An ideal detergent enzyme should be stable at high pH and temperature, withstand oxidising and chelating agents, be effective at low concentrations and have a broad substrate specificity. Studies have been carried out to find the efficacy of removal of triglyceride soil in laundry by lipase from Ralstonia pickettii with or without detergents. Important parameters viz, lipase and detergent concentration, time and temperature have been studied. Under optimal conditions, lipase in the presence of detergent increased the removal of oil by 24-27% over treatment with detergent alone. (C) 2000