1 reply to this topic

[Martyn Sparks]

Morning 

 

I work for a ready-meals manufacturer, and we have our own on-site laundry. Due to supply issues, we are looking to change our supplier of laundry chemicals.

 

I am finding it difficult to locate alternative liquid laundry detergents and fabric conditioners that are fragrance-free. Most suppliers I have encountered offer products with slight fragrances.

 

We are a BRCGS certified site, and I have checked the standard; however, I did not see any requirement stating that laundry chemicals must be fragrance-free. I have always believed that they should be fragrance-free to avoid potential tainting of products and to prevent any irritation to staff.

 

Does anyone have any pointers or suggestions? 

 

Thank you

[GMO]

Wow that's super unusual to have an on site laundry.  I will come to that later.

 

I agree that fragrance free or low fragrance would be preferred.  But it's about risk.  So there is not going to be a food safety risk from the fragrance at least not a realistic one but there's a taint risk.  

 

When choosing your detergent, the main factor will be to use one which is effective at hot temperatures which you will need to have for the pathogen kill.  I would talk to your supplier about which are most suitable but most biological ones won't be, not unless you have a hot phase after the wash.  Once you have one which is going to be effective on soil at high temperatures, then the fragrance is secondary.  I'd imagine there are specialist industrial detergents for this purpose but there will be so few people doing it independently that I'm not sure how easy it will be to source on a small scale.  Most hotels outsource their sheets, towels etc nowadays.

 

So I know this wasn't why you were asking but, have you thought about outsourcing?  I.e. the costs / benefits of it?  You don't have to have huge outlay to set up with a laundry company and then it's not your problem anymore.  They will hire you coats or you could buy if you want and they will often deliver back to lockers.  It probably will save you one FTE and the energy costs as well as the headache of compliance to temperatures etc.