Oversudsing

[kees]

In looking for the right laundromat to purchase, I'd hang out at different mats, at different times of the day and different days of the week. I'd frequently notice that people would buy the little vending boxes of detergent. Even though everyone recommends using less soap for a better wash, how come I observed so many people with a lot of soap left in their laundry at the end of the wash cycle? Was it because soap had accumulated from previous washes? Or, was it because the boxes from the vending machine contained "too much soap"? Could it be that the number of rinse cycles had been cut down to a minimum?

Suzy
:cool:

[Duane]

Even with the proper amount of soap, when a customer packs a washer with too much laundry you can still have soap in the clothes since there really isn't enough room for the water to rinse through the clothes.

And as you mentioned, if an owner cuts down on the water usage too much it can leave the customers clothes soapy.

95% of the time it is the customer adding too much soap. Even when they buy the vending soap they notice that there isn't much in the box (the power is more concentrated so you don't need as much, but the boxes need to be the same size so they work in the vendor) so they buy more than one and add multiple boxes to the washer.

Duane.

[Adamski]

Suzy,

I agree with Duane. Suds remaining on the clothes after the washer has finished is an indication that either the customer packed the washer too full or the customer used too much soap for the size and type of load. The overloading only becomes an issue on the top loaders and the smaller, softmount front loaders. It's much more likely that the customer loaded properly but dumped in too much soap.

On the other hand, most customers actually use the correct amount of detergent and they use a nice front load washer and they don't overload and they use liquid fabric softener. For these customers, who are the majority in my laundromat, anything more than 1 rinse is a waste of water, sewer, time, electricity and washer usage.

If we're going to become "greener" we really should be looking for ways to train our customers on proper washing techniques. Then customers can quit wasting detergent and we can quit wasting water on rinses and customers can buy the Prewash or Extra Rinse only on the rare occasion when the load actually requires the extra bath. Now that's GREEN!

[kees]

That's weird because I would bring loads of my own laundry to the mats to check out the places for a few hours. I didn't overload the machines, bought the vended soap (to check out the prices), and was still disappointed that the clothing still had suds in them. I'm also quite cognizant of the amount of soap that I use in my machine at home and check out the utility sink after most washes. One bottle of detergent easily lasts more than a year. I was too "economical" to buy softener!

Suzy

[BCW]

I have been experimenting with my water softener. In 2007 and prior, I was so busy that recharging 2 times a week wasn't enough. 3 times was a little too much, but I had to go with it. These days I recharge 1 time per week. My salt savings is amazing. Soft water has much to do with oversoap conditions. Liquid fabric softener is a must with soft water. It gets the soap out.

Tom

[Adamski]

Suzy,

The liquid fabric softener is the key to increasing the efficiency of our washers. Everybody should use liquid fabric softener for every load. This will "kill" the suds with just one rinse thus saving water, sewer and electricity costs. It will also eliminate fabric softener sheets which blacken dryer baskets over time. Liquid fabric softener is a win - win for everybody.

[merlin3]

Was it because soap had accumulated from previous washes?


Suzy,

This comment reminded me of a study conducted by Clemson University. The study was commissioned by Atsko which manufactures a product called Sport Wash. This is what we use to process horse clothing.

We can easily tell when someone other than us has washed a horse blanket. Our custom cycle has two flush cycles with just water. Blankets that have not been laundered by us will look as if they have had a whole cup of soap dumped in with them without us adding anything just from the detergent left in by the previous person! :eek:

The test was to check for the "rinseability" of Sport Wash vs. Tide Liquid.

The test material was 100% cotton diapers. They used a control test of plain water, Sport Wash at recommended amounts, Sport Wash at 4 times the recommended amount and Tide Liquid.

The study showed that over just 8 washings, the fabric laundered in Tide Liquid had increased in weight by nearly 2% compared to basically nothing with the Sport Wash.

Those interested can read the whole study by clicking here. (http://www.atsko.com/articles/clothing-care/detergent-evaluation-of-sport-wash.html)

http://www.atsko.com/ui/image/articlepage/sportwash_comparechart.gif

[MrMachine]

In looking for the right laundromat to purchase, I'd hang out at different mats, at different times of the day and different days of the week. I'd frequently notice that people would buy the little vending boxes of detergent. Even though everyone recommends using less soap for a better wash, how come I observed so many people with a lot of soap left in their laundry at the end of the wash cycle? Was it because soap had accumulated from previous washes? Or, was it because the boxes from the vending machine contained "too much soap"? Could it be that the number of rinse cycles had been cut down to a minimum?

Suzy
:cool:


That store might have drainage issues. For instance, did they recently install new machines that have lower water levels and 2 rinses? These machines need to have vents installed (suds towers) on the drains behind each washer to release some of the excess suds.
Or maybe the owner has never snaked out his lines. After a while, coins and other debris will accumulate along the bottom of the drain line. As the drainage from the washers comes charging through, it gets "stirred up" like a blender because the drain line is not smooth anymore.

[Adamski]

Suzy,

One question that comes to mind immediately with regard to that university study of Sport Wash vs Tide Liquid vs water is this: Does the Tide Liquid have perfumes and brightners that remain on the cotton at the end of the cycle by design thus increasing the weight slightly?

[merlin3]

Larry,

I'm sure the perfumes and brighteners are at least part of it.

We use liquid Tide here at home. Sometimes I'll take stuff to the mat with me to do and take the Tide with me.

One day I had a large load of nothing but bath towels. Used half a cap of Tide in a 30 pound machine. It was not overstuffed either.

At the time, my machines were set for 3 rinses. By the end of the third rinse, it looked like there was almost as much soap in the water as during the wash cycle.

So as an experiment, I washed them again with no soap. And again and again..... By the end of the 5th time, the suds were just about gone.

An eye opener for me.

Randy

[Adamski]

Randy,

That's why liquid fabric softener is so important. I take it you didn't use any liquid fabric softener in your tests?

[merlin3]

Randy,

That's why liquid fabric softener is so important. I take it you didn't use any liquid fabric softener in your tests?


No I did not. I had always gone with the theory that fabric softener cuts down on the water absorbency of towels, so I was leaving it out for a while. I'm back to using it now as the feeling of the towels is just to harsh without it.

Randy

[Adamski]

Randy,

So, according to your test with the towels, it took about 15 Rinses without fabric softener to get the detergent rinsed out. Based on some testing I've done with various loads, just 1 good Rinse with liquid fabric softener will get the detergent rinsed out. Using a sheet fabric softener does not produce the same desired result.

I think what we are seeing is that liquid fabric softener is a useful product whereas fabric softener sheets are of less value and their usefulness is suspect. Most customers use one or the other but the liquid, although slightly less convenient, produces a far better result.

[laundry8me]

Larry,

I'm sure the perfumes and brighteners are at least part of it.

We use liquid Tide here at home. Sometimes I'll take stuff to the mat with me to do and take the Tide with me.

One day I had a large load of nothing but bath towels. Used half a cap of Tide in a 30 pound machine. It was not overstuffed either.

At the time, my machines were set for 3 rinses. By the end of the third rinse, it looked like there was almost as much soap in the water as during the wash cycle.

So as an experiment, I washed them again with no soap. And again and again..... By the end of the 5th time, the suds were just about gone.

An eye opener for me.

Randy

Did you check the soap dispenser to make sure it was clear of soap?
Kidding. :-)
But, seriously, I come across dispensers that customer put soap in and then decided to use a different washer. But if I don't see it the soap stays in the dispenser and next person comes along and puts their soap in, not seeing the soap already in it (washers too tall) and, well, you know the rest...
I see this fairly often, since I am the one cleaning the dispensers throughout my shift. No employees.
Another problem I run across is customer, especially men, dump powder soap all over the dispensers, including the softener dispenser! They just slop it around and the soap in the softener is flushed into the laundry on the second rinse, (I have SQs). We know how that turns out.
Last, but not least, is the cheap powder soap with an abundance of ash filler that turns to cement in the dispenser when cold water hits it! I regularly take out chunks of that junk from the dispensers. But, if it is in there when the next customer comes along and puts their own usually very large portion of soap in and then uses the hot water option, the cemented soap dissolves, along with the current customers soap and, wall-a... a load so thick with bubbles I can't tell if the basket is turning!

[STOUT]

Suzy,

The liquid fabric softener is the key to increasing the efficiency of our washers. Everybody should use liquid fabric softener for every load. This will "kill" the suds with just one rinse thus saving water, sewer and electricity costs. It will also eliminate fabric softener sheets which blacken dryer baskets over time. Liquid fabric softener is a win - win for everybody.

In direction of what is quoted above. How do we get our dryer drums bright and shiny again from all those dryer sheets?

[kees]

Larry, do you have a sign that you share with your customers regarding the benefits of using liquid softener? If so, could you please share it with us?

P.S.- Why wouldn't the manufacturers of liquid softeners use this to increase their sales to those who normally buy sheets?

I guess this means that my Bounce has to "bounce" out of the house. (I know, that was so bad, but I couldn't think of anything that rhymed with Downey.

Suzy
:cool:

P.P.S.- So, Larry, does your response bring you up to the nearest thousand?

[Adamski]

Suzy,

Okay ... your the lucky winner of my 4,000th post.

Yes, I have a sign that recommends the use of liquid fabric softener for my customers. However, I am now considering rewording it to make it even stronger. Anyone who wants a copy of the new sign, please email me at laundromatman@comcast.net and I'll email you a copy of the new sign.

As to why the liquids don't point out their benefits more, I think Downy is in bed with Bounce. You know ... Downy is kind of between the sheets so to speak.

I've tested washing a load with 1 Rinse with Snuggle liquid fabric softener vs washing the same load with 1 Rinse with Bounce sheet fabric softener in the dryer. The Snuggle load felt substantially softer. My wife could detect a difference when I brought home dry samples from each load.

Now let me be clear. The intent here was to put the fabric softeners to the test by using just 1 Rinse to rinse out the majority of the soap and then let the fabric softener complete the job of soap removal. In these test loads, the proper amount of detergent was used. Snuggle was more effective at softening the load than Bounce.

[Adamski]

In direction of what is quoted above. How do we get our dryer drums bright and shiny again from all those dryer sheets?

Deward,

We use the cheapo oven cleaner (yellow spray can) that I buy at the Dollar Store for, what else? - a buck a can. Spray it on, wait 2 hours, wipe it off with a damp rag.

CAUTION: My dryers all have stainless steel baskets. I've never tried this method on the standard galvanized baskets. It might harm the metal and cause rusting to occur.

[kees]

Suzy,

Okay ... your the lucky winner of my 4,000th post.

Yes, I have a sign that recommends the use of liquid fabric softener for my customers. However, I am now considering rewording it to make it even stronger. Anyone who wants a copy of the new sign, please email me at laundromatman@comcast.net and I'll email you a copy of the new sign.

As to why the liquids don't point out their benefits more, I think Downy is in bed with Bounce. You know ... Downy is kind of between the sheets so to speak.

I've tested washing a load with 1 Rinse with Snuggle liquid fabric softener vs washing the same load with 1 Rinse with Bounce sheet fabric softener in the dryer. The Snuggle load felt substantially softer. My wife could detect a difference when I brought home dry samples from each load.

Now let me be clear. The intent here was to put the fabric softeners to the test by using just 1 Rinse to rinse out the majority of the soap and then let the fabric softener complete the job of soap removal. In these test loads, the proper amount of detergent was used. Snuggle was more effective at softening the load than Bounce.


Larry,

Congratulations on your 4,000th post! You said that I was a winner! Do I get a free bottle of Downy?

Suzy
:cool: