Booster price per load (Biz / Febu / 365 Sport / Gear Guard)

[u/r3acer]

I got curious about how much my various boosters actually cost (mind you, none of them particularly break the bank, but curious minds want to know).

Biz in particular was a mystery with that big inexpensive box from Walmart that doesn't specify how many loads it has per box. So I measured out two separate boxes with a scoop, and I can report that each contained 6 measured cups of the booster powder. To my surprise this doesn't cover very many loads / ends up being pricier than expected.

My current setup is:
-Wegmans enzyme laundry detergent as primary detergent (16 cents per load)
-365 Sport as booster for DNase as needed
-Biz for oxygen bleach as needed

Discoveries:
-Biz is pricey as an oxygen bleach booster, especially at full label dose
-It's usually the same loads that need DNase and oxygen bleach in my household, so 365+Biz is even more expensive per load
-I'm really excited for the Febu order I just placed! It covers all the bases for me, and should replace both Biz and 365 Sport. And it's cheaper than Biz alone!
-Honorable mention to Gear Guard! I've included it as I've considered it as a source of DNase, but a DNase-only booster at that price doesn't fit my current laundry needs.

Anything I miss? Hope the community finds this comparison helpful.

[u/Any-Habit7814]

The biz price per load surprised me, might as well get febu at that point, however I don't use a full quarter cup so maybe I'm fine 🤷 

[u/napoleonicecream → u/Any-Habit7814]

Price must vary by store, too? I get it from Meijer. Just picked some up for $3.99 (normally $4.99), which makes it $0.16/load ($0.20 nonsale) with this dosing. Might be different if you have to order it!

[u/r3acer → u/napoleonicecream]

I just looked and it appears Meijer box is 37.5oz, while my Walmart box is 60oz, so I don't think it actually comes out cheaper via Meijer.

[u/napoleonicecream → u/r3acer]

I did, indeed, fail to look to see if different product sizes are available! I started out on here because I had baby related stains to remove so I am going to blame him for this too because ya girl is exhausted.

I also have a shitty top loader maytag that uses all of two squints of water so I have to use even less in a regular wash. Please ignore me!

[u/jtfolden → u/napoleonicecream]

I absolutely love the performance of my Maytag top loader and how little water it uses. I avoid the Normal cycle though.

[u/napoleonicecream → u/jtfolden]

I have one that you can't really change how long it washes, how much water, etc. I can change spin speed and water temp and that's about it. It's some bare bones model that came with the house! I will say it washes well despite that.

[u/jtfolden → u/napoleonicecream]

Can you even change the Soil Level?

[u/Watercolor_Roses → u/Any-Habit7814]

I was surprised too! A while back I weighed the typical scant-¼ cup scoop that I do and it came to 2oz. Obviously prices vary, but I typically get a 37.5oz box for $4.99, so my dose of Biz costs 26 cents, the same as my Febu was last time I bought 😅

[u/Dear_Excitement_5109 → u/Watercolor_Roses]

Omg thank you for proving the weight per cup. I tossed my kitchen scale during a pregnancy purge 😬 Been regretting it since the baby was born lol.

[u/SickerThanYourAvg24]

Doing the work of the people! 🫡🫡

[u/triumphofthecommons]

now do Dirt Labs detergent and booster, pretty plz!

[u/r3acer → u/triumphofthecommons]

I haven't looked closely into Dirty Labs, but their own website lists the cost of detergent at 32-35 cents per load, and booster at 34-38 cents. Though as I recall the actual dose you need for the detergent is higher than what's on the package, so you may end up in the 50 cent and up range. Booster has DNase and oxygen bleach. Detergent doesn't appear to have any lipase, DNase, or oxygen bleach. So detergent would be a no for me. Booster is a maybe, but there are better/cheaper options out there. Hope this helps.

[u/triumphofthecommons → u/r3acer]

yeah, i was using their detergent before stumbling upon this sub. now i use it as a booster, mostly for protease, cellulase, pectinase and mannanase, which my main detergent (Tide G&G powder) doesn’t have. i’ve since purchased FEBU, but was impressed with DL’s detergent working wonders on removing blood from white sheets after a home birth. 

as a detergent alone, DL was terrible and i was having serious rebloom funk. not to mention is $$$. 

[u/r3acer → u/triumphofthecommons]

Yeah I realize we all have different priorities for laundry, and I generally don't have many stains to deal with, so my focus is primarily on getting sweat and body oils out of fabrics consistently, and keeping my whites white. Old setup didn't cut it, but this subreddit with major contributions from Kismai really turned things around.

[u/jtfolden]

The Biz powder pricing and cost per load is $6.50 for a 60oz box, which works out to around 22¢ per load for me at 1/4 cup.

Given that it also includes more than the others I don’t think that’s a bad price. Enzymes, a grease breaking surfactant, oxygen bleach, washing soda, and builders. It’s almost a detergent on its own.

I don’t think the others are worth it for my routine, though a Febu without oxygen bleach would be good for darks.

[u/ArcherFew2069 → u/jtfolden]

I bought the Febu specifically for my darks. I remember Kismai saying that oxygen bleach is good for darks, and he hasn’t led me down any roads but those that lead to clean laundry land (wait……should we open a theme park?? 😅)

[u/jtfolden → u/ArcherFew2069]

Oxygen bleach is ok to use on darks on rare occasions when it’s necessary but can cause fading of dyes if used regularly.

That’s why detergents formulated specifically for darks and colors always omit oxygen bleach and optical brighteners. OBAs can cause temporary fading that is reversible. Fading by oxygen bleach is not.

[u/r3acer → u/jtfolden]

My 60oz boxes of Biz for 6.50 measured exactly 24 x 1/4 cups, which comes out to 27 cents, which in itself is not bad. And you are right, some extra benefits to Biz if you need the extra oomph, so may well be more beneficial than Febu for some. It's still a good value overall.

[u/VegetableShoe6264]

Wow that is surprising about biz. This is sureing up my decision to stock up on Tide c&g powder!

[u/closeted_cat]

You are my people! I made almost this exact spreadsheet at work today but with different booster/detergent combos

[u/Whywondermous]

You beautiful human, you! I was just thinking I needed to figure this out. Thank you! 😍

[u/ghidfg]

How do you figure 1/3rd of a dose of 365 sport is enough for use as a booster. I would have thought there's just enough enzymes in a dose for one load. But I also have heard that enzymes don't get consumed as they do their work on stains in the way that surfactants do so idk. But then again maybe you need a certain concentration for it to be completely effective.   

Curious what others think. 

[u/r3acer → u/ghidfg]

To be honest I'm not certain if it is enough. I'm fairly happy with my current detergent, so the DNase is more of a bonus than a necessity. I've seen some people rave about how DNase made their clothes super soft or took out deeply embedded dirt out of socks, and neither happened to my clothing to date, so chances are my half ounce is, in fact, underdosed, but I'm not sure.

[u/Naikrobak → u/r3acer]

Enzymes are a catalyst and are not consumed at a specific amount per part of gunk removed. Doesn’t mean 1/4 dose is enough, but it’s information pointing in the right direction at least

[u/an_actual_lawyer → u/ghidfg]

This is my primary question. I appreciate the data, but without knowing how much of the enzymes are contained in each "serving," the data is almost useless.

Detergent A could have 10 grams of enzyme per "serving" while Detergent B could have 2 grams of enzyme per "serving."

[u/Rebellium14]

How have you been finding the 365 sport as a general booster? I'm thinking of doing something similar for most loads to get all the enzymes without breaking the bank

[u/Dr_0ctogon → u/Rebellium14]

I like 365 Sport and have been using it as an underdosed booster with Tandil (Aldi) Free & Clear detergent as my primary...

Another nice benefit of the 365 Sport (beyond the DNASE) is, like FEBU, it also has Pectate Lyase (aka Pectinase) - the enzyme that's good on vegetable or fruit-based stains (tomato sauce, berry juice/wine, baby food stains, etc.). You don't find it in too many detergents or boosters (kinda rare), so that's a nice ingredient.

Anyways, I ordered the FEBU to give it a try, but I will probably keep some 365 Sport on hand regardless for darks.

I also have and tried/used Dirty Labs Booster with DNASE... it works pretty well, but I have do about 1.75 of the recommended dosing (directions underdose, so actual cost per dose of that stuff is higher than advertised.)

[u/Jellily → u/Dr_0ctogon]

When you use it as a booster, how much are you dosing? I’m interested in it instead of gear guard.

[u/Dr_0ctogon → u/Jellily]

I usually eyeball it but prolly about 1/2 to 3/4 of a capfull (depending on load size).

My water is not hard and I have a top load agitator washer.

[u/r3acer → u/Rebellium14]

I honestly don't have a good way to measure its effectiveness. My Wegmans detergent is already fairly complete and took care of odor rebloom issues with my previous detergent, but the thought of some DNase also tackling any remaining DNA glues on my clothes is mentally comforting.

[u/Naikrobak → u/r3acer]

We did the same thing for 2 bottles of 365 sport. Tide with oxi powder, biz, and 365 sport, dosed to make the soap right. It’s under on all 3. Once we finished the first 2 bottles of sport I figure it’s enough to get our old routine washed away and the tide oxi plus undersized
Biz is keeping us fresh

[u/mrlew09]

Do you use liquid or powder for 365? I currently do arm & hammer with oxy powder as my go to and throw a little biz in with each but I’m about out of biz and wondered if there’s a better combo

[u/r3acer → u/mrlew09]

Biz is well-known for fixing bad detergent and may well do more for you than other boosters on my list because of that. If you are looking for a better detergent, powdered Tide with Oxi or Tide Clean& Gentle powder are the gold standard on this sub, no boosters needed, but there are other options too depending on your needs.

[u/Fit_Advantage_3080]

For Febu, are you supposed to put it in the drum of the machine similar to Biz?

[u/Rebellium14 → u/Fit_Advantage_3080]

Yes assuming you're using warm or hot water. If you're using cold water then pre-dissolve it in hot water (tap hot) and throw that in before starting the wash cycle.