Originally posted – Apr 09, 2014
I have a commercial client who wants my store to take over the cloth napkin laundry service for his Italian restaurant. I’m not sure what is required to perform a quality service for this specific account. The napkins are red and often will have oil and other food stains. The client wants these napkins laid out flat for delivery.
What are the best laundry methods and products for such a challenge? Also, do such napkins need to be re-dyed from time to time?
First of all, to wash these items, you will require a machine that features a pre-wash cycle, a wash cycle and three rinses. The pre-wash cycle should be hot water at a low level. Next, the wash cycle should hot water at a medium to high level. And, lastly, the rinses should be cold water at a high level.
For the pre-wash and wash cycles, you need to use the hottest water you can possibly achieve at your store; anywhere from 150 to 165 degrees is optimum.
I would recommend using a di-limonene-based liquid laundry detergent in the pre-wash and wash cycles. Also in the wash cycle, add non-chlorinated, color-safe bleach.
Softeners should not be used on the napkins. This is because softeners can water-proof certain surfaces, and in this case, since napkins are used for wiping and catching spills, you want them to be absorbent and not actually reject any liquid-type spills.
After the first washing and drying, check the napkins to see if any of the items still have grease or oil stains. If so, re-wash those in an alkaline-based or built detergent. Use the detergent manufacturer’s recommended amount, and repeat the washing process the same way as the first time through. This should remove any lingering stains.
As far as re-dying the red napkins, I wouldn’t get involved in that process. It’s a process that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t – and even the professionals have occasional problems with re-dying items. If the color comes out of the napkins to a point where they no longer look presentable, I would suggest that the client simply purchase new napkins. After all, it might cost more money to try to re-dye them then to buy new ones.
What special requirements are needed to launder items that have been stained by diesel fuel?
If you’re trying to wash garments or fabrics that have been drenched with diesel fuel, my recommendation is to be very sure that the fuel has evaporated completely before you even think about starting the wash process. This warning also goes for items exposed to gasoline or oil.
If not completely evaporated, during the washing process the oils and fuels, when exposed to warm or hot water, can create a gassing situation – where a solid turns into a vapor. At that point, any type of a spark or static electricity can set it off, which could lead to fire or an explosion. So, once again, let me stress that the garments must be air-dried completely before you start the wash process.
Once you start the process, it’s best to do so in a machine that offers a pre-wash, a wash cycle and three rinses. Use medium to hot water, apply a quality laundry detergent in the pre-wash and wash cycles. Of course, the stronger the detergent, the better your results will be. Also, add non-chlorine bleach to the wash cycle. During the rinses, you can apply a fabric softener, although it’s not necessary.
After the wash, check the garments to see if there are any remaining stains. If so, simply repeat the process.
