Industrial chemicals

[daniabeachCL]

Hey, I own a coin laundry in Dania beach, in between Fort lauderdale and Miami, I have only owned it for one year. Recently I aquired a commercial contract with a company which owns four motels right on the beach. They have been going through 150 or so lbs of linnen per day. Since they are all individual motels owned by one company, all the sheets or not unified. Some white, some peach and tan. I buy my liquid soap in 30gal barels. Im just wondering if anyone has any advice on any good industrial product that will clean and disinfect these items. I currently use the usual, soap, industrial adclor 20%bleach, and sometimes a liquid degreaser. But I still get some stains. I would really appreciate some tips from anyone with commerical experience.

Thank You

[Lar Hylobates]

I don't have any experience in the laundry business at all, but I think you should boil your water or at least pump it to 160.

[CharlieS]

Dania Beach - When I was flying full time, we often went into Opa Locka. Invariably we'd end up at some point in Tugboat Annies up in Dania. Is it still there?

To your question - Commercial laundry operations are a different animal from coin laundry. Commercial grade cleaning processes use hotter water (140-160), and the chemicals are much stronger (higher alkalinity). The detergents are strong enough to require a "sour" process, essentially an acidic bath to offset the alkalinity of the detergents. The chemicals are usually injected into the machines automatically, which keeps expense consistent and minimized, while also reducing employee exposure to the much more toxic and potentially dangerous chemicals.

I have been considering converting one or two of my machines to injection, along with a tankless heater, just to feed those machines. This would allow me to offer commercial grade washing, but I would have to take them out of coin service. Many coin laundry machines will support injection systems. This is the same type of laundry as most OPL operators do, and most use variations of the same equipment we do.

Ecolab and others make all sorts of detergents. You will almost certainly have some chemical distributors in your area who can help you if you want to pursue this further.

Charlie

[anonymous]

I was doing some research last night and came across this site, they have a bunch of commercial laundry and stain removing answer on it, I thought it was cool but not for coin laundry so much:

http://www.laundrytoday.com/questions_and_responses.html

[Lar Hylobates]

There you go again Charlie.