The Life of Linen
Justin Kerslake, Operations Director UK, provides some insights into the importance of prolonging linen life and how the right chemicals make all the difference.
The longevity of the linens may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering the laundering process. But all linens have a finite lifespan in which the chosen laundering process plays a huge part.
There are two issues to consider.
One is the cost to the commercial laundry in the purchase and replacement of linen that is ragged early due to laundering damage or staining and the second is the environmental impact of replacing linen.
Both of these issues need to be addressed.
By washing at cooler temperatures, the wash process is much gentler on the linen, promoting longer life of the natural fibres. Christeyns developed Cool Chemistry, a total wash concept that uses a pH neutral process to wash effectively at lower temperatures.
Using the correct detergents, made from an appropriate blend of chemicals that have been tried and tested to prevent linen damage and minimum effect on the environment, is essential.
Some textiles are more delicate than others, cotton for example is less resilient than polyester. Water type, hard or soft, will also play a part in the effectiveness of the wash and the choice of detergent. In addition, the amount of detergent used will affect the longevity of the linen. Accurate dosing will not only reduce chemical cost but also reduce unnecessary detergent build up on the fabric.
Dosing to the stain is the latest commercial laundry system introduced by Christeyns, this new EPIC system, (Enzymatic Process Innovation by Christeyns), is a flexible detergent system designed to reduce surfactants by 50 percent, supplementing them with biological enzymes.
EPIC runs in conjunction with Cool Chemistry to create a total wash concept proven to deliver outstanding results in terms of soil removal, whiteness and bleaching at low temperatures. Results from recent system installations at Swiss Camplings laundry in Great Yarmouth have already shown that in a standard laundry process for hotel linen, the detergent dosed per kilogram of linen is reduced by more than 50%.
The EPIC detergent mixtures are produced on site at a customer’s premises to be dosed very precisely and safely, directly into the wash process. This is carried out by the high-tech EPIX box.
As well as improving wastewater quality and saving costs with smaller, concentrated doses, the total wash system offers exceptional whiteness The pH neutral wash process uses lower temperatures and helps prolong the life of the linen as well as reducing overall carbon footprint.
For high street launderers, Christeyns’ Aquawave family of detergents sold under the Pro-Fit range of products, offers a combination of innovative chemicals and a balanced process in a wet cleaning system to provide gentle cleaning and easy finishing for all types of delicate fabrics.
The cleaning system works by combining two innovative chemicals: Pro-Fit Wool and Pro-Fit Body. These are used together in a gentle one-wash-one-rinse cleaning process with temperatures as low as 20°C.
Powders v liquids
Traditionally powders were used over liquid detergents as they offered better stain removal, but as chemical innovation has progressed, liquids now offer excellent results, are easier and more accurately dosed and are less harsh. Powders for example can degrade some fabrics such as polyester faster than a liquid detergent and can speed up fabric fade or stain in some cases.
Protecting the life of the linen is one of the aims in the main wash process, hence the use of a programme like Christeyns’ Cool Chemistry, and EPIC but it is also an important factor in using a softener. Fibres become smooth and protected thus reducing friction in the wash process, preventing bobbling. Softener also helps keep linens bright, reducing abrasion and helping to retain colour. This keeps the linen looking good, allowing prolonged usage.
Pressing linen, uniforms and other items is much easier and quicker with a good softener, with less energy required in the pressing process and less stress on the fabric itself.
By using innovative chemical formulas combined with complementary engineered systems, linen life can be significantly extended. Aside from cost of replacement, reduction in chemical, energy and water usage, the other huge benefit is to the planet.
Cotton represents nearly half the fibre used to make clothes and other textiles worldwide, about 27 million tonnes* are produced globally each year and 10,000 litres** of freshwater are used to produce just 1Kg of cotton.
Saving water, whenever and wherever we can is crucial to sustain our life styles in the long term.
When it comes to the laundry industry, we want to do all we can to help cut down water consumption and reduce energy usage, which led to the development of our Cool Chemistry laundry system in 2016. We view the laundry industry’s sustainability challenge as an opportunity to provide our customers with cost effective solutions to help them stay ahead.
Through continued research, Christeyns can provide innovative solutions that will encourage customers to make the necessary changes, solutions that will affect their bottom line and enable them to continue to run a sustainable business.
These changes, of which prolonging the life of linen is one, will have long term benefits to the environment as well as improving a customer’s profitability. Every laundry we are able to assist, is one more step towards improving the world in which we live.
Captions:
* https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/clothing/world-cotton-production-statistics
** https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/clothing/cotton-farming-water-consumption
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