A Comprehensive Laundry Guide: Stages and Best Practices

In this article, we explore the distinction between commercial and industrial laundry cleaners, detailing their capacities, features, and suitability for various settings. We examine the stages of laundry washing, from pre-soak to finishing, offering recommendations for optimal results at each step. We also emphasize the importance of choosing the right products and techniques to ensure effective cleaning and fabric care throughout the laundry process.?

Commercial vs. Industrial Laundry Cleaners

First, let's start off with the types of laundry washers available on the market.?

Commercial Laundry Cleaners

These machines are smaller and have lower capacity, making them suitable for settings like universities and laundromats. They offer a wide range of wash programs but only perform cold washes. Built to last about 10,000 cycles with 5-6 cycles per day, they are reliable and cost-efficient for smaller businesses.

Industrial Laundry Cleaners

These large-capacity machines are ideal for sectors like hospitality and healthcare. They have advanced controls and heating elements for sanitizing loads. Designed for 30,000 cycles, they are energy-efficient and effective for cleaning items like towels and bedding. They offer customizable programs and multiple rinses for thorough cleaning.

Stages of Laundry Washing?

Pre-Soak/Pre-Wash Stage

The first stage involves soaking clothes in a water and detergent mixture before washing to loosen dirt, stains, and odors. It's especially helpful for heavily soiled items and clothes, with care labels recommending pre-washing. After a brief tumble, the clothes soak for 15 minutes to an hour before the washing cycle begins.

ORAPI Recommends:

Enzyme Laundry Emulsifier

Using enzyme laundry emulsifiers for pre-soaking and pre-washing improves stain removal and fabric care in an environmentally friendly way. The enzymes target specific stains and break them down at a molecular level, making them easier to remove. They are effective at lower temperatures, saving energy and preserving fabric integrity. Enzyme emulsifiers are also biodegradable, reducing chemical use and environmental impact. While initially it might seem more expensive, they are cost-effective in the long run by reducing the need for repeat washes and additional products.

Washing Stage

The washing stage is the second part of the laundry cycle, where the cleaning process truly begins. This stage involves more sub-stages than just washing the clothes in the drum:?

1. Sort: Separate the laundry by fabric type, colour, and level of soiling to prevent bleeding or fading and ensure effective washing.

2. Pre-treat: Apply a stain remover or other cleaning agent to any stains or heavily soiled areas.

3. Measure: Use the appropriate amount of detergent and other cleaning agents according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

4. Load: Place the laundry into the washing machine, ensuring it does not overload.

5. Wash: Run the washing machine according to the settings specified on the care label of the clothing or other textiles being washed.

ORAPI Recommends:

Laundry Liquid De-stainers

Laundry liquid de-stainers are essential for effective stain removal and preserving clothing. They prevent tough stains from setting into fabric fibres, ensuring thorough stain removal and fabric integrity.

Alkaline Builders

Alkaline builders are essential components of laundry detergents. They prevent scale formation, break down various types of soils, and saponify oily soils, enhancing the detergent's stain-removing ability. Liquid detergents work more effectively with alkaline builders, offering superior cleaning performance, especially in hard water or heavy soil loads.

Rinse Stage (Automatic)

After washing, the rinse stage removes soap, detergent, and cleaning agents from the laundry. This stage ensures that any remaining dirt and contaminants are eliminated, and that excess detergent, which can cause skin irritation, is removed. The washing machine drains the dirty water, refills the tub with clean water to rinse the clothes, and then spins the laundry to release any remaining dirt and detergent from the fabric. This step is automatic, so you don't have to pay attention to it.

ORAPI Recommends:

Laundry Starch?

Laundry starch enhances the stiffness and body of fabrics, providing a crisp and polished appearance ideal for garments such as dress shirts and linens. Additionally, starched fabrics resist wrinkles better, making them easier to iron and maintaining a smoother look for longer periods. Starch also offers stain resistance and can help control the volume of certain fabrics, contributing to a more professional and tidy appearance overall.

Disinfecting Stage

The disinfecting stage in the laundry wash cycle involves using extremely hot water or disinfectant to disinfect the laundry. The high heat, at a minimum of 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit), combined with a suitable disinfectant, effectively kills most germs and bacteria. This function is not common in commercial washers but is prevalent in hospitals, hotels, and elderly care homes to ensure hygienically clean and safe laundry. Commercial washing machines also have a designated disinfecting cycle using the warmest temperature setting available for optimal cleaning performance.?

ORAPI Recommends:

Linen Liquid Disinfectants

A laundry disinfectant agent is essential for ensuring thorough cleanliness and safety in laundry processes. These products are effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. They have superior tolerance to organic soils and can withstand hard water and anionic contaminants. Disinfectant agents eliminate potentially harmful microorganisms while penetrating through various stains and soils commonly found on laundry items. Disinfectant agents that do not require rinsing streamline the laundry process, making them ideal for both domestic and commercial settings where efficiency and hygiene are paramount.

The Drying Stage

If you wear semi-dry clothes, they often start smelling due to the growth of bacteria and mold. So make sure your clothes are completely dry before you start wearing them.

Air Drying

Air drying is an energy-efficient way to dry laundry by hanging it on a clothesline or drying rack. It's best for items prone to shrinking or losing shape in the dryer, such as wool and delicates.

Tumble Drying?

Tumble drying uses a clothes dryer to remove moisture from laundry by blowing hot air over the tumbling clothes. Although tumble drying dries your clothes faster, it uses a significant amount of energy.

The Finishing Stage

The finishing stage in the laundry wash cycle involves tasks that come after washing the clothes, such as folding, hanging, ironing, and storing. This stage is important to ensure that the laundry is ready to wear or use and is properly cared for to extend its lifespan.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between commercial and industrial laundry cleaners is crucial for selecting the right equipment. In this article we emphasize the importance of using proper techniques and products for effective cleaning and fabric maintenance. Informed decisions about laundry products and practices contribute to efficient operations and long-term satisfaction across diverse industries and establishments.