Is ozone safe for laundry?

In the realm of commercial laundry, ensuring the safety of your equipment and the quality of your results is of utmost importance. This brings us to a vital question: Are ozone laundry machines safe? Over the past two decades, our unwavering commitment to efficiency and reliability has made us a trusted name in the industry. Today, we'll explore the world of ozone laundry technology to address this question comprehensively.

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What is Ozone?

Ozone is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms (O3). It is a powerful oxidant, and, most importantly, it is 100% safe. We have been supplying ozone laundry equipment for two decades, and knock on wood, we've never encountered a single problem with its safety.

Ozone's remarkable cleaning power is its claim to fame. It effectively disinfects laundry, eliminating stubborn microbes such as Staph, MRSA, and C. difficile (commonly referred to as 'Superbugs'). Independent laboratory tests have verified its disinfection capabilities, reassuring users of its effectiveness.

How Does Ozone Help Clean Laundry?

Ozone doesn't just stop at disinfection; it goes the extra mile. One of the most remarkable aspects of ozone is its ability to provide a fresh, clean scent to laundry. When you experience this wonderful, refreshing aroma, it's hard to convey its impact until you've personally witnessed it. We have seen ozone work its magic in places like nursing homes, where lingering odors from linens can be a persistent issue. Ozone makes that problem disappear, leaving behind nothing but a clean, pleasant scent.

Laundromats are also embracing ozone technology for its ability to enhance customer satisfaction. When customers unload their laundry, they know it's not just clean but also disinfected and pleasantly scented. Moreover, ozone aids in cleaning by breaking down soils and helping detergents lift and remove them. The end result? Customers enjoy a wonderful laundry experience, knowing that their clothes are not only clean but also free from potential contaminants like the infamous COVID-19 virus.

How is Ozone Injected into the Laundry?

Ozone is introduced into washing machines using two main methods, and both have their advantages. The first method, which we prefer, is direct injection. Here, ozone is injected directly into the washing machine's sump, where it mixes with water and laundry. We maintain the ozone concentration at about one part per million, ensuring safe and effective disinfection.

The second method involves injecting ozone through a Venturi system, which dissolves ozone into water. This ozone-infused water is then introduced into the wash wheel. Both methods can be effective, but the choice often comes down to preference and ease of application. Our preference for direct injection is due to its simplicity and reliability.

The Environmental Impact

One of the remarkable aspects of ozone is that it leaves no harmful byproducts. When ozone is used, it ultimately reverts back to oxygen (O2), leaving behind no chemical residues. Even when ozone-infused water is drained, it helps combat sewer smells and cleans pits, eliminating foul odors. This is particularly beneficial for laundromats and facilities with drain pits where unpleasant odors can sometimes become an issue.

Conclusion

So, are ozone laundry machines safe? Absolutely, we can confidently affirm that they are. Ozone laundry technology offers a safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution for all your laundry needs.

If you're interested in experiencing the benefits of ozone laundry machines, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to provide you with the best laundry solutions, where safety and performance go hand in hand.

Q: WILL OZONE FOR COMMERCIAL LAUNDRIES WORK ON COLORED LINENS?

Certainly, ozone serves as an oxidizing agent, which can potentially result in the fading of organic dyes. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the color of all commercially washed and dried clothes may fade over time.

Q: WILL OZONE LAUNDRY SYSTEMS HURT MY WASHERS?

Gas-phase ozone is more aggressive than ozone that has been dissolved in water. Some systems inject ozone directly into the washers. On occasion, this has resulted in damage to the washer itself. One major washing machine manufacturer has voided its warrant when direct ozone systems are used. In the last fifteen years, there have been no known cases of washer damage from an indirect ozone laundry system. Aqueous Ozone not only cleans your clothes but also kills bacteria that make your laundry and laundry machine stink.

Q: WILL OZONE HURT MY LINEN?

The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) conducted tests many years ago that showed ozone severely weakened linen. But, TRSA applied direct injection of strong levels of ozone gas onto the linen. In contrast, our testing and field experience has shown an improvement in textile strength with indirect ozone compared to conventional hot water formulas. Some of our customers have even cut their linen replacement costs in half (20 to 30% reduction is more typical). We have used ozone on the finest hospitality linens available with excellent results.

Q: WILL I NEED TO VENT MY WASHERS?

When using a direct-inject ozone system, the laundry may need to exhaust the enormous amount of ozone that enters the room (where gas ozone is applied directly into the wash wheel). This is not the case with indirect systems as long as Laundries have installed a properly degassed for the undissolved ozone before entering the washer.

Q: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIRECT AND DIRECT OZONE SYSTEMS?

Indirect ozone laundry systems (aqueous ozone) dissolve the ozone in the water before the water enters the washer(s). It also eliminates any undissolved ozone. This design enables the consumer to ensure that the system functions properly and that proper ozone levels are maintained. It also easily facilitates large and small washers and allows one system to handle all the washers in a laundry. It also applies micro-bubbles that increase the linen's surface area contact and minimize off-gas concerns.

Direct inject systems inject the ozone gas directly into the washer. These systems have been effective for smaller washers (50 lbs). Applying the appropriate ozone levels becomes increasingly difficult as washer sizes increase. These systems lack a mechanism for the operator to confirm that the device is functioning properly or to determine what ozone level, if any, is being applied.

Q: WHAT ARE THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN AQUEOUS OZONE LAUNDRY SYSTEM?

Like most items in the ozone laundry, the most important efforts are to keep the equipment dry and reasonably lint-free. Laundries are a tough environment for ozone equipment, and we have gone thru various vendors over the years to ensure components are rugged enough for long-term performance.

Q: WHAT ARE THE DOWNSIDES OF OZONE FOR COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY?

One downside of ozone is asking people to change what they are doing. Even the smallest changes can often be difficult to implement and see thru for the long term. This can be addressed with proper upfront and follow-up training, but it requires an open mind on the part of laundry employees and management, as well as a proactive chemical rep and an ozone laundry supplier committed to your long-term success.

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Another downside is making sure that someone will be around to support you for the long term. Problems will come up. Most of the time they have nothing to do with ozone, but since ozone is the new technology, ozone gets blamed.   Look for support that is well-versed in general laundry expertise and ozone laundry.   Over half of all ozone systems ever installed by various ozone suppliers are no longer in operation, which ultimately means that the equipment hasn't delivered on its promise and significant capital investment was wasted.

Q: WHAT ABOUT OZONE AND PERSONAL CLOTHES?

We have applied ozone in scores of healthcare applications where personal clothes are washed in cold ozone and have never had a report of any fading or damage to personal items. There are some fine cloth and dyes that could potentially be impacted by ozone, but these aren't typically found in OPL applications.

Q: SOMEONE TOLD ME THEY TRIED OZONE LAUNDRY, AND YOU COULD SMELL THE OZONE FROM OUTSIDE THE LAUNDRY.

If the ozone smell is significant outside the laundry, the system either needs repair or was improperly designed for beginning with.

Q: OZONE MADE MY LAUNDRY SMELL LIKE ORANGES!

It used to be fairly common on ozone accounts to use citrus-based detergents. That's where the orange smell came from and can be eliminated by simply using non-citrus chemical laundry detergents.

Q: IS THERE A MINIMUM SIZE FOR USING OZONE FOR COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY?

While we have customers with as few as 80 rooms/beds, our target market is at least 100 rooms/beds and preferably 150 or 200 plus rooms/beds. Usually, the bigger the application the better the payback. We look to guarantee payback of fewer than 18 months on energy savings alone.

Q: IS OZONE DANGEROUS?

Virtually all of the chemicals used in your laundry are potentially dangerous, and ozone should be given similar respect. If ozone is allowed to spread in a laundry room, it can act as a strong oxidant and cause unpleasant symptoms such as headaches and nausea that may persist for up to 48 hours.

Ozone has a distinctive odor and too much ozone in the laundry is readily noticeable. When properly applied, ozone will have a sweet freshening smell on the linen which is all but gone at the end of the drying process. Constantly watery eyes, headaches, and/or queasiness (especially if present in two or more laundry workers) could indicate that ozone levels are too high. Extreme ozone levels are readily noticeable and are similar to a strong whiff of chlorine that is immediately evident in the sinuses. Responsible ozone companies design their systems to ensure that ozone levels are well within OSHA standards. (see safety and MSDS for further info)

Q: I HEARD OZONE TURNS WHITE LINEN GRAY.

We have learned that you need at least 0.5 ppm of ozone in the wash wheel to activate the laundry chemistry. Much older generation indirect (dissolved) ozone systems struggled to maintain these levels, especially as the equipment aged. Direct inject (bubble) systems can have difficulty delivering sufficient ozone in larger washers (larger than 50 to 60-pound washing capacity). Linen could also be grayed from improper chemical formulations (a common error is too much alkali). These are readily testable and correctable. We have scores of customers using white linen and cold ozone and getting the whitest results ever.

Q: HOW MUCH OZONE DO I NEED?

As discussed otherwise herein, you need at least 0.5 ppm. We design our systems to deliver 1 to 2 ppm with some applications in the 2 to 3 ppm range.

Q: HOW LONG DOES AN OZONE SYSTEM LAST?

You can rely on the Absolute Ozone industrial generator system to last for at least twenty years without requiring any maintenance or spare parts.

Q: HOW DOES OZONE REDUCE DRYING TIMES?

There are several theories, but it's not yet clear. One theory is that ozone leaves fewer compounds on clothes, resulting in more water retention. Another attribute is fewer hardness issues with a cold water wash. A more complex theory examines the Brownian effect on water tension when ozone is present.

Q: HOW ABOUT DISINFECTION WITH OZONE AND COLD WATER?

We won special exceptions to use cold ozone in healthcare applications in CA, MN, KY, TN, ID, and others. We provided the data that showed that at appropriate levels, ozone is an excellent disinfectant. Ozone is one of the best disinfectants available. Field data supports this.

Q: DO YOU STILL NEED BLEACH IF USING OZONE FOR LAUNDRY?

Unless you are using very high levels of ozone, which is typically not practical in OPL laundries, you will certainly need to use bleach in conjunction with the ozone. As previously mentioned, activating bleach in cold water requires minimum levels of ozone, as well as a controlled pH level.

Q: DO I STILL NEED HOT WATER?

You can wash your sheets and towels (room linen) in cold water (ambient). F&B and rags will typically still need at least some hot water. This is because the greases and oils need to reach their melting point, usually 120 °F or less. Some ozone systems use warm water for all the linen and are only serving to freshen the linen with an aqueous ozone smell at the final rinse.

Q: CHLORINE OR OXYGEN BLEACH?

Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is the more common approach. In some colored linen and hospital applications, oxygen bleach can be successfully substituted.

Q: CAN OZONE REDUCE MY DRYING TIMES?

To be clear, You can usually have savings in chemicals by reducing the unnecessarily long drying times after ozone application. Having said that, we have observed reduced drying times, especially in moderate to warm climates. In mountain states where the cold water can be in the -30, the water is too cold to produce dryer savings. Typical dryer time reductions run 10 to 30%.

Q: CAN I CUT MY CHEMICAL COSTS IN HALF?

No. Ozone is an oxidizer that helps activate your traditional laundry chemistry. While it is a very powerful tool, it should be kept in perspective that we are applying it at 1 to 2 ppm. (Chlorine is applied at 75 to 150 ppm). There are also the other roles of the laundry detergent chemistry and fabric softener that serve to break down and remove soils, which, while ozone may be able to help with, aqueous ozone cannot do on its own. You can reduce the cost of buying chemical laundry detergents if you apply sufficient ozone levels, but these are outside the scope of typical OPL applications.

Ozone can reduce chemical expenses, although this is usually owing to using too much product before ozone. These overages must be reduced to normal levels because too much product is typically counterproductive to aqueous ozone. Nonetheless, claiming that these are chemical savings due to ozone would be fudging.

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