IT’S ALL IN THE BALANCE


Liz Kildunne, Technical Manager of Christeyns UK, discusses mixing and matching chemical types and functions to get the best results, whilst not forgetting cost and environmental implications.


Headquartered in Bradford, Yorkshire, and part of the Christeyns Group based in Ghent, Belgium, Christeyns UK serves a number of hygiene and cleaning-related industries, including commercial laundry.


One key element of Christeyns’ activities is the manufacture and supply of detergents and supporting chemicals for the laundry sector across the UK. The firm is continually looking into ways of developing chemicals that improve the quality of the wash and cost efficiency, whilst being kind to the environment.


Traditionally, commercial laundry operations have used a mixture of products including alkalis, surfactants, destainers, disinfectants and finishing agents. These ingredients are still very much in use in today’s laundries but in ways that aid efficiency and improve outcomes.


Alkalis are usually used to boost the wash performance and to saponify fatty soils, and these products often contain sequestering agents to soften water and to complex with heavy metal ions which may be present in water. Surfactants can include anionic or non-ionic functionality which promotes ‘wetting’ of the textiles, and subsequent dispersion or emulsification of soiling matter.


Destainers, more commonly referred to as bleaches, can be critical in the removal of coloured stains: for example, tea, coffee, or red wine. Additionally, depending on their type, they


can also provide disinfection of the load, provided appropriate conditions are met. Finishing agents can be defined as sours, used to neutralise any excess alkali and include softening agents, usually cationic, to improve the way towels handle, and starches, to impart body to restaurant linen.


“Over the past decade, innovation in the development of chemicals, processes and equipment means that these


traditional chemicals can be used to better effect.”


The employment of liquid products allows laundries to use tailored processes to match the type and quantity of chemicals used to the linen batch and the soiling level, only using those chemicals which are needed to effectively clean. Liquids therefore offer a more flexible approach than powders, which were used in the past.


Over the last decade, innovation in the development of chemicals and in processes and equipment, means that these traditional chemicals can be used to better effect. Increased knowledge and expertise means suppliers like Christeyns are better placed to add value and support launderers from the outset.


52 | INTERCLEAN AMSTERDAM - SHOW GUIDE


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