The hotel linen turns yellow after one year of use. This problem becomes the annual pain point of the laundry plants, the hotel guest room department, and the purchase department. The yellow stains not only have a bad impact on the guest experience and the value of the brand but also directly cause the linen to break down in advance, which greatly increases the costs.
In this article, we will analyze the reasons why the linen turns yellow in terms of fiber science, quality chemistry, and laundry process, and give the practical precautions and the fixing solutions, which can help extend the service life of the linen.
Material of the Linen and the Dyes
The material of the linen and the used dyes have a great impact on the durability and stain resistance. Some poor-quality linen adopts a low level of cotton fibers, and the fibers are short and contain many impurities. After frequent washing, the structure of the fibers is easily damaged, which causes the surface of the linen to be rough and more easily attaches the stains and impurities, so as to cause the yellowness. At the same time, some poor-quality dye has poor color fastness as well. In the washing process, the dyes easily fall off or fade, mix with other impurities, and attach to the surface of the linen, causing the linen to turn yellow.
Improper Operations in the Washing Process
❑ Improper use of detergents
The selection and dosage of the detergents are very important. If the detergents are highly alkaline, they will damage the fiber structure of the linen and cause it to become brittle and yellow. If the detergent dosage is insufficient, it cannot completely clean the linen. The residual stains will gradually oxidize in the following use and storage, causing the yellowness. In addition, if the selection of the detergents is not based on the color of the linen or the material of the linen, the washing effect will also be affected, accelerating the yellowness of the linen.
❑ Unreasonable Control of Washing Temperature
The linens of different materials have different requirements for washing temperature. Too high a washing temperature may cause the fibers of the linen to shrink and harden, or even damage fibers and cause the linen to turn yellow. Low temperatures cannot effectively remove stains or bacteria, which will similarly damage the cleanliness of the linen and its service life.
❑ Nonstandard washing procedures
Too-long or too-short washing time all have a bad impact on the linen. Long-term washing can cause excessive wear and tear of linen under mechanical force, and the fibers easily turn yellow after being damaged. Too-short washing time cannot make the linen clean. In addition, the incomplete rinsing will have residual detergents, which also cause the linen to turn yellow.
Poor Storage Environment
In the storage process, if the environment is damp and poorly ventilated, it will easily develop mold and bacteria. These microorganisms will form mould stains and cause the linen to turn yellow. At the same time, the dust and other impurities in the storage environment may attach to the linen if the linen is not dry enough when it is stored, the moisture will accumulate in the inner part of the linen and accelerate the aging and yellowness of the linen.
Contamination in the Daily Use
In the daily operation of the hotel, the linen may contact various stains (guests’ sweat, old stains, makeup residue) which will oxidize in the air and make the linen turn yellow if they are not timely cleaned and removed. In addition, some hotel employees are not careful about hygiene and stain the dirt and oil on the linen when they are using or carrying the linen. This will cause the linen to turn yellow as well.
Professional Suggestions on the Yellowness of the Linen
❑ Choose high-quality linen
When purchasing the linen, hotels should choose a reliable supplier and purchase high-quality linen. Give priority to the pure cotton or blended cotton with a high proportion of cotton which have long fibers and little impurities. Also, people should pay attention to the color fastness of the dyes and make sure the linen has good reliability and stain resistance.
❑ Standard washing operations
According to the material, colors, and the degree of the stains of the linen, people should choose the proper detergents. Also, they should strictly control the dosage of the detergents according to the restrictions guide of the detergents. Properly setting the washing temperature and the washing duration, following the right washing process, can both clean the linen well and avoid excessive wear and tear. After every washing, the linen should be sufficiently rinsed to ensure there is no detergent residue.
❑ Improve the storage environment
Ensure the storage environment of the linen is dry and ventilated, and regularly clean and disinfect the storage zone to avoid the growth of mold and bacteria. Before the storage, the linen should be completely dry, to avoid the residue of the moisture. People can put desiccants in the storage area to further improve the storage environment.
❑ Timely handling of the stains
In the use of the linen, once people find the stains, they should instantly do the pre-treatment to avoid the stains’ long-term staying, which can decrease the difficulty of washing. Professional stain removers should be used to handle different types of stains, and then normal washing can be done.
❑ Regular inspection and maintenance
Regularly inspect the linen to timely find problems like yellowness and damage. For the lightly yellow linen, professional bleach can be used to handle it. For severely damaged linen, hotel employees should replace it with a new piece of linen to avoid damaging the image of the hotel and the customer experience.
Conclusion
The yellowing of linen in one year is caused by the combined effect of multiple factors. Only when the laundry plants deeply know these reasons and adopt corresponding precautions and solutions can they prolong the service life of the linen and maintain the cleanliness and whiteness of the linen, providing a higher-quality laundry service. Also, the laundry plants should clearly define responsibilities and work together with the hotel to do a good job in the maintenance of the linen.
Post time: Aug-29-2025