There have been a number of new detergent products recently introduced in the laundry textile cleaning market. There are also a number of industries that could be discussed in light of the new products, and for the purposes of this article I will focus on Shirt Laundries.

This is an industry many people take for granted. For many years the dry cleaning industry has been servicing this retail market with the specific service of wet washing personal clothing, and shirts and blouses, often in large volumes.

Cleaners that have this service often use what we will call "traditional" chemistry, meaning the chemicals consist of an alkaline built product or even separate alkali and detergent. Along with the detergents, chlorine or oxygen bleach may be used for whites and colors, with a sour used to neutralize pH in the final operation. There have been "low temperature" versions of these chemicals, but they often consist of the same number of products and use similar wash formulas.

I believe the newest and latest product technology has significant features and benefits for the Shirt Cleaners as well as for the customers they service. The products I am talking about clean without alkalinity and almost never require additional bleaching or even final pH adjustments to the wash loads. Yes, I am saying that a process, which at one time required 3 to 5 products, can, in most cases, be performed just as well with a single cleaning product. The idea may not be new, but the products that perform this function are newer and are able to achieve the results necessary for good shirt cleaning. Many Shirt Cleaners could benefit from this technology that does not require bleach or sour to produce the same excellent results.

These products feature new types of surfactants that break up and release stains and soils without harsh chemistry. Less energy is required for cleaning, and phosphate free and biodegradable products are additional benefits to switching to this technology. Having enzymes and oxygen bleach in one product can further enhance cleaning and brightening of the shirts. Different manufacturers have their own twist on what they are selling, and most have different formulations dependent upon their capabilities as a manufacturer.

This is one business where just one product may very well be the answer to the ever-increasing cost of doing business.