Water soluble laundry bags are designed to dissolve on contact with water, making them a convenient and hygienic laundry solution for NHS laundries, as well as laundries in the hospitality sector.
Why use soluble laundry bags?
Soluble laundry bags are durable and strong, and can be used for the storage of contaminated items prior to washing. They can then be placed directly into a commercial washing machine without the need for an operative to handle contaminated items – reducing health and safety risks for laundry operatives. As the bags fully dissolve during the wash cycle, there are no bags to remove following the wash, and no risk of laundry bag fragments clogging the washing machine mechanism and causing damage.
There are two categories of dissolving laundry bags available to commercial wash facilities: hot water-soluble bags, and cold water soluble bags.
- Hot water soluble bags – these bags dissolve at temperatures over 65°C, making them suitable for hot washes of bedding and towels used in hospitals, hotels, care homes etc, while ensuring they retain their integrity during storage and transit.
- Cold water soluble bags – these bags start to dissolve at temperatures over 25°C, so are good for cold washes of sensitive fabrics, and where a high temperature wash is not required.
Soluble strip laundry bags
Within the cold water and hot water categories are two main types of soluble laundry bags – those that are fully soluble, and soluble stitch seam bags. As the name suggests, fully soluble bags completely dissolve in the wash during the washing cycle, leaving no trace behind. Soluble seam laundry bags, on the other hand, features soluble alginate sewing thread that dissolves at the designated temperature, allowing the laundry bag to open during the wash cycle, releasing the laundry into the washing machine to go through the washing process. After the wash cycle has been completed, the remains of the bag can be retrieved from the drum and discarded into a general waste bag.
Are laundry bags sustainable?
Yes, most modern soluble bags are made from non-toxic polyvinyl alcohol film, which is environmentally friendly and does not release pollutants into the water, nor leave any harmful residues on the washing machine or items following the wash.
Choosing the right soluble bag solution for your laundry
For help choosing the best type of dissolving laundry bag for your application, please get in touch with the knowledgeable team at Slik Pak. In general, soluble seam bags are the best choice for organisations on a tight budget or with low volume washing requirements, while fully soluble bags are better for automated washing processes with integrated drying systems, as it removes the need to interrupt the cycle to remove used bags.
Talk to an expert today by calling 0161 509 4339.
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