Hotel, hospital and commercial laundries wash large volumes of linen with heavy and varied soils: body oils, food, cosmetics, blood and kitchen grease. A good commercial laundry wash process breaks that job into stages, each with its own chemical, so that soil is removed, stains are treated, and linen comes out neutral, soft and ready to iron.
Dosing is always calculated per kg of dry linen, so the first habit to build is weighing loads and not overloading machines. Overloading reduces mechanical action and wastes chemical.
This guide walks through each stage in order, with the Evochem product and label dosing for each, and ends with the most common causes of yellow and grey linen. It is written for laundry managers, housekeeping heads and procurement teams.
The wash sequence
Sort linen by colour, fabric and soil level; keep whites separate from coloureds.
Weigh the load and load to the machine’s rated dry capacity.
Pre-wash to loosen and emulsify oils and heavy soil, then drain.
Main wash with detergent, and builder for heavy or greasy soil.
Chlorine destaining for white cotton linen only, where stains remain.
Rinse two or more times to remove detergent, alkali and loosened soil.
Final rinse with a sour to neutralise residual alkali and chlorine, and softener if required.
Extract, dry and finish.
Pre-wash
A pre-wash removes the bulk of oil, fat and grease before the main wash, so the main wash chemicals are not used up on loose soil. Flox Pre-Wash Detergent is a surfactant blend that emulsifies and lifts oils, fat and grease. Label dosing is 2 to 4 ml per kg of dry linen. It can also be used alongside other detergents for heavier soil.
Main wash and builder
The main wash does most of the cleaning. Flox Star is a concentrated synthetic detergent with anti-redeposition agents that hold soil in the water so it does not settle back onto fabric; label dosing is 5 to 15 ml per kg of dry linen. For heavily greasy linen such as kitchen cloths and chef whites, Flox Build is an alkaline builder that raises the pH of the wash water to loosen fatty stains, at 5 to 15 ml per kg of dry linen. Laundries that prefer powder can use Star Powder at 5 to 15 g per kg of dry linen.
Flox StarMain Wash DetergentHighly concentrated synthetic detergent that contains a powerful blend of surface-active agents and anti-redeposition agents. It effectively releases even the toughest stains and heavy soils from fabrics, leaving them fresh, bright, and thoroughly clean. Safe to use on all water-washable fabrics in hot and cold water temperatures.
Flox BuildLiquid Heavy Duty DetergentPowerful alkaline laundry builder featuring biodegradable surfactants. It works by increasing the pH of the wash water, effectively loosening and emulsifying stubborn greasy, oily, and fatty stains. Can be used as a standalone detergent or combined with Flox Star for enhanced stain removal.
Chlorine destaining: whites only
Chlorine destainer removes stains that detergent leaves behind on white linen. Flox Laundry Chlorine Destainer is designed for industrial laundry machines and is dosed at 3 to 15 ml per kg of dry linen. Use it only on white cotton and fabrics the manufacturer allows chlorine on; it will damage colours and can weaken some synthetics. Do not add it at the same time as the sour, and rinse well before the final rinse.
Rinses, sour and softener
After the wash and destaining, linen still holds alkali and chlorine residue. Thorough rinsing removes most of it; a sour in the final rinse neutralises the rest. Flox Sour is a liquid neutraliser at 5 to 15 ml per kg of dry linen, and Flox Rinse is a mildly acidic powder at 5 to 15 g per kg of dry linen. A softener such as Flox Soft Care, at 2 ml per kg of dry linen, softens fabric, reduces static and makes ironing easier. Towels that must stay absorbent may need little or no softener.
Flox SourLaundry Neutralizing AgentLiquid laundry neutralizer that adjusts pH levels to prevent fabric yellowing. Added to the final rinse, it neutralizes alkalinity and bleach residue. Keeps fabrics vibrant, soft, and fresh, protecting clothes from damage.
Flox Soft CareConcentrated Fabric SoftenerSpecialized fabric softener formulated to soften laundered fabrics and reduce static cling. Ensures clothes are comfortable, fresh, and reduces rigidity, aiding in the ironing process. Leaves fabric soft and fresh.
Why linen turns yellow or grey
Yellowing: residual alkali or chlorine left in the fabric, often because the sour stage was skipped or under-dosed, or rinsing was short. Body oils not fully removed can also yellow over time, especially after hot drying or ironing.
Greying: soil redepositing onto fabric because of under-dosed detergent, overloaded machines, hard water, or too little rinsing.
Mixed loads: coloured items washed with whites can transfer dye and dull the whole load.
Harsh feel: too much alkali left in the fabric, or no softener where it is needed.
If problems persist, review water hardness, temperatures and the dosing system with our technical team.
Talk to our technical team
Tell us about your site, soils, equipment and volumes. We will recommend products and dilutions, and send pricing for bulk supply.
Frequently asked questions
Why is laundry dosing given per kg of dry linen?
Chemical demand depends on the weight of fabric and soil, not on the water volume alone. Weighing loads and dosing per kg of dry linen gives consistent results.
Can I use chlorine destainer on coloured linen?
No. Chlorine destainer is for white linen only. It will fade or damage coloured fabrics.
Do I need a sour if I rinse well?
A sour neutralises alkali and chlorine residue that rinsing alone may leave. Skipping it is a common cause of yellowing and harsh-feeling linen.
Should I use a builder on every load?
No. Use a builder such as Flox Build for heavily greasy or oily linen; lightly soiled loads usually only need the main wash detergent.
Can dosing pumps be used in laundry machines?
Yes. Automatic dosing pumps deliver each chemical at the right stage and help control consumption. Our team can advise on set-up.