Several types of enzyme improve the washing performance of heavy-duty liquid detergents. While proteases are often the first enzyme class to come to mind when formulating a liquid detergent, amylases are the second for consideration.

Amylases remove a variety of common food stains containing starch. If the starch is not degraded with an amylase, it tends to spread in the laundry and act as a strong dirt binder resulting in a less satisfactory wash result.

The Phadebas® Amylase test is used for the assesment of amylase by the major producers of detergent products and ingredients.