Hotels do a huge volume of laundry on a daily basis. Keeping linens, towels, uniforms, and other items fresh and clean is crucially important for maintaining quality standards and guest satisfaction. But with such large quantities of laundry, what kinds of detergents are hotels using to get fabrics thoroughly clean?
Commercial Laundry Detergents Are Specifically Formulated for Hotel Needs
Hotels require heavy-duty laundry detergents that can handle the unique demands a hotel’s laundry facility faces. Commercial laundry detergents are designed to dissolve greases, oils, and other robust soils at the high temperatures needed for sanitizing huge volumes of laundry daily.
These industrial-strength detergents also contain ingredients to brighten fabrics, prevent graying, and keep colors looking vibrant despite frequent washing cycles. Enzymes target protein-based stains, while surfactants lift soils from fabric pores and suspend them so they can be fully rinsed away. With repeated high-temperature washing, everyday household detergents would simply not achieve the cleaning results a hotel requires.
Ecolab Laundry Solutions Are Trusted by Premier Hotel Chains
Ecolab is a global leader in commercial-grade laundry solutions for hospitality, healthcare, food and beverage operations, and other industries. Top hotel brands like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, and Fairmont use Ecolab detergents, additives, spotting agents, and fabric care products.
Ecolab laundry solutions are engineered to maximize cleaning effectiveness while protecting linens and uniforms. Detergents like Solid Power XL remove the toughest stains but are also designed to extend the life of fabrics that withstand constant washing. Products also meet stringent environmental standards for biodegradability and sustainability.
Bespoke Formulations Target Specific Soils and Fabric Types
Hotel laundry facilities handle a wide variety of fabric types like cotton linens, microfiber mops, terry cloth towels, polyester uniform shirts, and more. Ecolab offers customized products that target the specific soil types and laundry loads generated in a hotel environment.
For example, greens, grounds, and knits detergents are formulated to prevent pilling on sensitive fabrics. Chefs jackets and other cotton-poly blends benefit from special surfactant technology lifting away proteins, starches, oils, and particulates. Ecolab’s products allow hotel laundries to use specialized detergents tailored to their unique operational requirements.
Automated Dispensing Ensures Consistent Results
Large on-premise hotel laundries often rely on automated chemical injection systems to precisely dispense detergents. Ecolab’s Laundry Master station electronically controls detergent concentration levels for consistent results. Sensors provide usage tracking data to prevent waste and optimize cleaning efficiency.
These sophisticated dispensing systems also enable remote monitoring capabilities. Laundry managers can check detergent tank levels, set product usage alerts, monitor supply deliveries, compare site performance metrics, and more based on data transmitted from the equipment. Automated injection tuning further refines the detergent dosing to match each facility’s water conditions and load sizes.<line space>
Ongoers Staff Training Is Key
While advancements in commercial detergents and intelligent dispensing play a crucial role, the housekeeping staff operating industrial washers and dryers are vital for generating clean linens. Hotels invest heavily in training programs that teach laundry personnel proper loading, extraction, ironing, folding, and storage procedures.
Staffers learn fabric characteristics of various textiles to select the most appropriate water temperatures, dryer settings, and chemical applications. They are also trained on special products for delicate items requiring extra care. For any hotel laundry operation, knowledgeable staffers using the right commercial-grade detergents are critical to producing pristine results guests expect.<line space>
The Future: Continued Innovation to Enhance Cleaning Performance
As hotels push to elevate the guest experience, suppliers like Ecolab are responding with the next generation of cleaning products harnessing new technologies. Future hotel laundry operations will leverage innovations like:
Cold Water Detergents
Saving energy, water, and fabric wear-and-tear
Enhanced Enzymes
Breaking down organic stains better than ever
Targeted Surfactants
Custom molecules lifting specific soil types
Smarter Dispensing
Optimizing detergent use through AI and machine learning
The commercial laundry domain will see continued enhancements in chemistry, automation, and data utilization – all focused on generating exceptional cleaning results as efficiently as possible. Leading hotel groups will work hand-in-hand with suppliers to implement cutting-edge solutions advancing their laundry operations.
The Bottom Line
Maintaining fresh, clean linens is a monumental task for hotels given the immense scale of their daily laundry demands. Heavy-duty commercial detergents, automated injection systems, and extensive staffers training combine to enable hotel laundries to produce exceptional results cost-effectively. As properties aim to take the guest experience to new heights, suppliers will respond with the next wave of cleaning product innovations set to transform hotel laundry operations.
References
Ecolab, 2023. Hospitality Laundry Solutions. [online] Ecolab.com. Available at: https://www.ecolab.com/offerings/laundry-solutions [Accessed 16 January 2024].
Marriott, 2023. Marriott International and Ecolab Strategically Align to Redefine Hospitality Cleanliness, Setting New Standards for Guest Experience. [online] Marriott News Center. Available at: https://news.marriott.com/news/2020/05/marriott-international-and-ecolab-strategically-align-to-redefine-hospitality-cleanliness-setting-new-standards-for-guest-experience [Accessed 16 January 2024].
Gill, 2022. The Importance of Laundry Training. [online] Encyclopedic Reference of Laundry and Linen Management. Available at: https://encyclopedia.laundryworld.com/the-importance-of-training [Accessed 16 January 2024].
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.