Solving the possible

Adam Bernstein reports

Laundries and cleaning operations need chemicals and solvents to operate, whether wet or drycleaning. And with rising prices and demand for more ecological products laundry consumables are under the spotlight like never before. Of course, while price is important, so too is wash results. So, what has the market to offer?

Adam Bernstein reports

For Thomas Zeck, commercial director for Textile Care at Kreussler, “Good value” is a term used in many areas of the textile care business. He says that “good value for money, is one meaning, but it also applies to good whiteness value, and good customer lifetime value.”

Zeck says that the Kreussler portfolio can fulfil all a laundry may need. He reckons that small laundries will profit from the EasyWash range that come in four-litre bottles and 5kg tubs: “The combination of a super concentrated heavy-duty detergent with hygienic effect, two special cleaning agents for sensitive and coloured textiles, a fabric softener concentrate with long-lasting fragrance capsules, and a powerful odour absorber will make short work of the toughest dirt and the most intense smells.” He adds that the products “are cost-effective, environmentally friendly and have been dermatologically tested.

And for the industrial laundry, Zeck says that Kreussler has developed washing programmes for different textiles. He talks of products such as Derval Power C, a highly concentrated heavy-duty detergent, Derval Protect – a washing power booster, Ottalin PA Conc – for bleaching, and Ottalin Blanc – an optical brightener. He says that each can be added via Kreussler’s dosing systems to “ensure a particularly economical use of chemicals.” And beyond these products are other solutions such as neutralising and finishing agents, fabric softener, enzymes, soaps etc.

Zeck goes on to say that drycleaners can profit from two options. Either wetcleaning, which uses water as a solvent to make it the “ultimate solution in terms of sustainability.” He adds that the Lanadol portfolio allows “a laundry to clean practically any kind of garment gently, but thoroughly… its secret is a precise mix of cleaning agents developed exactly for that purpose which use special colloids forming a protective film around each fibre, preventing any damage while keeping colours brillant and texture smooth.” And for greater hygiene, Zeck points to Lanadol ABAC which “has a broad microbiocidal spectrum of activity even at low temperatures, so as to not damage delicate fabrics, therefore prolonging the life cycle of cherished clothes.” But if a laundry wants to use a classic solvent, Zeck recommends SYSTEMK4. It features “the super-pure, halogen-free organic” solvent SOLVONK4, pre-brushing agent PRENETTK4, drycleaning detergent CLIPK4, and proofing spray VINOYK4. He comments that “textiles are often cleaned even better than in perc, with products having a far superior environmental profile.” He continues: “Due to SOLVONK4’s ultra-purity, it shows long-term stability even after many cleaning cycles, therefore being extremely cost-efficient.”

And to finish off the system, Zeck highlights a disinfecting solvent additive, Cinta Sept, which was “awarded Best New Product at the LADAs 2021 and which frees textiles from enveloped viruses that include coronavirus, bacteria, and yeasts.” He says that it does this “quickly and gently, protecting fibres and colours.” Cinta Sept can be used with many solvents in distilling cleaning machines.

For those wanting to move to Kreussler’s products, it’s exclusive distribution partner in the UK is Clean Supply. The Hertford-based company supplies many drycleaning and laundry companies throughout the country.

Bob Morrish, corporate accounts director and division manager Textile Care UK and Ireland, is well aware of the impact that the energy crisis is having on laundries. It’s the reason he says that “effective low temperature wash processes can really make the difference in a professional laundry as it helps reduce operational costs.”

He says that Ecolab’s low temperature solutions “can deliver valuable benefits for laundry plants and also provide the level of cleanliness end users demand wherever they are.”

The first product he talks about is OxyGuard40, a 40°C temperature washing solution that is aimed squarely at the hospitality sector. He says that “it can help improve the efficiency of fresh and wastewater management, reduce energy expenses that relate to low temperature washing and can do the same for CO2 emissions.” In practice, Morrish says that the effectiveness of the 40°C wash process relies “on innovative chemistry, that allows, through a specific process set up, optimal utility consumption and delivers premium quality textiles wash after wash, giving them a new life, whiteness comfort and cleanliness.”

OxyGuard40, as the name suggests, is based on a combination of a high performing oxygen based bleaching system which Morrish says is safe for fibres and is active at just 40°C, and a special detergent that’s based on Ecolab emulsion formulations.

He adds that this low temperature washing platform also “delivers a high level of sustainability in terms of maximum respect for the environment.” This Morrish says is down to a “special combination of active molecules and surfactants, active on different levels of soiling at just 40°C and approved by EU-Ecolabel.” Beyond OxyGuard 40 for hospitality textiles, other low temperature solutions from Ecolab are SoftGuard Delicate – for personal and special textiles – and Performance Industrial for professional and heavy soiled workwear “and the most challenging of textiles.”

In detail, Morrish says that SoftGuard Delicate is a “very gentle but ultra-efficient wash process for delicate textiles which offers spotless and freshly smelling garments, ultrasoft touch and smooth texture, outstanding colour protection and maintenance of the original brilliance, minimised shrinkage, pilling or felting of delicate woollen fibres.”

A feature of this product is, as Morrish says, “optimised low pH bleaching through the bleaching and disinfecting which is highly efficient from just 30°C… a special mix of peracids help to protect whiteness level at every wash and remove stains at these low temperatures in a very gentle set up.”

In relation to Performance industrial, “this,” says Morrish, “delivers a new level of sustainable cleanliness for professional and heavily soiled workwear and textiles because of a new process set up that enables effective cleanliness at 55°C.” He comments also that “outstanding colour protection and preservation of the technical features of professional workwear, including also high visibility stripes, is achieved, wash after wash, and helps to prevent soil from redepositing and impregnating fibres.”

Morrish finishes by saying that all washing programmes can be integrated with the enVision data management system.

Luca Caramaschi, export manager for Rampi, says that the company has added four new products to its existing line – and they “are now available for use with automatic dosing systems.”

He says that while it might seem logical to say that using different products together is not that cost effective, in fact, “quite the opposite is true.”

Caramaschi details how very often when large quantities of laundry are washed together, shirts in particular, items may need to be rewashed. However, he points out that “laboratory tests and customers have proven how by using a combination of products, the result is a more effective outcome first time around and therefore a reduction in water and energy consumption” is possible. Also, he says that the combined formula can do away with the need for separate pre-spotting as it is now incorporated.

Caramaschi reckons that compared to Rampi’s competitors “our range of chemicals for commercial laundries is active at lower temperatures. While other leading brands require at least 70-75°C to be effective, our new line is already active at 60°C.”

In terms of the products, he points out PL Wash Uni Ve – “a complete novelty and vital addition to the new range for commercial laundries.” On this he tells how, because its viscosity is constant throughout the year, “no one need fear changing temperatures any longer.” He continues: “Normally, when the weather is colder viscosity increases, meaning that a lower dosage is delivered, resulting in reduced performance. On the other hand, in hotter weather, detergents are more fluid, leading to a faster flow and therefore higher costs and product waste… PL Wash Uni Ve eliminates this considerable drawback.”

In terms of other of the company’s products, he cites Chlorboost – a sodium hypochlorite-based bleach for deeply soiled cotton, linen and mixed fabrics; Alkaboost – an alkaline degreasing detergent; Emulsiboost – which is “ideal for eliminating oily and grease stains”; Oxyboost – an active oxygen-based washing booster; and Igiensoft – a triple concentrated sanitising hypoallergenic fabric softener for sensitive skins, which is “particularly suitable for children’s clothes and fabrics that stay in contact with the skin for long periods such as bed linen and towels. It is ideal for the care home sector.” But Rampi has, says Caramaschi, a new range – universal Destain prespotters.

Of this he says that “with this new, cost-effective compact line, laundries and drycleaners have all they need in four simple products – Deoil for fat stains, Deprot for protein stains, Detan for tannin stains, and Derust for rust. Previously each type of washing process required a different prespotter. Rampi is the perhaps the first to develop a prespotter suitable for all.”

Caramaschi claims that the range is “extremely gentle on fibres” and so is suitable for wetcleaning, drycleaning and traditional water washing