lipstick

[RWF]

Can't get the latest lipstick stains out of restaurant napkins. Anybody have the same problem? What detergent are you using to overcome the problem?

[LEEHUSTON]

I have been in the commercial table linen business for about eight years. I sell table linen to large rental laundries and provide tech service for the laundering and finishing of the linen. This new lipstick I am affraid will not come out, especailly if you are using polyester linen. Once it gets set in on the ironer or even in the tumbler, scissors are the only thing that will remove it. If you can catch most lip sticks before you wash and use solvated surfactant in the wash it will really help break it up. Talk to a professional laundry chemical supplier and ask him for solvated surfactant. Also get him to sell you a good low temperature high surfactant detergent. Grocery store detergents just don't work well on table linen. You also need 160 degree water and few coin laundries have that at the machine. There are some new low temp detergent on the market that work well though, check it out.

[amysignite]

I"ve tried everything I can think of. Picked up the "latest and greatest" at the Clean Show. Nothing is working well. So far, I've pre-treated with a degreaser then soaked overnight in soap and oxi-clean. Works decent, but is very labor intensive. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[bodman]

wd 40 has worked for me.

[Sarv]

hi

try sodium hypochlorite if the linen is white it should take it out i use it on very heavily stained pillows and duvets and it works really well never tried lipstick.

[amysignite]

thanks for the suggestion. we tried it and it works well. not 100%. they sure do make powerful lipstick today. when i'm eating at the restaurant, i remind everyone not to wipe their lipstick on the napkins. it usually gets a good laugh.

[vernonmaytag]

Has anybody tried Hydrogen Peroxide? We've heard about 35% bleaching pretty good, but not tried it.

[amysignite]

Peroxide didn't work well. WD 40 works, but leaves a yellow stain on the white napkins. Our best luck has been with cascade or generic dish soap. if stains are left, we spot treat and soak. very labor intensive - but nothing the attendants can't handle.

[amysignite]

I've started using "Release" from my supplier. It works and is expensive. We spray the stain, use soap and bleach and are now happy. We've begun using this on our worst stains for our WDF. Be careful and check to make sure its safe for all fabrics. We had one shirt I know had color lift, but it's worked well on everything else.

Amy