| Preventing
Towels from Discoloring and Tearing |
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I work in a 400 room business resort hotel in southern Malaysia.
We receive outside laundry from the Roman Spa Center to wash at
our laundry. The towels are both 100% cotton, and are from the
same manufacturer. After a few months of washing, the Roman Spa
towels have turned from white to yellow, but the hotel towels
are still white (we are using the same wash and chemical programs
for both sets of towels). The Roman Spa towels are also starting
to become loose and tear. What is the cause of this and how can
we correct it?
- Rudi, Laundry Supervisor
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Answer: You mention that the towels are
from the same manufacturer, but not that the towels are exactly
the same. I suspect that they are not identical towels. The towels
that are discoloring are reacting to a problem in your operation.
First, test for chlorine carryover at the end of the cycle using
orthotolidine solution contained in a washroom technician's test
kit. If there is a high enough residual, than this could explain
the yellowing and the fabric damage after several washings. You
may want to consider being especially mindful not to over load
the washers, giving the product freedom to move inside the washer
allowing the fabric to rinse more efficiently. Also, you may want
to verify what the chlorine parts per million are in the bath
for the Spa towels and the Resort towels. You may have more soil
in the Resort towels and therefore the chlorine would be spent
on this soil versus the Spa towels that may not need as much chlorine
bleach.
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| Removing
Carbon Stains |
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Carbon stains have proven difficult to remove, and as a result
of it much of the linens we process have been rejected. What is
the cause of these stains, and how can they be removed?
- Rudi, Laundry Supervisor
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Answer: I would not know the cause of
the "carbon" stains, but if the stains are truly caused
from carbon they will require a solvent to remove them. It will
likely be required to spot treat these stains in order to get
the highest percentage reclaimed. I would recommend a solvent-based
emulsifier - wet the entire area of the stain. Allow the product
to set for at least 2 hours, or if possible even over night, then
wash as normal. If
this results in less than 80-90% recovery, then apply as indicated,
but wash in a stain formula bath to increase chemistry and mechanical
action for better results.
Consider the source of stains. If they are gray or black they
could be caused by the washers, from sources such as door gaskets
or rubber in the machine (such as the drain hose), or even grease
from bearings. The stains could also be metal stains or even ash
stains from cigarettes.
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| Enzymes
Used in Laundry Operations |
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I have a question regarding enzymes used in laundry operations.
Aren't there several different types with different targeted applications
(some better for oil, protein, etc.). Can a combination of them
exist in a single solution without 'killing' each other?
- Alex Greer, WP Ballard
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Answer: There
are a number of different enzymes used for laundering. The most
common are:
o Proteases - used to remove protein based stains (such as blood,
eggs, etc.) from textile fabrics.
o Amylases - used to remove starch, therefore stains that are bonded
by starches.
o Lipases - used to remove fats and oils from fabrics.
These enzymes are available in liquid and powder form. They can
exist together without any problem when properly chemically formulated.
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