In the daily operation of the laundry room, how can people choose different softeners? How to avoid usage misunderstandings? What are the mysteries of its anti-static electricity functions, and what are the cautions? This article will deeply analyze the practical functions to provide you with a complete and advanced guideline of the softener application.
Scientific Usage of Softeners
- Core principle
The washing and softeners should be done separately. Though there are two-in-one washing and softening products, professional laundries that pursue advanced quality usually do the washing and softening separately. The reason lies in the fact that:
– Maximize the effect
When cationic softeners and anionic detergents coexist, they will neutralize each other, reduce the effectiveness of both, and may produce precipitates that adhere to fabrics or the inner drum of the washing machine.
– Stronger targeting
Laundries can independently select the most suitable type and dosage of softener according to the material of the current batch of clothes (such as pure cotton towels, blended work clothes, chemical fiber curtains) and customer requirements (whether strong antistatic properties are needed).
- Differences between the household and commercial fabric softeners
– Household products
They focus more on fragrance, softness, and opening experience, and they have a relatively low concentration. They are usually designed as high-foaming types to meet consumers’ psychological expectation of thickness.
– Professional/industrial products
Their core pursuit is high efficiency, stability, and cost-effectiveness. They are typically highly concentrated, low-foaming or foam-suppressing products (prevent overflow in washing machines). The fragrance is neutral and lasting. What’s more, they emphasize wide adaptability in hard water and different water temperatures. Laundry operators should choose professional industrial-grade fabric softeners based on long-term costs and effects.
- Analysis of three application methods
– Rinse (Most commonly used)
It should be added during the final rinse or the last few rinses. The program of the Kingstar washing machine SHS-2040P can be preset to precisely add the softener at the rinsing stage. This ensures the best timing.
– Dryer
It is mainly used in dryers. Softening agents and antistatic agents in it can act on fabrics under the heat of drying. It is suitable for small laundromats or household use. However, for large-scale industrial laundries, this method has a higher cost, and its uniformity control is not better than liquid dosing.
– Detergent
Add microencapsulated softener or softener compounded with special stabilizers into the detergent. This method is convenient, but its effectiveness is usually not as good as a separate application, and it has high requirements for formulation technology.
Deep Analysis of the Antistatic Function of Fabric Softeners
The antistatic function is the key selling point of softeners, especially those softeners for synthetic fabrics. Its principle is more complex than a simple process of charge neutralization.
- Formation of a conductive layer
When cationic surfactants stick to fibers, their water-attracting quaternary ammonium heads soak up moisture from the air and fabric. This creates a conductive wet film on the fiber surface, lets static charges escape, and stops them from building up.
- Reduction of triboelectric charging
The softener creates a lubricating layer on fibers. This reduces friction between them and cuts down on static electricity at the source.
- Modification of surface polarity
Synthetic fabrics like polyester don’t soak up water well. Softener molecules stick to these fabrics with their water-repelling parts, and point their water-attracting parts outward. This changes the fabric surface from water-repelling to water-attracting right away. It makes the fabrics much better at soaking up moisture and carrying electricity.
- Important note
Fabric softeners’ antistatic effect doesn’t last long. When clothes rub against each other during wear and get washed repeatedly, the protective film on fibers slowly wears away, and the effect reduces.
For work clothes used in factories where static protection must be strong and long-lasting (like the electronics industry), you may need to use special products that keep clothes anti-static for a long time.
Kingstar Intelligent System
Translating the advantages of fabric softeners into consistent quality for every batch of laundry stably and cost-effectively needs the precise support and full-process synergy of intelligent equipment.
- Automated and precise dosing
If people estimate and add the softeners by themselves, this will lead to inaccurate dosage, inconsistent results, and unnecessary waste of materials. Kingstar washing machine SHS-2025P’s optional intelligent dispensing system has open signal interfaces. It can be compatible with dispensers of any brand. It automatically and accurately delivers fabric softener, eliminates waste, and ensures consistent performance across every batch.
- Programmed process
Equipped with a programmable logic controller (PLC), the Kingstar washing machine SHS-2025P allows users to preset complete programs for different fabric types and materials: best softener injection points, water temperatures, and cycle durations. Operators choose the right program with one click. This helps prevent operational errors and standardize professional processes.
- Drying
The sensors of the Kingstar dryer SDR-2025 accurately monitor the humidity and temperature inside the drum. When facing fabrics treated with softener, the system automatically uses a gentler drying curve because high temperature easily damages the softener film. Meanwhile, it uses hot air to better set the soft texture and activate fragrance molecules. This helps achieve a seamless and highly efficient connection between washing, softening, and drying processes.
Conclusion
Through the above three core functions, the Kingstar Intelligent System helps with precise and efficient fabric softener application. It reduces waste and stabilizes product quality. Also, it simplifies operations and improves the soft touch experience.
