OCTOBER 2019
Late News Grant aids California laundry recovery from 2018 Malibu wildfire MALIBU, Calif. — Royal Quality Laundry, a professional full-service laundry company here, reports it was awarded a $10,000 grant in May 2019 from Women’s Economic Venture (WEV) to help it recover from the Woolsey Fire of Nov. 2018. The wildfire blazed for 13 days before it was contained, affecting many local businesses, including Royal Quality Laundry. “We lost about 80% of our business after the fire,” says Natalie Camacho, founder and president. WEV, recently funded by Wells Fargo Works for Small Business: Diverse Community Capital program, awarded the business a $10,000 grant after Camacho applied. WEV is a nonprofit based in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The grant helped Camacho to recuperate her business this summer, using it for marketing, supplies, employee uniforms and more. The program also offers training and consulting. ALN
Wash chemistry basics Experts offer refresher in chemical element of wash formula BY MATT POE, EDITOR CHICAGO — The wash formula. It’s essential for laundry and linen services to use the correct wash formula to process goods. “Wash formulas are tailored to each classification depending on soil type, color, soil degree and fiber content,” says Amanda Steffen, marketing director for Ecolab, which provides water, hygiene and energy technologies and services. A key component to a wash formula is the chemistry. “The effectiveness of chemistry is equally important as the time, temperature and mechanical action of the entire wash process,” Steffen says. “It’s a balance of these four factors.” That means laundry operations need to make sure they are using the right chemicals, and sometimes that means going back to the
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basics of washroom chemistry to make sure the right chemicals are being used. ESSENTIAL FORMULA ELEMENTS
As Steffen notes, the basic elements considered in designing an effective and efficient wash chemistry formula include soil types
and levels, fabric composition, wash temperatures and the type of wash equipment. Steve Tinker, senior vice presidentresearch and development, marketing for Gurtler Industries Inc., a commercial launSee BASICS on Page 6
Laundry technology saves lives Properly cleaned firefighter PPE removes toxic carcinogens, saves lives BY JORDYN SCHRAEDER
Volume 45, Number 10
INSIDE Improving Workplace Safety How a laundry can move from safety as an ideal to making a realworld impact
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Assistant Chief Michael Dutcher of the Framingham, Mass., Fire Department scans a piece of protective firefighting equipment. (Photo: Framingham F.D.)
“There was a gap in our overall safety,” says Dutcher, a 21-year
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Panel of Experts Ways to reassure employees, customers and vendors about the health of an operation
See FIRE PPE on Page 10 The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management
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[14] PRODUCT SHOWCASE
RIPON, Wis. — For firefighters, danger does not end when a fire is extinguished, but rather when their personal protective equipment or PPE is clean. While fighting fires, toxic carcinogens that originate from synthetics and plastics absorb into the fabrics of PPE through smoke, which can cause cancer. Bill Brooks is the UniMac North American sales manager and has been a firefighter for more than 30 years. He says that when he was a newcomer to the firefighting industry, having soot-stained gear was a badge of honor. “Today, we know the dangers that lurk in the gear,” Brooks says. “Ours is a dangerous profession, and that danger lives on in our soot-covered gear well after the flames are extinguished.” Chief Joseph Hicks and Assistant Chief Michael Dutcher of the Framingham, Mass., Fire Department took this into account when they gained leadership of the department a few years ago. The department consists of 150 uniformed firefighters dispersed among five different fire houses.
FLATWORK IRONERS 9/16/19 2:04 PM