Laundry Today - The Textile Web

The Textile Web

Textile Web Articiles - Last Updated August 11, 2002


13: We operate a health club and our laundry chemical vendor has advised that we must increase the temperature of our washing machines to greater than 160 degrees F to allow their bleach to activate properly. Our washing machine vendor does not recommend operating the machines at a water temperature above 160 degrees F. Is there a bleach that will provide OSHA compliant cleaning/disinfecting at a temp of 120-130 degrees F?	September 2002
Answer: Working backwards with your question, I am not aware of any OSHA regulations relative to washing or bleaching goods in health clubs. However, there may very well be state health department regulations that cover that issue. So far as the proper water temperature for chlorine bleaching, I would not recommend a temperature of 160 degrees. The industry standard is 140-155 degrees with a pH range of 10.2-10.8 in the chlorine-bleaching bath. The release of chlorine can be controlled by the pH of the bath water. In general, when lowering the water temperature one should also lower the pH of the bath. It is possible to bleach properly at 120-130 degrees when adjustments to pH and time are made. Since the concern is sanitizing the wash load and not necessarily a stain or whiteness issue, I recommend you check with the local state or health department as to any specific regulations for washing in health clubs..

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Rich Fitzmorris is Vice President for the Laundry Division of Sunburst Chemicals. He has been with Sunburst for more than 25 years and can be contacted directly via email at

rfitzmorris@sunburstchemicals.com


14: We have a problem with a clay-like substance in our drain lines and do not know what to do. It leaves a film on our reclaimer and is extremely difficult to clean. We have found main drains are covered with the substance as well. Any ideas?	September 2002
Answer: Without more specific information regarding wash conditions, what is being washed and how it is being washed, this is a difficult question. If the drain and heat reclaimer are plugging up, there may be some kink or "binder" that is sticking the waste and lint together. If the problem is occurring in the reclaimer and drains only, you may want to look more closely at what is being washed off your textiles. It sounds as if the binding is an after effect. You may be able to determine the source of the problem by reviewing any changes that took place prior to the problem being identified. It is certainly possible to have an analysis performed to determine what matter is present in the substances that are forming the film. Laboratory work can be expensive, however, so it is a good idea to investigate all of the conditions that existed prior to the film formations becoming a problem. Another consideration is that when large amounts of new textiles are processed through the wash they can contain considerable amounts of sizing used to make fabrics process faster for the textile manufacturer. This chemical can cause lint and soil to stick together, creating what you have described as a clay-like substance.

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