As you know, cleanliness is a guarantee of not only health, but sometimes also a matter of reputation. In this case, we are talking about restaurant textiles, which must be kept clean and tidy, and accordingly, washed and ironed. How to solve this issue, what should you pay attention to when choosing a method for maintaining textile cleanliness?
The specificity of washing restaurant linen is that a large percentage of heavily soiled linen is stained with grease, ketchup, wine, etc. Washing volumes can be quite large; the washing cycle for such laundry can take up to 1.5 hours. Restaurant textiles are washed daily and restaurateurs demand high quality washing.
Therefore, it is better to trust the professionals to wash your linen - banquet tablecloths, napkins, buffet skirts, muletons and naperons, as well as staff uniforms, mostly contaminated with fatty sauces and seasonings. They have high-quality modern equipment and good cleaning products at their disposal.
How and where the table linen will be washed is, of course, up to the restaurateur to decide. There are two options.
A more economical and in some ways even more convenient option is to equip your own mini-laundry. This is especially true for small establishments or country complexes.
The second way is to use the services of a professional laundry-dry cleaner. In this case, it is worth considering a number of nuances. The most important criteria are: the equipment used in the laundry, detergents, as well as the level of service, including the speed of order fulfillment, quality of washing, delivery, etc. The price of such services is not the last.
Professional Laundry Equipment: Features
The laundry process includes the following stages: sorting dirty laundry by style/density and degree of contamination, washing itself, drying and ironing (finishing).
Each stage requires special equipment. The washing process takes place in washing or washing-extracting machines; there are also machines with partial spinning or without such a function. The laundry remains damp after washing and will need to be dried before ironing.
As a rule, washing machines are divided depending on energy consumption, spin, and number of revolutions per minute.
The machines come with manual control (the simplest models), semi-automatic (the operation is set using buttons) and models with an electronic programmer, which contains a certain number of standard programs or the possibility of free programming.
The main differences between industrial washing (drying) machines and household ones are as follows: they have a greater margin of safety (they can work for 8-20 hours in a row) and the service life of industrial machines is up to 25 years.
Professional washing equipment also has a short washing cycle, but it depends on the selected program: for cotton linen (2-3 times shorter than the cycle of a regular household machine) - lasts on average 40-60 minutes, for heavily soiled linen and linen with a high percentage of grease stains, blood - up to 90 minutes. The cycle also depends on the load (machines with a smaller load will perform a greater number of cycles).
For comparison: in household machines, the washing cycle for moderately soiled laundry (for example, bed linen) lasts up to 2 hours. This is due to the fact that they use one heating element for heating. In professional machines there are several heating elements (heating elements), and they are much more powerful. Therefore, in one shift, for example 8 hours, an industrial washing machine will complete 10 cycles, and a household washing machine only 4.
It is also important that the manufacturer's warranty does not apply to household machines used for industrial purposes, but the warranty for industrial machines is provided: from 1 year full warranty (labor and parts free) to 2-3 years limited warranty (only parts free).
The presence of a microprocessor (which allows you to create the required number of programs for laundry (primarily according to the degree of contamination) and the use of professional detergent dispensers allow you to achieve significant savings in laundry chemicals, water and electricity.
There are two options for microprocessor control: a standard set of factory programs - from 5 to 10 or a fully programmable microprocessor for 99 programs. The latter allows you to create your own washing programs, taking into account the specifics and degree of contamination of the laundry and its composition. Sellers of professional chemicals will select the washing programs necessary specifically for your laundry.
By installing an automatic detergent dispenser and programming the microprocessor with a number of necessary programs, the laundry owner solves several important issues. Operating such a machine does not require highly qualified personnel (you just need to press the desired button). The process of using chemistry, and with it resources (water, electricity), is optimized; and, finally, the washing result is “excellent” (subject to correctly selected chemical washing programs). When using a household machine, you have to be content with a set of programs that do not always meet the requirements of the laundry.
Industrial washing machines, as a rule, have a high safety margin and are made of high-quality stainless steel.
As for dryers, the duration of the drying cycle in industrial models is 1.5-2 times shorter than in household models. The duration of the drying cycle depends on the humidity of the loaded laundry, on the density of the fabric.
Factors influencing the choice of the optimal washing equipment for your restaurant are the volume of laundry processed, the type of textile (straight, shaped, terry) and processing speed. That is why industrial models of washing machines that are designed to withstand heavy loads, large sizes, and have greater productivity will have an advantage.
Choosing the “right” equipment
Industrial machines are different. Which ones should you prefer for, for example, your own restaurant laundry?
The equipment that our company represents on the Ukrainian market meets all the requirements for modern laundry equipment. These are products of world industry leaders: DANUBE (France), Airon and BRONGO (Italy), MAYTAG (USA), ASKO (Sweden).
The body of the machines should be made of high-quality stainless steel (ideally) or covered with enamel, but the inner drum should only be made of stainless steel.
The installation features depend on the design of the machines - sprung and unsprung. High-speed sprung machines (700-1000 rpm spin) are usually installed on a flat floor (no need for a foundation or anchorage to it). Low-speed machines (spin 400-500 rpm) are installed on the foundation and attached to it. Type of heating: for restaurant linen, it is better to choose machines with an electric heating element. Restaurant laundry programs typically begin with a so-called “soak wash” at low temperatures. This allows you to begin the stain removal process. Then the temperature gradually increases. When washing restaurant linen only at high temperatures, the stains are “cooked” and remain on the linen.
Spin speed. Low-speed machines give laundry 70-80% residual moisture. When washing in machines with high-speed spinning - up to 1000 rpm. – the residual moisture content of the laundry will be 50%, which shortens the drying cycle and saves energy. After washing laundry in such machines, you can bypass the drying stage and immediately send it to the drying and ironing rink.
Microprocessor control. For washing restaurant linen, a fully programmable microprocessor is, of course, preferable. It allows you to create your own washing programs, taking into account the specifics and degree of contamination of the linen, its composition. Absolutely all models of DANUBE washing machines (France) have a freely programmable microprocessor and the ability to connect dispensers.
A wide range of laundry and dry-cleaning equipment from the world's leading manufacturers is presented on the Ukrainian market by the LONDRY TRADE company.
The French manufacturer DANUBE INTERNATIONAL is recognized as one of the leaders in this field. Washing, drying and ironing machines DANUBE undeniable advantages: everything from drawings to assembly and testing of equipment takes place in factories in France.
Ironing rollers GMP Commerciale (Italy) are among the most popular in Europe; the company also owns the Airon brand – industrial washing and drying machines.
BRONGO (Italy) produces unique industrial washing machines with a loading capacity from 100 to 360 kg.
ANGHINETTI/Camptel International, a European finishing equipment manufacturer with an impeccable reputation in the industry, offers a full range of clothing and linen finishing machines. Ironing presses, vacuum ironing tables, steam dummies for outerwear and trousers, steam generators, etc. will ideally satisfy the needs of dry cleaners, laundries, and small studios.
MAYTAG Corporation (USA) is the industry's oldest: the first washing machine was assembled in 1907.
Scandinavian manufacturer ASKO produces equipment, the distinctive features of which are practicality, economy, convenience and durability. Professional models of washing machines, dryers and dishwashers ASKO are designed specifically for mini-laundries in restaurants, hotels, etc.
The Italian company Firbimatic is also very popular in this market. Its products are distinguished by their affordable prices, which are the result of full automation and large production volumes. The range of dry cleaning and washing machines is very diverse - from models with a loading capacity of 10 kg to industrial machines with a loading capacity of 260 kg.
The final stage: drying, ironing and special equipment. Before the final stage - ironing - the laundry is usually dried. For this purpose, dryers are usually used, where the laundry is dried by hot air circulating in a rotating drum. This may take about half an hour to an hour (depending on the humidity of the loaded laundry and the density of the fabric).
Requirements for a good drying machine: stainless steel drum, microprocessor control that allows you to control the drying time; beltless direct motor drive and reverse as a system to prevent things from creasing; cooling items at the end of the drying cycle. Everything that is in the dryer in addition to the above does not play a special role, except that it increases the cost of the machine itself. The final treatment of linen is ironing it. It is important to take into account the nuances here.
Ironing machines are divided into three types. Ironing rollers are groove (mold) type models - they process only straight, non-shaped bed, table or bath linen, which is located on a rotating shaft with an elastic textile surface.
Ironing occurs while the items are moving along a stationary heated metal trough (mold), pressed against the shaft. Before ironing on rollers after spinning the laundry in centrifuges, additional drying in drying drums is required.
Drying and ironing rollers (calenders) are more efficient and productive - essentially these are ironing rollers with a drying function, as they can iron clothes with a residual moisture content of 50%. Linen is transported to the ironing area using a conveyor belt made of high-temperature resistant material. Ideal ironing quality is provided by rotary (carousel) ironing presses, which are suitable for both straight and shaped linen. Textiles are manually placed on the bottom plate and then pressed onto a heated ironing surface.
Advice from Londry Trade: “Fashionable linen or uniforms in small quantities (up to 100 items per shift) can be ironed on a professional ironing table; The productivity of the press and steam mannequin is about 200 units per shift.
For work clothes made of natural fabrics, you can choose simple models of professional vacuum ironing tables. These are ANGHINETTI models with a steam generator and an electric steam iron. If this is a uniform made of mixed fibers or from fairly expensive fabrics, then the table model should be with blowing, an iron with a Teflon sole is needed. More complex and expensive equipment is of no use here.
The EVROPA and De LUX models have proven themselves well. The press and steam mannequin provide high speed laundry processing, which is important for large restaurant and hotel complexes. The press is convenient for ironing trousers, etc., although a trouser steamer is inappropriate in a restaurant laundry. Jackets and similar items are best processed using a steam mannequin, and finishing touches can be added on the ironing table.” As for ironing straight linen, these are ironing rollers. The ironing rink accepts laundry with a residual moisture content of 25% (then after washing it in a machine with a spin speed of 1000 rpm, it must be dried in a tumble dryer for 15-20 minutes).
The laundry is supplied with 25% residual moisture to the drying and ironing roller (calender), i.e. immediately after washing in a machine with a spin speed of 1000 rpm. Please note that the calender shaft is made of chrome-plated steel - both the quality of ironing is higher and the service life is longer. The largest European manufacturers of ironing rollers and calenders DANUBE (France) and GMP (Italy) produce models where the shaft (chute) is chrome-plated. For restaurant linen (especially if it is linen), calenders are preferable, because... When used, exceptional ironing quality is achieved. And you save money on buying an extra dryer.
You can use a special ironing press to iron restaurant napkins. Models CAMPTEL - TEHNOMATIK or similar are suitable. You can use it to iron linen starched with natural starch. This is the holy of holies of our restaurateurs. And it is impossible to convince them. How much imagination can be shown when setting tables! Nowhere in Europe will you see this Soviet rarity - crispy standing napkins in a restaurant. Why? Yes, because industrial laundries around the world use synthetic starches, which are easily removed during subsequent washing. Natural starch is unacceptable when ironing clothes on rollers and calenders.”
Summary
The cost of services in commercial laundries is quite high, in addition, it is also worth taking into account transportation costs, time, and quality of washing. Therefore, you can organize your own laundry by choosing the right equipment.
The selection of equipment is based on the amount of linen, the degree of contamination, the composition of the linen (cotton, linen, mixed fabrics, etc.), the type of heating of the equipment (electricity, steam, combined). When choosing a supplier company, it is important that it has its own service department and that its warehouse always has the necessary spare parts. And if the company's engineers also regularly undergo internships at manufacturing plants, then excellent technical service is guaranteed to you.
Based on materials from the magazine "Restaurateur"
