Different types of stains found especially in the hotel and hospital linen include kitchen oil, lubricants, food, beverages, mud, dirt, blood, ink, lipstick, and so on. Most stains are removed by dissolving them with a solvent. The solvent selection depends on two factors: the agent that is causing the stain, and the material that has been stained. Different solvents will dissolve different stains, and the application of some solvents is limited by the fact that they not only dissolve the stain, but also dissolve the material that is stained. We should be cautious while using such solvents.

These are some of the solvents that can be used for stains:

• Detergents

• Oxidizing solvents

• Reducing solvents

• Lacquer solvents

• Softners

• Acids

• Alkalis

• Soda

• Bleaches

One of the most neglected aspects about good housekeeping is that it requires the support of a good laundry. More often than not, hotels spend large amounts of money on linen (for rooms as well as baths) since it makes a statement about the quality of accommodation offered by the hotel. What goes largely ignored however, is the fact that to maintain this quality one needs an efficient and good quality of linen processing on-premise laundry.

In an in-house laundry, one is able to choose the right chemicals to ensure higher production and also ensure longer life of linen and uniforms. With external laundries, it is at times difficult to get the kind of output required by hotel operators, like in case of back to back check-in of a conference or a large group.

Many stains can be avoided by proper handling of linen, storing in laundry bags (not on floor) and placing in racks.

N Chandrashekar

CEO-ProSolutions.