National Clothesline

The proper use of the batch run can be of tremendous benefit to cleaners for better stain removal and impregnating fabrics with finishing agents that otherwise may be more costly when applying.

A batch run is accomplished when the solvent is kept in the drycleaning wheel without circulating through the filter. A batch run may also circulate from the wheel through the button trap and back to the wheel.

The following problems and conditions relate best to the use of the batch run.

These loads occur when a pen or lipstick is left in the pocket of a garment before cleaning. The ink or lipstick usually is not noticed during the cleaning process but is revealed after the garment has been dried.

The first thing that you should do is find the source of the problem, which may be the empty pen cartridge or shell of the lipstick. You do not want any part of the pen or lipstick still remaining on the garment.

Separate the garment that originally had the source of the problem from the other garments. You are now ready to incorporate a batch run which will do a better job in stain removal then spotting each garment individually.

For a 40-pound load, add ¾ to one gallon of paint remover to the drycleaning wheel or button trap. You can also add the paint remover to the button trap or add it to the wheel through the soap dispenser.

Fill the wheel with a low level of solvent, which will give you the greater mechanical action that is necessary for the stain removal.

Batch the garments for one-half hour, which means that the garments are subjected to the solvent and paint remover without passing through the filter.

After a half-hour of agitation, send the contaminated solvent to the still. Then run the garments in a normal load for a routine period of time. This should remove approximately 90 percent of the ink, leaving only a few garments that have to be spotted by hand.

Redeposition of soil is graying or streaking caused by soil and impurities transferring back onto a garment. This can be effectively improved by utilizing the batch run as was used in the method to improve an ink or lipstick load.

The garments can also be soaked in the drycleaning machine with the solvent and paint remover overnight. The garments can then be re-cleaned in a normal manner.

This is the best way of cleaning very soiled and greasy uniform fabrics. The moisture is added to the drycleaning wheel and mixes with the solvent and detergent until it becomes milky or cloudy. This moisture can be added to the soap dispenser.

The best detergent to use for a batch run is anionic detergent because it carries moisture best.

Run the soiled garments in a low solvent level for 20 minutes and then send the solvent to the still. Then re-clean in a normal manner.

Make sure that you run a few hard, dark loads to remove residual moisture that can cause shrinkage on other loads.

Garments that need increased feel and stiffness can be subjected to a batch run. A normal charged sizing does not provide a great deal of body to garments and only a small degree of feel.

Manufacturers will provide you with the proper amounts of sizing to add to the wheel in a batch run. Some manufacturers may have you add sizing based on poundage of clothes or volume of solvent.

After garments have been batch-sized, they are given a shorter extraction than usual to retain the proper amount of sizing in the fabric.

The garments can then be dried in a normal manner. Allow enough time in the drying cycle to properly dry the clothes.

Water repellency can be added to a rinse tank and be used on appropriate loads. Use the batch method and return solvent to the rinse tank to be used again.

Subject the garments to a shorter extraction to make the water repellency treatment more effective.

Dry the garments for a longer period of time so they will be dry when removed.

Clear rinse (batch treatment for wedding gowns)

Wedding gowns cleaned for preservation and storage should be given a clear rinse using the batch system to remove any sizing or detergent. Sizing and detergents in long term storage have a tendency to break down and oxidize.