Rising Interest in Low-temperature Chemistry (Part 2)

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.

What are the advantages of lower-temperature laundry chemistry?

GASTELUM: For light-soil classifications, a controlled wash temperature range of 90-110 F provides sufficient thermal energy to enhance surfactant performance and promote effective emulsification without the excessive energy demands associated with traditional high-temperature washing. This temperature range offers an optimal balance between energy conservation, chemical efficiency and consistent soil-removal performance.

JACKSON: The advantages include:

Substantial energy and water savings, leading to lower operational costs and a reduced environmental impact.
Extended linen lifespan due to gentler, pH-neutral processes that minimize chemical and thermal damage to fabrics.
Improved fabric quality, resulting in softer, fluffier textiles with less residual moisture, which shortens drying times.
Enhanced disinfection and hygiene at lower temperatures without compromising cleanliness or whiteness.
Reduced chemical usage through innovations like enzyme technology and on-site production, which also cuts transportation emissions and wastewater pollution.
Additional benefits such as cooler laundry environments in summer, and eco-label certifications.

O’DONOVAN: When properly implemented, lower-temperature washing can offer several operational benefits:

Lower energy use and reduced utility costs
Improved fabric longevity, helping extend linen and garment life
Improved fabric care for modern and heat-sensitive textiles
Alignment with sustainability and environmental performance goals

These benefits are most consistently achieved when low-temperature chemistry is paired with appropriate mechanical action, wash time, and cycle design, rather than relying on chemistry alone.

OHMART: Lower-temperature washing provides meaningful operational and product-quality benefits.

First are efficiency and throughput. Heating water to high temperatures takes time. Reducing thermal ramp-up can shorten cycle times, support higher productivity, and decrease system stress.

Second, better textile longevity. Synthetic fabrics — now ubiquitous across hospitality, healthcare, and industrial segments — are more sensitive to heat. Polyester, essentially a plastic and naturally “oil-loving,” softens at higher temperatures. When overheated, it is more likely to absorb oils that then permanently set once cooled. Lower-temperature formulas protect fibers, finishes and structural integrity.

PARISER: Commercial linen plants can benefit greatly on utility costs from temperature reductions. New developments in solvent and surfactant chemistry may allow for effective washing at lower than historical temperature ranges by as much as 20-30 F. Here again, the goals concerning rewash percentages, along with production time, and the choice of bleach must all be weighed against the potential savings on heating water.

TINKER: The prime advantage of lower-temperature laundering is the cost savings due to lower energy usage. There are some potential increases in extended textile life, but this is a very difficult factor to measure.

What are the disadvantages?

TINKER: The biggest disadvantage is the potential for less efficient cleaning, especially for greases and oils. This can be overcome with the use of detergents that are specifically formulated for lower-temperature use, and in some cases, an increase in detergent usage and a potential increase in washing times, again especially if the textiles have a high degree of oily or greasy soils. The cost of additional detergent should be a fraction of the potential energy-cost savings.

A major potential disadvantage of lower wash temperatures has to do with the efficiency of the extract process. It has been shown that extraction of moisture from common commercial or institutional textiles is more efficient when the temperature of the textile is over 100 F, and with 100% cotton fabrics, the improvement of extraction increases significantly at temperatures as high as 140 F.

Extracting water from the textiles is much more efficient, energy-wise, than evaporating retained moisture in a dryer. If more moisture is retained in your fabric because water temperatures in the final rinse have dipped significantly below 100 F, then all of the energy savings in the low-temperature wash process can be offset by increased energy usage in the dryer.

JACKSON: Potential disadvantages include the need for specialized equipment like ozone generators or on-site production units, which may involve upfront investment costs. Ozone-based systems can produce a strong odor requiring proper ventilation, and ozone’s instability means it must be generated on-demand rather than stored.

Additionally, transitioning may require process adjustments. While performance is equivalent, certain stubborn food-and-beverage stains or soils might still benefit from occasional higher-temperature cycles in some cases.

O’DONOVAN: Lower-temperature washing is not a direct replacement for higher-temperature processes. If detergents, cycle parameters, or loading practices are not optimized, performance can be impacted, particularly for:

Heavily soiled loads
Odor control
Microbial reduction
Bedding and other high-contact textiles (where allergen reduction is required)

There is insufficient independent research examining whether modern low-temperature systems can consistently match higher-temperature performance for the reduction of dust mite allergen, especially given the established temperature thresholds associated with mite elimination.

OHMART: Lower-temperature processing is highly effective, but not without trade-offs.

Because heat contributes less to soil removal and microbial reduction, formulas must be more surfactant-based and engineered for emulsification. While this can increase chemical cost, the utility savings often offset the difference.

With lower effluent temperatures, heat reclaim systems capture less thermal energy. Plants relying heavily on reclaim may notice diminished effectiveness — though operational savings typically still outweigh this factor.

In a low-temp environment, microbial kill shifts from thermal to chemical. This is not a disadvantage for chemical partners, but it does require confidence in validated chemistry and process control.

GASTELUM: Food-and-beverage laundry operations present a significantly higher soil challenge. These applications commonly involve animal fats, greases, and protein-based soils that have higher melting points and require thermal energy to aid in soil softening, emulsification, and suspension.

When wash temperatures are reduced, the efficiency of fat removal decreases, placing greater dependency on extended mechanical action, longer wash times, and increased chemical concentration. This results in higher chemical consumption and an increased cost per pound processed.

Click HERE to read part 1 with a definition of low-temperature chemistry and why the industry wants it.

Check back Thursday for expert advice about using low-temperature chemistry.