Removing hard-to-remove stains such as oil, sunscreen, and blood can be a time-consuming and costly process for commercial laundries, especially if they are not treated correctly from the beginning.
Stain removal poses a significant challenge for every laundry business. Approximately 3-5% of all commercial laundry loads require rewashing due to stains. Moreover, using incorrect treatments on certain stains can exacerbate the problem, leading to multiple rewashes and causing unnecessary expenses and delays for your laundry operations.
Fortunately, it is possible to quickly and easily treat most stains if you follow the right approach. To ensure efficient operations and keep your customers satisfied, Electric Laundry Repair has compiled some helpful tips for effectively treating the most common hard-to-remove stains.
General advice for dealing with stains:
To ensure efficient stain removal, it is important to follow proper procedures. Here are some improved guidelines for treating hard-to-remove stains that are discovered after the initial wash:
Stain Isolation: Any items with known stains should be promptly separated and placed in a dedicated bag, ensuring they are taken directly to the laundry. This precaution prevents stain transfer between items, such as a napkin with a lipstick smear.
Pre-Spotting Stains: Although pre-spotting stains with specialist spotting chemicals before washing is highly effective, it is often not practical since stains are usually identified after the initial wash, during the folding process.
Grease/Oil/Ink Stains: To treat stains caused by grease, oil, or pen ink:
- Spray the stained area with a solvent-based cleaner, ensuring it is saturated.
- Allow the cleaner to penetrate and dissolve the stain for a minimum of 15 minutes.
- Place the item in the machine for a normal wash cycle.
Sunscreen Stains: Diagnosing sunscreen stains can be challenging due to their pH sensitivity. To test for a sunscreen stain:
- Use an acidic solution like vinegar.
- Apply vinegar to the stain and observe its disappearance.
- After using normal detergent, the sunscreen stain will reappear.
To treat sunscreen stains effectively:
- Start by using a neutral detergent and a souring agent in the wash cycle to loosen the product.
- Follow this with a neutral detergent and a bleach process, utilizing oxygen bleach.
- Rinse the item thoroughly and apply a souring agent and water conditioner for the final touch.
- Flush the stain with warm water, avoiding temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius to prevent setting the stain.
- Spray and saturate the stained area with an enzyme-based cleaner.
- Allow the cleaner to penetrate and dissolve the stain for at least 15 minutes.
- Place the item in the machine for a normal wash cycle.
Body Soils: Most body soil stains are water-soluble, making them relatively easier to remove. Follow these steps:
- Use a warm water wash with an alkaline detergent to eliminate body soil stains.
- For particularly stubborn stains, apply an enzyme-based spotter and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Rewash the item using a normal wash cycle.
By adhering to these improved guidelines, you can effectively treat hard-to-remove stains discovered after the initial wash, ensuring optimal stain removal and customer satisfaction in your laundry business.
Waikato's Commercial Laundry Experts
At Electric Laundry Repair, we exist to help your laundry business succeed. We know laundries, and we will provide all of the support you need to start or grow your laundry business. For any laundry equipment concerns or queries, Electric Laundry Repair's knowledgeable team is always available to help.
