Hotels and hospitality establishments primarily use two types of detergents: those for laundry rooms and those for guest rooms. Laundry detergents include powerful laundry powders, universal laundry powders, color bleach, chlorine bleach, grease emulsifiers, neutralizers, starching agents, and fabric softeners. On the other hand, guest room detergents encompass carpet cleaners, bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, hand soaps, glass cleaners, air fresheners, floor cleaners, and wax removers.
Given that hotel laundry operations fall within the scope of industrial and public facility cleaning, laundry room detergents are specially formulated to address the unique requirements of washing heavily soiled items such as tablecloths, towels, and work uniforms. These detergents typically have strong cleaning power and high alkalinity to effectively neutralize and separate grease, distinguishing them significantly from household detergents. However, guest room detergents share some commonalities with household detergents.
Hotel linens are mostly made of cotton, and the main laundry detergents come in liquid and powder forms. The former is of higher quality with more organic components, while the latter, due to its high alkalinity, is better at removing scale but may not dissolve and distribute evenly. Automatic washing machines work best with liquid detergents.
1. Powerful laundry powder should have consistent color, uniform particles or powder, a pleasant scent, good flowability, no clumping, a high content of active ingredients, strong cleaning power, low foam, and easy rinsing. It typically contains 10-15% nonionic surfactants and 5-10% anionic surfactants.
a. Low foam for time, labor, and water savings. Ideal foam height is 4-14mm.
b. Effective soft water function to ensure washing results.
c. Multiple washes without graying of fabrics.
2. Universal low-foam laundry powder, with strong cleaning power, low foam, easy rinsing, and a moderate content of active ingredients for long-term use. It contains 10% nonionic surfactants and 5-10% anionic surfactants.
a. Moderate acidity with a 0.1% aqueous solution pH value of 10-12.
b. Suitable for most fabrics.
c. Adaptable to various water qualities.
d. Maintains fabric whiteness and resistance to redeposition and scaling after multiple washes.
3. Grease emulsifiers are specifically designed to remove grease stains from napkins and tablecloths and can also eliminate various grease stains on clothes. Characterized by strong degreasing and emulsifying properties, the formula mainly consists of nonionic surfactants with a proper mix of penetrating agents and solvents.
4. Chlorine bleach, a powerful cleaning agent with good disinfectant properties, has a broad application range. It can damage fibers and dyes to varying degrees (causing fading in direct and acid dyes) and severely harm protein fibers (wool, cashmere, silk, etc.) and elastic fibers like nylon. However, it has less impact on most synthetic and natural fibers, and dispersal and reduction dyes are less likely to fade. It has a certain corrosiveness to metals and is primarily made from sodium dichloroisocyanurate.
5. Color bleach is mainly used for brightening and whitening colored fabrics and bleaching chlorine-sensitive fabrics and chemical fibers. After bleaching, white fabrics become whiter, and colored fabrics become more vibrant. Sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate are effective ingredients.
6. Neutralizers, also known as acid agents, typically include citric acid and oxalic acid. They are used in conjunction with powerful laundry powders to neutralize residual alkali in fabrics, reducing damage and aiding in fabric maintenance. They also prevent fabric graying, thereby extending fabric life.
7. Other auxiliary agents should be used as needed. Starching agents are mainly for tablecloths and napkins, ensuring they remain crisp and attractive after high-temperature ironing.
Water Quality
High-quality washing requires water hardness below 25ppm and iron content lower than 0.1ppm, which general tap water cannot meet. Tap water, produced to drinking water standards with hardness not exceeding 446ppm, is suitable for drinking but not ideal for washing. Therefore, to achieve high-quality washing, detergent formulations must consider water softening components, adding a certain amount of chelating agents to soften the water. When choosing laundry powder, consider the water quality thoroughly. If the water contains excess iron, incorporate an acid wash step and set the acid agent amount in the latter stages of the washing program to minimize iron residue on fabrics.
Hotel linens have a certain lifespan, which is also related to our washing habits. Here are some tips to reduce damage rates while saving on detergent use:
1. Sort linens before washing to target specific cleaning needs more effectively.
2. When using large laundry room equipment, choose detergents that are specifically formulated for the materials you are washing for better results.
3. Each washing machine has a specific capacity; it’s advisable to wash at 85%～100% of the machine’s rated capacity for optimal efficiency.
4. Properly set washing times and temperatures, tailoring the washing program to different types of linens while considering the equipment’s capabilities. Deep analysis of water quality, the condition of the linens, types and degrees of soiling, laundry chemicals, washing equipment, and water level selection should inform program design.
5. Pay attention to bleaching techniques. Bleaching is essential for removing stains and achieving good whiteness, relying on the strong oxidizing action of bleach. However, the bleaching process can also threaten the lifespan of fabrics, making careful management of this step crucial in controlling linen damage.
By following these washing tips for hotel linens, you can save on detergent use while extending the life and usage rate of hotel linens, ultimately reducing damage rates.
