Stains on Hospitality Textiles
The hospitality sector faces a set of constantly changing challenges in the laundry area, particularly regarding the characteristics of stains on textiles. At the same time, solutions are constantly being developed to effectively respond to guests' demands and requirements.
It is important to understand that, nowadays, the products used by guests as part of their daily routine are also increasingly specific, more effective, and highly varied. Their use, whether for protection, personal hygiene, or care, leads to the appearance of new spots and stains on hospitality textiles. Understanding their origin is an integral part of adopting solutions, techniques, and best practices for effective cleaning.
The diagnosis underlying the removal of a stain from a hospitality textile requires prior knowledge of the nature of the stain in question. Therefore, before suggesting a solution, know how to distinguish between the types of existing stains. In this article, we will present the most recent and challenging stains in the hospitality area.
Learn to distinguish them!
- Sunscreen stains
In summer, during the bathing season, it is common for yellowish and pinkish stains to appear, frequently found on textiles such as bed sheets, towels, and pillowcases.
These stains are caused by the use of sunscreens. Sunscreen is a cosmetic product intended to be used to prevent the damage caused by solar radiation. Sunscreens are thus used to protect the skin; however, when transferred to textiles, they can affect them irreversibly. For the skin to be protected from the harmful effects of the sun, sunscreens contain UV filters, which can be chemical, mineral, or a combination of both. Both physical and chemical types of sun filters contribute to the appearance of stains of this nature on textiles in contact with sun protection creams.
The higher the sun protection factor of the product used, the more filters it contains, and therefore, generally, the stronger and more intense the stain remains on the textile after washing. With the increase in social awareness regarding the negative impact of the sun on skin health, there is a growing trend toward more frequent use of products with higher sun protection factors than in the past, leading to a worsening of stains on textiles and their frequency of occurrence.
Washing a textile containing a cosmetic product with sun protection active ingredients requires careful configuration of the washing process. In this sense, Mistolin Profissional, together with M.Assistance, has developed laundry washing processes structured with balanced alkalinity and the presence of specific sequestering agents, inhibiting the development of complex compounds and, subsequently, the occurrence of stains.
- Polyquaternium stains
Polyquaternium stains are very common in many laundries that wash hospitality linens. 
This type of stain is characterized by a dark grey hue and originates from daily use products such as conditioners, hair mousse, shampoo, among others. The stains are produced by contact between these types of products and the linen, for example, when drying your hands on a towel without washing them after applying a hair product.
- Metal oxide stains
Among the typical stains in hospitality, there are also metal oxide stains. 
These are characterized by their brownish and orange hue. The origin of this type of stain often comes from the wash water itself. The concentration of iron in the water can vary depending on the region of the country and changes in the season. When these ions come into contact with bleaching agents, they precipitate and form orange stains. This type of stain can be identified through the application of a Mistolin Pro pre-wash product.
- Recovery programs
Knowledge of the type of stain allows for greater effectiveness in treatment/washing by adopting a set of recommended best practices. Furthermore, this knowledge is very useful when advising on recovery programs.
In the hospitality industry, the summer season corresponds to a peak in activity, and for this reason, recovery programs are typically carried out in winter so as not to interfere with hotel operations. The use of chemically reinforced programs is adjusted to the needs of the linen and the type of stains identified. Mistolin Profissional and M.Assistance have optimized recovery programs for degreasing, with the reinforcement of bleaching agents assisted by sequestering additives. They also offer acidic recovery programs for 100% recovery of metal oxide stains and to lighten stains caused by sunscreen.
These programs make it possible to increase the lifespan of textiles, ensuring they look like new and reducing laundry rejection rates.
