Page 42 - CIJ Oct 2024 Digital Edition

SPECIAL REPORT

Mastering Laundry Practices for IR

jay Nair, Head Uniforms: Cold to warm
Sales & CRM, water with detergents that
ADD Concepts protect colors and fabric
Pvt. Ltd, outlined quality.
Acomprehensive • Heavy Soiling: Pre-soaking
best practices that encompass in detergent solutions to
everything from understanding break down stains and grime
laundry requirements and effective before the main wash.
washing and drying techniques to • Overloading leads to
prioritizing hygiene, sanitation, and improper washing and
environmental sustainability at the mechanical strain on laundry
Clean Rail Conference 2024.
equipment.
1. Understanding • Ensure proper tumble
Railway Laundry drying settings (temperature
and cycle time) according
Requirements to fabric requirements to regions facing water scarcity.
• Indian Railways handles a high prevent shrinkage or wear. • Use of modern, energy-
volume of linen daily, including efficient washing machines and
bed sheets, pillow covers, 3. Hygiene & Sanitation dryers can significantly reduce
blankets, and curtains. This • Disinfection Protocols: Indian electricity consumption.
requires robust systems and Railways must prioritize • Running machines at full but
optimized workflows. disinfection to prevent the not overloaded capacity to
• Rapid processing is crucial to spread of infections: maximize energy and water
ensure clean linen is available • Use of anti-microbial efficiency.
for the next cycle. treatments and fabric-friendly
• Differentiating between disinfectants in the wash cycle. • Steam irons are preferable
for railway linen, as they
bedding and other textiles helps • Regular maintenance of
establish separate protocols washing machines to avoid are faster and more efficient,
for each type of fabric to avoid bacterial buildup (biofilm). reducing wrinkles and ensuring
damage or deterioration. • Handling of Soiled Linen: smooth finishes on sheets and
Proper collection and handling uniforms.
2. Best Practices for of soiled linen to prevent
Washing & Drying cross-contamination. Use of 5. Sustainability
• Sorting by Fabric and Soiling: color-coded bins for sorting. Practices
Always sort linen by fabric • Personal Protective Equipment • Eco-Friendly Detergents: Use
type (cotton, polyester blends, (PPE): Laundry workers biodegradable and phosphate-
etc.) and soil level before should be provided with free detergents to minimize
washing. Pre-sorting helps to gloves and aprons to minimize environmental impact.
optimize washing cycles. exposure to potentially
• Water Temperature & infectious materials. • Chemical Management: Proper
Detergent Usage: 4. Water & Energy chemical dosing systems to
Bed Linen: Warm water with prevent overuse and ensure
proper detergents and oxygen- Efficiency efficient washing. Misuse
based bleach for thorough • Implement greywater recycling of chemicals can lead to
cleaning without damaging systems to reduce freshwater fabric damage and increased
the fabric. consumption, critical in operational costs.

OCTOBER 2024•Clean India Journal
42 www.cleanindiajournal.com