Content about Detergent

CINCINNATI — Uniform supplier Cintas Corp. is transitioning companywide to a more environmentally friendly detergent.

In conjunction with Washing Systems LLC, Cintas has begun introducing Structure at its U.S. facilities. The product’s environmentally friendly and biodegradable components are free of phosphates and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which have been found in some instances to alter the oxygen and metallic levels found in the environment.

“Cintas is committed to being a good environmental steward and seeks to help our customers and communities make positive impacts on the environment in any way we can,” says Scott Farmer, Cintas CEO.

In 2008, the company transitioned to detergents free of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE). Two years later, the Environmental Protection Agency issued an Action Plan Summary to eliminate use of NPE from all industrial applications and consumer products.

Once the latest transition is complete, Cintas will employ washing standards that are entirely NPE-free, phosphate-free and EDTA-free at all of its 175 uniform laundry facilities throughout North America, the company says.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — When striving toward a properly equipped hotel laundry facility, owners and operators have a number of factors to consider, including the right equipment mix, new technologies, types of machines and unique industry challenges.

The proper selection of commercial laundry equipment can have a significant impact on several key operational factors—namely time, money and utilities.

Hard-Mount vs. Soft-Mount Washer-Extractors

There are generally two types of washer-extractors: hard- or rigid-mount and soft-mount. Hard-mount machines cost less, but the installation can be expensive. Soft-mount machines may cost more initially, but are easier to install.

Soft-mount washer-extractors generally don’t need concrete supports, and the suspension system eliminates the need for machine bolt-down. Therefore, upgrading to high-speed washer-extractors can be accomplished without having to replace the existing floor, saving a day or two during the installation process.

Additionally, soft-mount washers can extract much more water than hard-mount washers. Certain soft-mount washer-extractors feature high-speed extraction of up to 350 G’s (G-force) to help cut energy usage and drying time.

An Additional Challenge

Unlike a long-term-care facility or athletic club, the linens and towels make up much of the hotel guest’s experience. If a hotel has scratchy, dirty or uncomfortable bed linens or towels, odds are the guest won’t be a repeat customer. For hotels, every time a guest checks in, the linens need to be in top shape to help ensure repeat customers.

Manufacturers realize this and are doing their part to develop chemical injection systems that take the guesswork out of laundry. By working closely with a local chemical supplier, hotel owners and operators can determine the appropriate type and amount of detergent needed to clean the laundry and meet resident or guest expectations. Incorporating a chemical injection system into the machine will help dispense the precise amount of detergent needed, which ensures the correct amount of chemicals are added to the water and helps guarantee clean laundry.

Check-Out Time

Maximizing the effectiveness of hotel laundry operations requires a good distributor partner, the proper mix and types of equipment and a solid understanding of industry challenges. An efficient laundry room can save a hotel money, time and utilities, positively affecting its bottom line.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an action plan late Wednesday afternoon to address the potential health risks of nonylphenol (NP)/nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), used in industrial laundry detergents. The plan identifies a range of actions the agency is considering under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Meanwhile, the EPA says it supports a voluntary phaseout of industrial laundry detergents containing NPE by 2014 pledged by the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA).

CINCINNATI — Cintas Corp., in conjunction with Washing Systems LLC (WSI), has become the first major industrial launderer to make a company-wide transition from a nonylphenol ethoxylate- (NPE) based detergent to a new, more environmentally friendly detergent in its industrial laundry facilities, Cintas says.

With more than 175 facilities in North America, Cintas has begun the transition in several of its locations and plans to be completely NPE-free by the end of 2008.

According to Cintas, benefits of the NPE-free detergent include:

“This may seem like a silly question, but what’s the difference between liquid detergents and powdered detergents? How do their cleaning abilities and storage characteristics compare? Is one type more environmentally friendly than the other?”

Over the years, I’ve been asked many times to explain how laundering decontaminates fabrics or textiles.

The questions have been asked in several ways; usually asking about sanitization or disinfection of the textiles, especially if considering textiles that are used in healthcare facilities or even in hotel and motel operations.

I’m willing to venture that many of you have been asked the same question: “How clean is clean?”

GOOCHLAND, Va. — The laundry at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women recently switched to using a nonphosphorus detergent as the state investigates the source of foam found in the James River, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

Water samples taken in early June detected extremely high levels of phosphorus, which can fuel the growth of algae.

Some witnesses have reported seeing the white, lacy foam covering the river from bank to bank, the newspaper reports.

Some unknown factor has increased the hardness of the water entering my laundry. How can we combat this change so we can produce high-quality linen without jeopardizing production efficiency? What options are available to me to address this hard-water problem?