Stain removal guide for commercial laundries

For any business from care homes to hotels and animal care, getting rid of laundry stains isn’t just important for maintaining health and quality standards but for your reputation, too. Giving your team the right knowledge to deal with all stain types effectively will help them get the best results on every load. 

To get stubborn stains out of your laundry, you don’t just need to select the right detergent and cycle. Taking a few preparatory steps will help you deal with any stains efficiently. We cover everything you need to know in this guide for commercial laundries.

Understand stain types

It’s a common misconception that putting stained laundry on a hot wash is the best approach. However, each stain is made up of different chemical compounds. For example, smears of butter are oil-based, while fruit juices have a high sugar content. This means they’ll react differently when they’re exposed to the same temperature or detergent. 

As such, to remove a stain effectively, you need to adjust the cleaning process according to its chemical nature. Otherwise, you could ingrain the mark into the fabric and ruin the item. For example, using hot water on a blood mark will make the stain permanent. Helping your team identify each stain type will ensure they can choose the most effective cleaning process and look after fabrics.

Removing common stains

Understanding the steps to remove different stain types will help it lift more quickly and easily. Here are the recommended cleaning processes for the most common blemishes. 

Grease and oils 

Some foods, make-up and other beauty products can leave unsightly stains on towels, bedding or other items in care homes, hotels and spas. These oil-based stains don’t mix well with water, making them more difficult to remove. To lift the stain, the following steps are recommended: 

• Blot away as much of the oil-based stain as possible using paper towels or an absorbent cloth, don’t rub the area as it can ingrain this further into the fabric.
• Add an emulsifier or Sultraspot Mineral to the stain and tamper with a brush. This will allow the chemical to start the process of the stain removal prior to entering the machine.
• If needed, repeat the last step.
• Then wash the item at its maximum recommended temperature. You might want to add an emulsifier alongside detergent if you’re washing heavily oiled items.

Protein stains 

The most common protein-based stains tend to be anything produced by the body. This can include blood, urine, vomit and sweat. The molecular structure of proteins means they can easily bind to fabrics if left for too long or exposed directly to heat. To lift these blemishes and make your fabrics hygienic again, follow these steps:

• Remove any excess stain quickly and put it on a short ambient temperature (below 40C) pre-wash cycle. This means the stain isn’t introduced to heat too early.
• If the fabric isn’t delicate, using a small amount of stain removing powder can help to lift blemishes (particularly stubborn ones). Be sure to test a small area of fabric before you. apply hydrogen peroxide to the whole item.
• You may need to blot the stain and re-soak the item to lift ingrained marks.
• Wash the item on the suggested cycle with an enzyme-based biological detergent.

Mud and dirt 

Particularly if you’re running a boarding school or equine business, grass stains, mud and dirt are likely to be some of the most common blemishes you deal with. These can quickly build up and become ingrained if dirtied items aren’t cleaned regularly. For easy, effective removal, use the below process: 

• Let the stains dry out completely.
• Scrape off any excess mud or dirt using a blunt instrument, such as a spoon or butter knife, or a hoover. Then tamper the dirt and stroke away with a small brush.
• Put the item on a pre-wash cycle to help lift the stain.
• For particularly stubborn marks, repeat the above process or use a stain remover.
• To remove grass stains, you need to prespot items in Sultraspot Colour (if the fabric isn’t delicate) and rinse with warm soapy water.
• Wash the item using the recommended machine cycle and more biological detergent.

Food and drink 

Across almost all commercial laundries, food and drink spills are likely to be the most regular stains teams need to remove. However, it’s important to understand that the exact food or drink item which caused the stain will change how you deal with it. Here are some examples: 

• Chocolate and coffee stains should be soaked or washed quickly. Stain removal powder can help lift stubborn marks.
• Milk or cream can be removed by being soaked or sponged with a borax solution before washing.
• Wine or beer stains can be lifted with solutions of white vinegar and warm water before being rinsed in cold water and washed as normal.
• Sugar-based stains, such as fruit juices or fizzy drinks, can be lifted with cold water soaking (use hydrogen peroxide if the fabric isn’t delicate and the stain is stubborn) before washing.
• Chewing gum should be solidified by being wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in a fridge or freezer. It should then break off easily, though you might need to treat the area with a stain remover afterwards.

Process of effective stain removal

To stop stains from drying out, becoming ingrained and more difficult to remove, you should have an efficient washing process which includes the following steps: 

• Check each item to figure out what stains you’re dealing with and how severe or stubborn they are. This should be done manually by a team member using appropriate PPE.
• Your exact washing separation system will depend on the hygiene requirements of your business. Ideally, if you can segregate items by stain type, this makes removal processes more efficient.
• Use the appropriate spot treatment on a stain to help lift it from the fabric. Be sure not to use any cleaners or chemicals that are inappropriate or too harsh for the material.
• Pre-soak items in the appropriate solution or clean water. Although it’s not recommended, this is done for items made from some natural fibres, such as wool.

Once these steps are complete, you can put the separated, pre-treated items into the most appropriate wash cycle with the right detergent.

Choosing the right chemicals for commercial laundry

The type of stains you deal with and the cleaning results you want to achieve will all impact the type of chemicals you need for your commercial laundry. For example, blemishes left by body fluids will require a biological detergent to be cleaned effectively. Choosing one with Optical Brighteners will also make items turn out whiter or more colourful. 

If you regularly wash delicate fabrics, then a low-temperature destainer will help you achieve good results in cycles as low as 20 °C. Emulsifiers are particularly useful for hotels, restaurants and spas that regularly deal with grease or oil-based stains. It’s not just about considering stains, however, as fabric conditioners leave items with a quality finish and fresh scent. 

To make sure you’ve got all the cleaning products to meet your needs and know how to use and dose them correctly, it’s worth getting professional chemical advice. Our team is here to listen to your business’s laundry needs and help you select the right detergent and de-stainer products. Contact WASHCO’s specialists on 08000 546 546 or email info@washco.co.uk to find out more.