Water Quality for Laundering

The quality & quantity of water plays a big role in the result of the wash.

• APPEARANCE: Water should be clean transparent without suspended solids & colourless. Clothes act as filter and retains everything the water contains
• ORGANIC MATTER: these come from the decomposing of living matter contained in the water. The water must be of the hygienic quality, but it can contaminate the textiles.
• HARDNESS: caused by the presence of soluble calcium & magnesium salts in the water. The water dilutes the calcareous rocks in it’s path, so calcium concentrations vary in each area. To certain temperature calcium & magnesium precipitate to form whitish deposits/on the machine & on linen.

*Problems caused by the hardness of laundry:

– Precipitation

– Decreases washing efficiency

– Ironing difficulty

– Reservoir for micro-organisms

– Increases overall cost

• ALKALINITY: parameter indicates the sum of all the alkaline salts that are dissolved in the water bicarbonates, carbonates, sulphates, hydroxides etc..It indicates the water capacity to neutralise acids.

*Problems caused by the alkalinity in the laundry

-Difficulty in rinsing

-Yellowish stains

• pH: pH of water gives an idea of it’s content in alkaline salts. waters with a high pH make rinsing difficult & a higher consumption of water and/or neutralizers are usually needed.
• SALINITY(sodium chloride): Water with high chloride content can be found in wells near the sea that are contaminated by filtration. Chlorides can interfere with the salt ratios of detergent. Thereby decreasing their effectiveness. In drying and/or calendaring they can cause scale to form on the rollers and on linen.
• IRON: is the most common metal we can find in wash water. Iron can be found in water in forms:

1- In dissolution: Water dissolves the iron minerals in the area.

2- Oxide particles: From rust in water pipes or in hot water boilers.

*Problems caused by the iron in laundry

-Yellowing

– Orange stains

– Catalytic Damage