TRAINING & EDUCATION
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Every operation has unique needs for product and process education and training. Street’s has the resources to tailor an education program for your facility—including multi-lingual instruction. We offer a variety of training modules which can be combined into a unique package to address your distinct requirements. Whether it be spotting training, on-site seminars for best practices, or introductory process instruction for new franchise employees, we will provide a solution that is tailored to your organization.
Proper education helps to ensure that our products perform as promised, and when used correctly, reduce overall operating costs for greater profitability and success.
CUSTOMER BULLETIN
THE LATEST NEWS FROM STREET’S ACADEMY
Naperville, IL – May 13, 2020
After a drycleaning machine has been in storage or shutdown for an extended period of time, it is essential to go through basic procedures for proper start-up to help ensure optimum operation and cleaning performance.
Following is a list of basic recommended guidelines for a proper re-start of a drycleaning machine. However, you should also review the manufacturer’s guide for starting the machine and cleaning individual components, follow all regulatory guidelines and wear appropriate protective gear:
- Turn on machine. Visually inspect machine to make sure doors and valves are closed, hoses are connected, etc.
- Reconnect all utilities.
- Run a test load using a supply of clean towels, to make sure clothes will not be picking up any odors from the solvent (especially for HFHC).
- If odors are detected (especially for HFHC) in the towels, run the drycleaned towels in the laundry and extract cycle until slightly damp. Re-run the laundered and extracted towels again through the dryclean cycle. Repeat this step until odor disappears on towels after being drycleaned.
- Drain and clean water separators.
- Distill contents of the distilled tank. This is in case there has been any development of bacterial odor and/or separation of water and solvent. This would be an excellent time to clean the base tanks, as they may have dirt/lint build up and trapped free moisture which could create odor.
- Distill contents of each working tank. Drain content of any filter housing to the still and distill. This would be an excellent time to change cartridge filters.
- Run filter maintenance program according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Re-run test load.
For further questions about machine maintenance and operating procedures, please contact your equipment manufacturer.
For process or product related questions, please contact our technical service department at 1-800-4STREET or techsupport@4streets.com.
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The Importance of Cartridge Filter Maintenance
With the recent slowdown caused by the COVID–19 pandemic, many drycleaners have put their drycleaning equipment into shutdown/storage mode until business resumes. One item that is often overlooked when shutting a machine down are the cartridge filters.
When shutting a machine down for an extended period, the correct procedure is to remove cartridge filters from the machine. It is important to note here that you should always review the manufacturer’s guide for shutting down and restarting a machine and cleaning individual components, follow all regulatory guidelines and wear appropriate protective gear.
Not removing filters during machine shutdown can result in corrosion forming on the filter, to the point that the filter ruptures, releasing carbon into the solvent and depositing on garments when cleaning. This corrosion is very similar to what you may experience when you are not properly bleeding the air from the cartridge housing when using the machine on a regular basis or if you are not keeping enough solvent in the machine to fill the filter housings. Air gets into the filter housing, leaving part of the filter exposed to this oxygen and resulting in rapidly causing corrosion to the cartridge.
This corrosion can result in several costly problems, from garment damage to severe rusting of the filter housing that results in the need to replace the filter housing on the machine. Here is an example of what can happen to a cartridge. You can see the beginning stages of corrosion starting to appear on the filter. (Exhibit A)
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit B is a photo of another filter that is also corroding. In this case, the filter was left in the machine for too long of a period while still in operation. The result was the plugging and collapse of the filter. Luckily, this filter hadn’t ruptured, spilling carbon into the machine.
Ideally, all cartridge filters should be removed if shutting down a machine for an extended period of time or putting a machine into storage. If you are in a situation in which you did not remove the cartridges and are going to be restarting your machine up soon, it is highly recommended to replace the filters in the machine with new filters prior to restart.
If you have noticed in the past that your all-carbon filters are corroded or collapsed (as shown in Exhibits A and B) while operating your machine in a normal production capacity, you will want to change them more frequently. The recommended mileage is 1000-1200 lbs. per carbon-core cartridge and 2500 lbs. (or when dye cannot be controlled) per all-carbon cartridge.
Lastly, your filters should not come apart when you are trying to remove them from the machine. You risk spilling carbon all over the person changing them, the floor and inside the filter housing on the machine. Also, you should not be seeing granular carbon in the button trap of your drycleaning machine. These are not normal occurrences and signal that the cartridge filter is not performing properly.
If you experience these things, you should consider using a better quality cartridge filter such as the Puritan® brand and change your filters at a proper interval.
For further questions about machine maintenance and operating procedures, please contact your equipment manufacturer.
For process or product related questions, please contact our technical service department at 1-800-4STREET or techsupport@4streets.com.
Are light colored garments and linings picking up color or looking dull? Maintaining solvent clarity with all-carbon cartridge filtration is the key to solving this common problem.
The importance of solvent clarity cannot be stressed enough when it comes to maintaining the proper color of garments and preventing dye transfer. There are many drycleaning operations that have a light solvent tank (or machine) for whites and light colored garments, and a dark solvent tank (or machine) for dark colored garments only. Unfortunately, a common misconception is that it is acceptable to allow the solvent in the dark tank to become quite dark without having an effect on the cleaning quality. And, a subsequent misconception is that because only dark colored garments are being cleaned in that solvent, the cartridges can be changed less frequently.
While the dark solvent tank does not have to be as clear as the light solvent tank (which should be “water white”), the dark solvent tank does have to maintain solvent clarity that at a minimum meets the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI) clarity standards, in order to prevent dye transfer problems. The proper use and maintenance of all-carbon cartridges is a crucial part of reaching and maintaining proper solvent clarity standards.
Some dark garments, such as black pants (which may have a white lining, pockets and waistbands), may seem as though they can be processed satisfactorily in darker colored solvent. However, while the dark portions of these garments can be acceptable in appearance on the outside after processing, on the inside where the waist band/pockets used to be white, there is now discoloration and dye transfer, due to poor solvent clarity/dye in the solvent. This problem will be very noticeable to customers. From their perspective, it will look like you made their clothes dirtier rather than cleaner. Any dark colored garments with white trim or components are prone to this discoloration when cleaned in poorly maintained, dye laden, dark solvent. This problem can be avoided by changing filters at the proper times.
While there are a multitude of reasons that lead to fugitive dye problems, this particular segment will focus on the importance of filter changes based on the life/mileage of all-carbon cartridges.
There are several factors that can affect the dye removal capacity of a cartridge filter and they should all be carefully considered:
• the actual carbon volume of the cartridge filter
• the type and quality of the carbon
• the design of the cartridge
• the amount of dye being released into the solvent
• the flow rate through the filter
Another item that should be taken into consideration is the manufacturer recommended time between filter changes. Many equipment manufacturers’ manuals may recommend changing the “decolorizing” (all-carbon) filter at a rate of every 3 months or another time interval. While this is an easy guideline to remember, the proper method is changing the filter based on the number of pounds of garments that have been processed through that filter housing, not the length of time the filter cartridges have been in the machine.
This correct approach mirrors that of changing the oil filter in an automobile; based on miles driven, not the amount of time it has been installed in the vehicle. This means you will need to be keeping track of the weight of the garments processed for both the dark solvent tank and light solvent tank. Using this method ensures that you will know the correct time to change the filter based on the actual garments processed, thus eliminating the guesswork. You should continue to monitor your solvent clarity at all times, as the weight of garments processed between filter changes can fluctuate depending on the degree of loose dye you have entering your machine.
How many pounds of garments cleaned are recommended with an all-carbon cartridge filter? Based on research that was done several years ago by the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI), it was determined that one pound of activated carbon would be able to effectively control dye for every 280-300 pounds of textiles cleaned (when supplemented with at least 6 gallons of distilled solvent per 100 pounds of textiles cleaned). However, with today’s garments, there is more dye being released in cleaning, thus reducing the actual life of the carbon in a cartridge filter. Also, many machines may be dedicated to processing only dark colored garments, causing more dye to enter and saturate the cleaning solvent.
The newer generation of drycleaning machines may also have smaller base tanks and provide for less dilution of those impurities causing more solvent color, as compared to the older machines being used when the carbon studies were done several years ago. That being said, it is possible that the life of carbon in drycleaning may be as low as 200-250 pounds of textiles per pound of carbon, and that is with the 10-15 gallons of solvent being distilled with the 2-bath processes that are so commonly used. Because a Puritan® All-Carbon Cartridge has approximately 8 pounds of carbon, you can expect the life of that cartridge to be around 1800 – 2400 pounds of garments cleaned per cartridge on the dark tank. On the light tank, because of the lack of dye being introduced to the system, filter life can be significantly greater, often as much as 5000 pounds of garments cleaned.
The good news is, there are a few things that can help to extend the life of your all-carbon cartridges and prevent poor solvent clarity:
• Running a 2-bath program, when machine configurations allow, can help to remove a large amount of loose/fugitive dye and send it to the still, before the filtered wash, thus lengthening the life of the filter.
• Pre-testing garments for loose dye and then running those garments in a “bleeder load” (off filter and directly to the still) or wetcleaning items likely to bleed when possible, can help to prevent large amounts of dye from being introduced into the drycleaning solvent.
• Using effective detergents, such as Pinnacle® or Fabricol®, will better manage moisture in the drycleaning machine and reduce the amount of water-soluble dyes being released into solvent.
• Maintaining a solvent temperature of no more than 80° F. Solvent temperatures above 80° F can lead to higher instances of dye fading, especially in perc.
The lifespan of an all-carbon cartridge filter lifespan can vary, as there are many factors that can affect the mileage you experience from your cartridges. However, changing your all-carbon filters, based on the actual weight of the cleaning processed, will provide for more consistent quality in your drycleaning process and will also provide you with a method to accurately measure the life of the all-carbon cartridge filter to maximize its useful life and optimize the timing of cartridge changes.
Lastly, do not use distillation as a substitute for carbon filtration. Distillation does not occur during the cleaning cycle but instead occurs after the cleaning cycle. Therefore when dye is being released during the wash cycle, only the carbon that is available in the cartridges can control dye transfer and help to protect garments while the drycleaning wash cycle is occurring.
Change your Puritan All-Carbon Cartridge filters regularly to help achieve the best possible cleaning quality.
If you have questions regarding the life of your cartridge filters, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-4STREET, techsupport@4streets.com or learn more about Puritan cartridge filtration at https://4streets.com/products/puritan-cartridge-filtration/.
For further questions about machine maintenance and operating procedures, please contact your equipment manufacturer. Always follow proper safety recommendations. For process or product related questions, please contact our technical service department at 1-800-4STREET or techsupport@4streets.com.
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As a result of the recent COVID–19 pandemic, owners of drycleaners and laundries are very likely feeling the financial strain due to shutdowns of their business or decreases in the volume of items being processed. It is essential to implement cost-saving measures wherever possible.
Energy costs are a significant expense to the drycleaning and laundry operation. While we wait for business to recover, identifying and correcting those areas that can save on energy can prove to make your operation run more efficiently and ultimately provide a cost savings that may help to ease the burden of slower sales. Additionally, these corrections can extend the life of equipment, increase productivity and improve quality too.
In many cases, it will be relatively easy to identify an energy saving opportunity that would often be overlooked by plant personnel during busier times. For example, small steam leaks, air leaks or uninsulated piping may often go unnoticed, while a steady stream of steam rising from the roof can indicate one or more steam traps blowing through. All it may take is a quick look around the plant to reveal a number of other energy and money saving possibilities.
We’ve put together a list of some of those potential energy saving opportunities that are often overlooked:
Drycleaning Machine
- Perform preventative maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations
- Keep lint filters clean
- Keep coils free of lint and debris
- Thoroughly clean the still regularly
- Ensure all valves, solenoids and controls are in proper working order
- Run only full loads whenever possible
- Use an effective detergent to help ensure optimum cleaning in the wheel to prevent recleans and overuse of the spotting board
Presses
- Keep press plates clean
- Insulate press heads
- Ensure timers and controls are working properly
- Keep pads and covers clean and in good condition
Boilers
- Have boilers inspected and tuned in order to operate at maximum efficiency
- If you are not using a boiler treatment, consider using this product in order to prevent scale and mineral build-up
- Ensure that your boiler treatment chemical is being used correctly
- Follow your boiler manufacturer’s recommendations for proper blow down procedure and frequency
Steam System
- Check all steam traps, repairing and replacing as needed
- Check condensate pump to ensure it is operating correctly with no leaks
- Use an effective boiler treatment to help prevent scale buildup in the steam system
Piping and Valves
- Ensure that piping is properly insulated
- Repair or replace leaking valves
- Inspect and repair steam leaks in pipe fittings and joints
- Install shut off valves to isolate equipment that may not be used when plant is in operation
Air Compressor
- Check to make sure discharge valve is working properly
- Make sure that the tank is drained daily
- Check air storage tank for leaks
- Repair any air leaks throughout the plant
- Keep air inlet filter clean
Miscellaneous Items
- Replace burnt out and missing light bulbs
- Turn off equipment as soon as possible, when not in use or no longer needed for the day
- Improve productivity in order to reduce daily equipment operating times
If you have questions regarding proper plant maintenance and energy saving opportunities, as well as product and process questions related to drycleaning/wetcleaning/laundry, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-4STREET or email techsupport@4streets.com.
For further questions about machine maintenance and operating procedures, please contact your equipment manufacturer. Always follow proper safety recommendations.
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Maintaining an adequate solvent level and checking solvent mileage are areas that are often overlooked by drycleaners but that can have a tremendous effect on your operation if not appropriately monitored. This bulletin provides some important guidelines to incorporate into daily operating procedures to help prevent improper cleaning and operational damage resulting from issues related to solvent levels and mileage.
Solvent Levels
Solvent levels in the base tanks of your drycleaning machine should always be kept at a minimum of ¾ tank for the working tanks and a minimum of ½ tank for the reserve tank. Having low solvent levels can greatly affect your cleaning quality, resulting in greying and redeposition on garments which can cause permanent damage. Low solvent levels can also cause costly damage to the solvent pump on your drycleaning machine. As the pump is starved of solvent, it begins to cavitate as vapor pockets form in the once flowing liquid, causing premature wear to the solvent pump and even possible structural damage to the pump. Normal operating procedures should definitely include checking solvent levels every day at the beginning of the day and throughout the day as solvent levels fluctuate. If solvent levels become low, solvent should be added. One less challenging way of making small additions and maintaining a proper level in the reserve tanks is to purchase solvent in a 5-gallon size container, which is easier to handle and can be easier on cash flow during slower times. However, you must check your state and local regulations to determine if your state allows the delivery and use of 5 gallon pails of perc (i.e., nonclosed loop delivery). All of the Street’s solvents (DF2000™ High Flash Hydrocarbon, Lift™ Modified Alcohol, HC Boost™ High Flash Hydrocarbon Glycol blend, and PerSec® brand perchloroethylene) are available in both 55-gallon drums and the 5-gallon pails. PerSec® is also available in the 15-gallon “keg” and Carefill® drum.
Solvent Mileage
The importance of monitoring your solvent mileage cannot be emphasized enough. Simply knowing how much solvent you are purchasing is not sufficient to tell you how efficiently your drycleaning machine is operating. The only way you can truly measure the solvent efficiency of your drycleaning machine is by calculating the weight of garments cleaned and the actual consumption of solvent used in cleaning those garments. Whether you are using perc, DF2000, Lift or HC Boost, one way to help the profitability of your business is to maximize your solvent mileage. Checking your solvent mileage is a very simple and quick procedure:
• First, it is recommended that drycleaners purchase a scale from their supply distributor to weigh each load to be cleaned. You must determine the poundage that is being run in each load in order to calculate solvent mileage. Knowing the poundage of each load can also help prevent over-loading the machine, which will also lead to better cleaning and better solvent mileage.
• Second, if you are currently not recording the size of each load, you will want to start using poundage charts, which are usually available from your solvent supplier. Weigh each load before cleaning and RECORD the weight of the load in pounds on the chart. Add up the poundage cleaned daily and then add up the daily totals at the end of each week for a total of pounds cleaned per week.
• At the beginning of the week, calculate the total amount of solvent by adding together the amount of solvent in each tank. During the week, if new solvent is added to the drycleaning machine, make sure to add this amount to the beginning solvent amount. At the end of the week, calculate the total amount of solvent left in the tanks, as you did at the beginning of the week. Subtract this end of week total from the amount you had at the beginning of the week (plus any additions of new solvent). This will leave you with the total amount of gallons used for the week.
• To arrive at your solvent mileage, divide the total pounds cleaned for the week by the number of gallons of solvent consumed for that week.
• Bingo!!! Now you know your solvent mileage.
• Keep a file of these poundage records in order to establish a trend for your solvent consumption.
Once you have established your solvent mileage, it is recommended that you contact your machine manufacturer and ask what you should expect the optimum solvent mileage for your particular brand and model of machine to be. If your mileage is lower than what they suggest, discuss with the machine manufacturer what they would recommend in order to increase the solvent mileage.
Some things that can contribute to poor solvent mileage are:
• Overloading the machine.
• Short drying time.
• Drying temperature set too low.
• Condensing coils clogged with lint.
• Improper operation of the still.
• Inefficient extraction times or speed (belt slipping).
• Dry control not working or set properly.
In summary, make it a priority to maintain your solvent levels and calculate your solvent mileage to help maximize operational efficiency. If you’re experiencing challenges with this, be sure to talk to the machine manufacturer or hire a mechanic because at the end of the year the savings will add up.
If you have questions regarding proper plant maintenance and energy saving opportunities, as well as product and process questions related to drycleaning/wetcleaning/laundry, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-4STREET or email techsupport@4streets.com.
For further questions about machine maintenance and operating procedures, please contact your equipment manufacturer. Always follow proper safety recommendations.
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