “cleaning cellulase” for laundry pointed out that, after a cellulase based on GH44 endo-β-1,4-glucanase acts on the fabric, laundry performance can improve on several performance vectors, including:
soil anti-redeposition, dye transfer inhibition, and stain removal。Nature

The care type: looks newer, less fuzzy;
The cleaning type: makes it harder for soil to stick back to the cloth, and improves overall wash performance.Nature+1

C. Enzyme washing / biostoning of denim (jeans)

In textile finishing, cellulase can be used to replace some of the pumice, to get a faded look and a hand similar to a stone wash. Research literature comparesacid cellulase, neutral cellulase, and combinations with other oxidising enzymesfor their effects on denim colour change, back staining, strength and so on.Springer Nature+1
In the denim field they are also often distinguished as acid cellulase (about pH 4.5–6)and **neutral cellulase (about pH 6–8)**, for differences in process window and style.ScienceDirect

• Acid cellulase:

• Features: Strong activity and a fast action, but great damage to the fabric’s strength. It is usually whatjeans factoriesuse (to get a stone-wash effect).

• A suggestion for laundry shops: Absolutely do notbuy this kind for everyday laundry, unless you specially take “distressed jeans” jobs.

• Neutral cellulase:

• Features: Mild, with low damage, suitable for home washing and care.

• SOP: Please confirm that what your supplier provides is theneutralversion. Fine cotton T-shirts and polo shirts are recommended to use this type.

4) Advantages and disadvantages (these must be written clearly, to avoid being misunderstood as “the more, the better”)

Advantages (directions that can be verified)

• Less fuzz / fewer pills → smoother, less apt to adsorb particles → a newer appearance。Novonesis+1

• As part of a detergent enzyme system, it can supportlow-temperature / low-energy washesand a reduced reliance on some traditional ingredients (using enzymes in a detergent to lower energy use and the burden on the formula is a line of argument common in reviews).Springer Nature

Disadvantages / risks (when the dose is excessive or the conditions are not right)

Cellulase is, after all, “cutting cellulose bonds”: if the conditions are too strong, the time too long, or a highly aggressive enzyme type is chosen, it may cause:

• Weight loss of the fabric

• A loss of tensile strength

• Excessive fading of the appearance (especially denim)

• Be careful with old clothes: For “aged old clothes” already worn very thin, with a loosened collar, cellulase is forbidden. These garments may have only that remaining “fuzz” holding the structure, and after the wash they may go straight to holes.

• Use with caution on linen: Linen is also a cellulose fibre, but it is more brittle than cotton. Unless the enzyme is labelled “suitable for linen,” it is suggested that you avoid it.

• Especially suitable for dark cotton: Black and dark-blue cotton T-shirts most readily look old (they go pale). The effect of a cellulase wash is more noticeable on this kind of garment.

For example, research on the biopolishing of cotton systematically measured the effect of concentration, temperature and time on weight loss, strength loss, pilling resistance and other physical properties.Springer Nature
Research has also pointed out that, compared with a free enzyme, some “immobilised cellulases” can, while pursuing a polishing effect, show a trend oflower fabric-weight loss and a smaller drop in strength.ScienceDirect

5) When to use it, and how to use it so that it is “controllable”

Situations suited to introducing it

• Cotton (including cotton blends) T-shirts, sheets and towels:fuzzing, pilling and a sense of greyingare obvious on the linen

• Dark cotton (black / dark-blue cotton): when you want to reduce the appearance problem of “going grey after many washes” (suppliers often use this as a talking point).Abenzyme+1

Don’t wash every item with a “polishing mindset”

• The effect of cellulase is to trade a modification of the surface microfibrils for appearance and hand; it should therefore be positioned asa tool for care / improving appearance, not as a universal stain remover.ScienceDirect+1

• For high-end fine, thin cotton, or old clothes already on the thin side: conditions should be controlled still more carefully, to avoid a loss of strength (the research above already shows that strength / fabric weight is highly correlated with the conditions).Springer Nature+1

The issue of “stability” when it coexists with protease (on the formula side)

Commercial multi-enzyme formulas often also contain protease; suppliers also emphasise that some care cellulases have been engineered to improvestorage stability in a protease-containing detergent(to avoid a decline in activity over the shelf period).Novonesis+1

6) Safety and occupational health

The main health risk of enzymes (including cellulase) in workplace exposure isrespiratory sensitisation. The key is to avoid forming inhalable dust / aerosols. ACI / several associations, in a 2024 “risk-assessment guide for enzyme-containing products” for professional cleaning, and in ACI announcements, both put the emphasis on:Assessing whether the use situation will generate particles in the air, and using product design and communication to avoid inhaled exposure。media.acihq.org+1

7) “A one-sentence summary”

• Cellulase = an enzyme that makes a controlled modification of the surface microfibrils of cellulose fibres such as cotton, and can reduce fuzz / pilling, lower a sense of greying, and in some systems improve anti-redeposition and overall wash performance.IUBMB Nomenclature+2Novonesis+2

• But conditions that are too strong may cause a drop in fabric weight and strength; the risk needs to be managed by “controlling concentration × temperature × time.”Springer Nature+1