CHICAGO — Wash temperature has always been part of an effective industrial laundry formula, along with mechanical action, chemistry, and time.
Low and high temperatures have been used throughout the industry’s history, but for many years, higher temperatures have been required to achieve desired cleanliness levels, especially in recent years with health concerns such as COVID-19.
But today, more operators are looking to improvements in wash chemistry to lower wash temperatures and increase efficacy and efficiency.
American Laundry News reached out to six laundry chemistry experts to learn more about the movement toward processing goods with lower temperatures.
Scott Pariser is president of Pariser Industries in Paterson, N.J., and Steve Tinker is senior vice president of research & development and marketing for Gurtler Industries Inc. in South Holland, Ill.
Peter Jackson serves as Christeyns North America’s vice president of commercial laundry in Greenville, N.C., and Dr. Anna O’Donovan is with the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program.
Bryon Ohmart is vice president of research and design for WSI in Loveland, Ohio, and Leonardo Gastelum is Norchem Corp.’s director of national accounts in Los Angeles.
First, please define lower-temperature laundry chemistry.
PARISER: The subject of lower water temperatures for processing of various soil classifications is not new but remains an important one as it relates to efficient and effective laundering practices.
“Lower temperature” laundry chemistry is non-specific/relative terminology inasmuch as desired temperatures will vary from soil classification to classification and be affected by individual production nuances; however, the general benefits of lowering hot-water temperatures include reduced energy consumption and longer textile life.
Temperature is one of the four foundational requisites and variables in a wash program. It stands in relation to the other key factors of mechanical action, chemistry and formula time. When one changes, the others typically change proportionately and in opposite directions.
TINKER: Traditional wash temperatures in the commercial and institutional laundry industry have been between 160 F and 180 F. Those temperatures were required for efficient and effective soil removal and bleaching performance.
With new surfactant and bleaching technology, wash and bleach temperatures in many cases have been lowered to 140 F. Temperatures in the 100-120 F range are possible for many wash classifications.
JACKSON: Lower-temperature laundry chemistry refers to specialized detergent formulations and wash processes designed to achieve effective cleaning, soil removal, bleaching, whitening, and disinfection of textiles at reduced temperatures, typically as low as 104-140 F, compared to traditional methods requiring higher heat. This approach often incorporates advanced components like enzymes, surfactants, active oxygen (e.g., peracetic acid), ozone and pH-neutral chemicals to maintain performance without relying on thermal energy for efficacy.
O’DONOVAN: Lower-temperature laundry chemistry refers to detergents and wash systems designed to clean effectively at temperatures typically below 86 F. These formulations rely on enzymes and surfactants that activate at lower temperatures, rather than heat alone, to remove soils and other contaminants during the wash process.
While these advances represent a significant step forward in laundry technology, their performance depends on the combined interaction of chemistry, mechanical action, cycle design, and temperature, rather than temperature in isolation.
OHMART: In today’s commercial laundry environment, lower-temperature cleaning can be defined as a meaningful reduction in wash temperatures — typically at least a 20% decrease — without compromising wash quality or hygienic outcomes. Advances in surfactants, enzyme technology, water management and microbial control have made this possible in applications where high heat was once considered non-negotiable.
Why is the laundry industry asking for lower-temperature cleaning capability today?
GASTELUM: In today’s laundry industry, low-temperature wash chemistry has proven effective in hospitality applications where soil loads are predominantly light. Items such as sheets, bath towels, pillow slips, and other hotel linens typically contain water-soluble soils, body oils, and light particulate matter that can be effectively removed using today’s modern surfactant systems at reduced temperatures.
OHMART: Two major forces are driving renewed interest in low-temperature processing:
ESG (environmental, social, governance) and sustainability priorities — Every operator is working toward some form of ESG goal. Reducing thermal load is one of the most direct ways to lower energy consumption and water usage, decrease emissions, and demonstrate measurable progress toward sustainability commitments.
Rising utility costs — Energy prices and water costs continue to climb. Lowering inlet water temperatures reduces the demand on boilers, steam systems and reclaim systems, translating directly into cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
PARISER: Hospitality- and institutional-related linens can significantly benefit from lower-temperature washing, but operators will need to weigh the benefits of temperature reductions against the potential for increases in rewash and chemical usage, and concerns for proper hygiene, and efficient related formula time.
In the past, oxygen bleach typically required higher hot-water temperatures than chlorine bleach to adequately activate in the wash process; however, new bleaching techniques and bleach types may permit the use of lower-temperature bleaching without adverse effect on destaining, brightening, and sanitizing.
Where chlorine bleach is used, lower temperatures in the wash formula can increase the likelihood of residual bleach carryover after rinsing, which can cause discoloration in the finishing process, along with tensile strength loss, linting, and overall linen-life degradation. Sufficient rinsing and/or the use of an antichlor (chlorine bleach neutralizing agent) to eliminate this residual is an important concern that management needs to address with the chemical vendor.
TINKER: Many laundries continue to look for key cost-management initiatives. Energy is an important component of the entire process. Heating water and drying textiles is the major energy usage in the laundry operation and making these processes more efficient while lowering energy input can yield significant savings.
JACKSON: The laundry industry is increasingly seeking lower-temperature capabilities to enhance sustainability by significantly reducing energy and water consumption, lowering operational costs, complying with environmental regulations and minimizing the carbon footprint of operations.
For instance, innovations like Christeyns’ chemistry have enabled laundries to cut water usage from 1.3 gallons to under 0.4 gallons per pound of linen, and energy from 1,235 Btu per pound to under 280 Btu, addressing broader ecological concerns such as wastewater pollution and resource efficiency in sectors like hospitality, healthcare and workwear.
O’DONOVAN: Laundry operators are increasingly exploring lower-temperature washing to reduce energy consumption, control operating costs and support sustainability targets. Heating water is one of the most energy-intensive components of the wash cycle, so the lower temperature can deliver measurable efficiency gains and carbon reductions.
To date, much of the innovation in this area has been planet-focused, prioritizing energy and environmental performance. These advances are impressive and necessary. However, there is growing recognition that people-focused outcomes (such as allergen reduction and skin exposure to residual enzymes) require equal attention and further research.
Why was higher-temperature laundry chemistry previously used?
O’DONOVAN: Historically, higher wash temperatures were relied upon to compensate for detergent limitations. Heat helped dissolve fats, oils, and greases more effectively and contributed to microbial reduction, particularly for heavily soiled or high-risk textiles.
From an allergy perspective, higher temperatures have also been associated with dust mite control. Evidence indicates that temperatures of 131 F or higher are required to reliably kill dust mites, which helps explain why higher-temperature cycles were long considered essential for bedding and similar textiles.
OHMART: Higher-temperature washing was not so much preferred as was necessary, given the technology and materials of the time.
Earlier laundry processes relied heavily on cotton goods and saponification — the chemical reaction between alkali and natural fats/oils. With relatively low utility costs and few water restrictions, high temperatures were an affordable, effective way to support this chemistry. Surfactant technology simply hadn’t advanced far enough to offer alternative pathways.
Before hygienic testing was widely available, thermal disinfection served as the primary method of ensuring microbial kill. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidance historically recommended washing at 160 F for 25 minutes, and several state health departments wrote those requirements directly into regulation. Heat was the default because it was the only verifiable method.
Today, hygienic monitoring is widespread and standardized. With modern chemistry, laundries can achieve the same validated hygienic outcomes at significantly lower temperatures.
PARISER: Historically, higher hot-water temperatures were required to sufficiently clean and sanitize linens. Developments in surfactant and bleaching chemistry have allowed for similar results at lower ranges.
For example, the advent of enzyme detergent additives and lower-temperature bleach activators have allowed shirt launderers to benefit immensely over the last two decades, as typical hot-water temperature reductions ranging from 145 F and higher down to the 120 F range were successfully implemented. In this application, not only were energy savings realized, but garment color retention and garment tensile strength were enhanced as well.
TINKER: If you go way back in history (pre-1960), when textiles were 100% cotton and laundries used alkali, natural soap, and chlorine bleach to clean and sanitize their linens, high temperatures of 180 F were the standard.
When the first synthetic surfactants were developed, the optimum temperature was about 160 F for the best cleaning, and chlorine bleach use was optimized at about 140 F. When oxygen bleach was used, a temperature range of 160-180 F was considered optimal.
Of course, these temperature recommendations were determined when energy costs were not as high as today’s. Since the energy crisis in the early 1970s, the cost and availability of various energy sources have changed the relative importance of energy costs in the overall cost profile of a commercial or institutional laundry.
JACKSON: Higher-temperature laundry was previously favored because it was believed to be essential for thorough soil removal. It achieved optimal whiteness, effective bleaching, and reliable disinfection, as heat directly contributed to breaking down stains, killing bacteria, and enhancing chemical reactions in traditional detergents.
Come back Tuesday for part 2 about the advantages and disadvantages of low-temperature chemistry.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
