For commercial/industrial laundries serving hotels and short-term rentals, cosmetic soils—especially foundation makeup—are among the most stubborn, high-frequency rewash drivers. This article explains what foundation is made of and how to design wash processes that reliably remove it from cotton and cotton/poly linens at scale, with safety, quality, and cost in mind.
1) What’s actually in “foundation”? (Why it sticks so well)
Most modern liquid, stick, cream, and powder foundations are engineered to be hydrophobic, long-wearing films that resist sweat, sebum, and transfer. From a laundry perspective, that means the soil is a composite—part oily/filmic, part particulate/pigment—that anchors to fibers and resists plain water and weak surfactants.
Core classes of ingredients you’re fighting
- Film formers & binders
- Silicones: dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, trimethylsiloxysilicate (forms “no-transfer” films).
- Acrylate copolymers: long-wear/“24-hour” claims, strong adhesion to fibers.
- Waxes: microcrystalline, beeswax, carnauba—raise melt point, increase rub-off resistance.
- Oily phase (emollients & solvents)
- Hydrocarbons, esters, triglycerides (e.g., isododecane, isopropyl myristate, caprylic/capric triglyceride) that are water-insoluble and keep pigments dispersed.
- Pigments & fillers (particulate solids)
- Iron oxides (red/yellow/black) and titanium dioxide (white, opacity/SPF). These are inorganic minerals that don’t oxidize away and can pack into loops/yarns.
- Micas/talc/silica as fillers and slip agents.
- Stabilizers & emulsifiers
- Nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, but at low levels—not enough to self-clean in laundry.
- SPF add-ons
- More TiO₂ or ZnO (mineral), or organic UV filters—again, hydrophobic.
Implication for laundry:
You must (1) solubilize/strip the film & oils, (2) dislodge and suspend pigments, and (3) chelate metals so they don’t redeposit or catalyze discoloration. Oxidizers alone won’t “bleach out” iron oxides or TiO₂. Detergency, alkalinity, proper temperature, mechanical action, and the right solvent/surfactant system are essential.
2) Keys to removal: chemistry, temperature, mechanics, and sequence
Think of foundation as a “two-phase” soil (filmic + particulate). Successful removal requires layered tactics:
- Chemistry selection
- Surfactant blend
- Use a high-activity nonionic + anionic system. Nonionics (alcohol ethoxylates, EO/PO blends) break silicone/oil films; anionics (LAS, alpha-olefin sulfonate) boost detergency and suspension.
- For microfiber/polyester items, favor nonionic-rich formulas to avoid redeposition/static.
- Alkalinity & builders
- pH 10.5–12.0 in the break/suds maximizes saponification of fatty components and swelling of cotton fibers for soil release.
- Builders (sodium metasilicate, carbonate) raise pH and provide soil anti-redeposition.
- Solvent boosters (very effective)
- Compatible glycol ethers, d-limonene/citrus terpenes, or isoparaffinic hydrocarbons in low dosages (often 0.5–1.5% owb of bath) can dramatically lift silicone and wax films.
- Ensure wastewater compliance and ventilation; avoid incompatibilities with chlorine.
- Enzymes
- Lipase: breaks triglyceride/oily residues.
- Amylase/protease: helpful for mixed soils (food, body soils) often co-present.
- Enzymes prefer lower temperatures (typically 100–120°F / 38–49°C) and near-neutral to mildly alkaline pH; use them before high-alk breaks or after a cool flush.
- Chelants & sequestrants
- EDTA/DTPA/phosphonates tie up calcium/magnesium/iron to prevent grayness and “iron set” with chlorine. Crucial when dealing with iron oxide pigments or hard water.
- Oxidizers
- Oxygen bleach (peroxide/percarbonate): excellent for organic tints, body soils, and sanitizing; safer for cotton/poly blends and colors.
- Chlorine (sodium hypochlorite): suitable for white 100% cotton towels/sheets only, at controlled ppm and temperature. Be cautious: iron (from water or soils) + chlorine can yellow or rust-stain fabrics. Always follow with an anti-chlor (sodium bisulfite/metabisulfite) when needed.
- Souring/neutralizing
- Target finished pH 6.0–6.5 to optimize hand/whiteness and protect fibers.
- Temperature & mechanics
- Temperature
- 140–160°F (60–71°C) during the main wash with solvent-boosted detergency is the sweet spot for most foundation soils on cotton.
- Use 100–120°F (38–49°C) for any enzyme step; exceeding the enzyme’s stability range ruins the benefit.
- For polyester/microfiber, stay ≤ 150°F (65°C) to avoid thermal set/gloss and dye issues.
- Liquor ratio (LR)
- Aim for 1:7 to 1:12 (linen:water). Too tight = poor soil suspension; too loose = diluted chemistry and energy waste.
- Mechanical action
- Adequate drop and lift in washer-extractors; in CBWs/tunnels, ensure proper dwells, counterflow, and chemistry zoning to avoid pigment carryover.
3) SOPs you can run today (white cotton vs. blends/colors)
Below are benchmark formulas. Adjust ounces/cwt (or g/kg) to your specific chemistry concentrates and machine size. “cwt” = 100 lb of dry linen (≈45.4 kg).
3.1 White 100% cotton towels/sheets (hotel-grade)
Goal: Maximum soil removal and brightness with controlled chlorine.
- Pre-sort & pre-spot
- Heavily marked towels: spray or dab a nonionic solvent prespotter; work in lightly. Avoid soaking the entire load in solvent.
- Short cool flush (1–2 min) to remove loose soils.
- Enzyme step (optional, recommended if mixed food/body soils)
- 100–120°F (38–49°C), pH 7.5–9.0, 5–8 min.
- Lipase/amylase detergent dose per supplier.
- Break / Emulsification
- Raise to 140–150°F (60–66°C).
- Add alkali builder (e.g., 6–10 oz/cwt) and detergent (8–12 oz/cwt).
- Add solvent booster (2–4 oz/cwt of a laundry-approved booster).
- Time: 6–8 min with strong mechanical action.
- Suds / Main wash
- Maintain 150–160°F (66–71°C), pH 10.5–11.5.
- Detergent top-off if needed (2–4 oz/cwt); chelant included here if not in main detergent.
- Time: 6–8 min.
- Rinse 1 (hot)
- 1–2 min. Drain thoroughly.
- Bleach
- Option A (preferred baseline): Oxygen bleach at 150–160°F for 5–8 min (typ. 4–8 oz/cwt as product-dependent).
- Option B (when whiteness is lagging and cotton only): Chlorine at 120–140°F, 50–100 ppm available chlorine, 3–5 min. Include chelant to minimize iron/chlorine issues. Never mix or overlap with peroxide.
- Follow chlorine with a thorough rinse and anti-chlor per label.
- Final rinses
- 1–2 rinses until conductivity and pH trend toward neutral.
- Sour & finish
- Souring to pH 6.0–6.5. Add softener if customer spec allows (note: too much softener can reduce absorbency in towels and hold soils).
Notes:
- If chlorine causes recurrent yellowing/rust specks, switch to all-oxygen bleaching and increase chelation/solvent booster in the break.
- For Airbnb-heavy accounts (more cosmetics + sunscreen), solvent booster and chelants pay for themselves in rewash reduction.
3.2 Cotton/poly blend sheets & colored linens
Goal: High removal without color loss or polyester damage.
- No chlorine; stick with oxygen bleach only.
- Emphasize nonionic-heavy detergency + solvent booster at 140–150°F.
- Keep peak temps ≤ 150°F (65°C) for color safety.
- Include chelants to manage iron and pigment suspension.
- Finish at pH 6.0–6.5.
Typical cycle (condensed):
Cool flush → Enzyme step (optional, 100–115°F) → Break with alkali + solvent booster (140–150°F) → Suds (same temp) → Hot rinse → Oxygen bleach (145–150°F) → Rinses → Sour.
4) Special handling, equipment tuning, and process control
Pre-spotting at scale (without bottlenecks)
- Use a designated prespot station and a low-VOC, silicone-targeting prespotter. Light mechanical action (tamp/brush). Avoid over-wetting that can spread pigment.
- For looped terry, work prespotter with the loop direction to avoid fray and push pigments out, not deeper in.
Water quality
- Hardness: Keep ≤ 3–5 gpg (≈ 50–85 ppm as CaCO₃) in the wash or increase builder.
- Iron: Even 0.1–0.3 ppm can create yellowing with chlorine and “set” cosmetic iron oxides. Use iron filters or sequestration, and rely more on oxygen bleach + solvent.
Tunnel washers (CBW)
- Put enzymes in an early cool zone, then alkali + solvent booster in the first hot wash zone, oxygen bleach in a dedicated zone, and adequate counterflow to prevent pigment carryover.
- Ensure dwell times match the SOP totals above (sum across modules).
Washer-extractors
- Validate liquor ratios and real temperatures with in-drum probes or machine telemetry; displayed temps can be optimistic by 5–10°F.
Dosing controls
- Program per-pocket dosing for mixed-soil accounts (hotel vs. Airbnb) to avoid over-chemistry on easy loads and under-chemistry on cosmetic-heavy loads.
5) Safety, environmental, and compliance notes
- PPE & ventilation: Solvent boosters and prespotters require gloves/eye protection and good airflow.
- Never overlap oxidizers. Ensure a full drain and rinse between oxygen and chlorine steps.
- Wastewater: Check limits for oil & grease, BOD/COD, surfactants, and solvents. Choose readily biodegradable boosters where possible.
- Anti-chlor use: If any chlorine is used, neutralize residuals before discharge and before the dryer to prevent fabric damage and off-gassing.
6) Troubleshooting guide (quick wins)
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
| Persistent tan/beige smudges after full cycle | Insufficient film breakdown; pigments trapped | Increase solvent booster dose; lengthen break by 2–3 min; ensure 150–160°F; verify alkali at target pH; add chelants. |
| Gray cast over time | Hard water or iron; redeposition | Boost chelation and builder; raise liquor ratio; add anti-redeposition polymers; check rinses/conductivity. |
| Yellowing/rust freckles on whites | Chlorine + iron reaction | Switch to oxygen-only bleaching; treat incoming water for iron; add anti-chlor; verify chlorine ppm and temperature. |
| Oily “halos” disappear when warm, reappear when cool | Film not fully removed, just mobilized | Increase nonionic surfactant and solvent booster; ensure adequate rinses; slow extraction slightly to improve carry-off. |
| Make-up prints transfer to other pieces | Overloaded machine or low LR | Reduce load factor; increase mechanical action; raise LR to 1:8–1:10. |
| Enzyme step ineffective | Temp/pH out of spec | Keep 100–115°F, pH 7.5–9.0; avoid oxidizers/alkali in the enzyme bath. |
7) Quality control, cost, and customer communication
- Whiteness/brightness targets: Track a whiteness index or simple reflectance readings on control swatches weekly. If trending down, review chelation and bleaching choices first.
- Rewash KPI: A good goal is ≤ 3–5% rewash rate for towels. Foundation is a top rewash driver—dialing in solvent-boosted breaks typically drops rewash 1–2 points.
- Cost control: Solvent boosters add pennies per cwt but can halve rewash, saving labor, energy, and linen life—often a net win.
- Guest communication (for Airbnb managers): Provide a dark makeup towel in each set and request guests use it for removal. This small upstream step reduces incoming load severity.
8) National Laundry Chemicals Solutions for Cosmetic Soil Removal
While general chemistry principles provide the framework, specialized products developed for cosmetic and oily soils can give laundries a measurable advantage. National Laundry Chemicals offers a tiered product system designed specifically for the challenges of foundation, sunscreen, and body oils common in hospitality linens.
Party Off 2: Targeted Acidic Spotter with D-Limonene
- What it is: A high-quality acidic spotter formulated with D-limonene/citrus terpenes, which excel at dissolving oily/silicone-based films.
- Where it fits: Ideal for pre-spotting heavily soiled towels, pillowcases, and sheets prior to the main wash cycle.
- Benefits:
- Rapidly penetrates stubborn cosmetic films without damaging cotton fibers.
- Acidic balance helps neutralize alkali carryover in localized soils, preventing yellowing or fabric roughness.
- Extends linen life by reducing the need for repeated chlorine-based rewash.
- How to use: Apply directly to makeup-stained areas, tamp lightly with brush or cloth, then process as normal.
Power Orange: Industrial Detergent/Surfactant with Citrus Solvents
- What it is: A boosted industrial detergent blend that combines traditional anionic/nonionic surfactants with D-limonene/citrus terpenes.
- Where it fits: Best used in the initial break/suds step for loads known to contain cosmetic soils.
- Benefits:
- Enhances film and wax dissolution early in the wash cycle.
- Provides strong emulsification of oils, preventing redeposition later.
- Reduces reliance on high alkalinity alone, protecting both fabrics and wastewater profiles.
- How to use: Dose per load specifications; run at 140–160°F to maximize detergent penetration and solvent action.
Power Orange +: Enzyme-Boosted, Oxygenated Reclaim Formula
- What it is: An advanced reclaim detergent combining:
- D-limonene/citrus terpenes (solvent power),
- Oxygen bleach (safe, broad-spectrum whitening),
- A blend of lipase, protease, and amylase enzymes for oily, protein, and starch soils.
- Where it fits: In overnight reclaim programs for linens with set-in or repeated cosmetic soils.
- Critical process note: Hold bath temperature between 100–110°F (38–43°C) to maximize enzyme action. Going hotter inactivates the enzyme system and wastes the reclaim opportunity.
- Benefits:
- Safely restores whites without chlorine, even on blends.
- Lipase specifically targets foundation’s triglyceride and oily base.
- Protease and amylase clean out food/body residues that often “lock in” pigments.
- Oxygen bleach boosts brightness while being gentler on fabric life.
- How to use: Charge into reclaim bath, maintain temp 100–110°F for sufficient dwell time (30–60 min typical), then finish with rinse and sour as per SOP.
Strategic advantage of the three-step system
- Frontline defense (Party Off 2): Prevents stains from becoming permanent by targeting them before the wash cycle.
- First-pass wash success (Power Orange): Breaks down most cosmetic soils in the initial wash, reducing rewash rates significantly.
- Last line of defense (Power Orange + reclaim): Provides an effective, enzyme-driven “second chance” for stubborn soils without harsh chlorine damage.
By aligning chemistry choice with soil type and linen grade, laundries can lower rewash, extend linen life, cut chemical cost per pound processed, and deliver consistently brighter textiles to demanding hospitality clients.
9) Final Takeaways
- Foundation makeup is engineered to resist water; treat it as a film + pigment soil.
- The most effective programs combine solvent boosters, controlled alkalinity, enzymes, and chelation to release and suspend both oils and pigments.
- National Laundry Chemicals’ Party Off 2, Power Orange, and Power Orange + provide a targeted, layered system that addresses soils at every stage—spotting, main wash, and reclaim.
- For Airbnb-heavy accounts and hotel customers alike, this integrated approach reduces rewash rates, prevents premature linen loss, and produces the bright, hygienic whites and clean colors that hospitality brands depend on.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I remove foundation makeup from towels and sheets without spotting and visually inspecting each piece of linen?
No. Complex cosmetic soils like foundation often require manual spotting and scrubbing to fully remove. While solvent-boosted detergents (Power Orange) and enzyme-based reclaim programs (Power Orange +) improve overall results, they cannot always handle concentrated pigment deposits and silicone binders on their own. Visual inspection remains essential in a commercial laundry setting to identify heavily stained pieces and apply targeted pre-spotting (Party Off 2) before the main wash. - Why is foundation makeup so hard to remove compared to normal soils?
Foundation is engineered to resist sweat, sebum, and rubbing. It contains silicones, waxes, and iron oxide pigments, all of which resist water and oxidizers. That’s why standard detergents and chlorine bleach alone often fail. - Will chlorine bleach remove makeup stains effectively?
Not always. Chlorine can oxidize organic soils but has little effect on iron oxides and titanium dioxide pigments in makeup. Worse, if iron is present in water or soils, chlorine may cause rust-yellow staining. For most laundries, oxygen bleach with solvent boosters is more reliable. - What role do enzymes play in removing makeup?
Enzymes like lipase, protease, and amylase attack oils, proteins, and starches that often “lock in” pigments. In Power Orange +, this enzyme blend is paired with oxygen bleach and solvents for overnight reclaim. The key is holding the bath at 100–110°F to keep enzymes active. - Do solvent boosters really make that much difference?
Yes. D-limonene/citrus terpene solvents break down silicones, waxes, and long-wear polymers far better than detergents alone. Both Power Orange and Power Orange + contain these boosters, which is why they perform better against cosmetic soils. - How can I prevent makeup soils from redepositing on other linens during the wash?
Use the right liquor ratio (1:8–1:10), maintain adequate mechanical action, and include chelants to suspend pigments and bind metals. Redeposition usually signals poor suspension or insufficient rinsing. - Is there a difference in process for white cotton vs. poly/cotton blends or colored linens?
Yes. White cotton can tolerate chlorine bleach (with caution) but blends and colors should use oxygen bleach only. Keep polyester ≤150°F to prevent thermal set, and rely on nonionic-heavy detergency. - What’s the benefit of an overnight reclaim with Power Orange +?
It provides a safe, chlorine-free deep clean for stubborn stains. By holding 100–110°F, enzymes fully activate, solvents break down film, and oxygen bleach restores brightness—all while preserving linen life. - How can hotels and Airbnbs reduce the volume of makeup-stained towels in the first place?
Encourage customers to use dark-colored “makeup towels” provided in each room. This small step reduces incoming soil severity and lowers rewash rates for commercial laundries. - What KPIs should laundries track to know if their program is working?
- Rewash percentage (target ≤3–5%).
- Whiteness index/reflectance on control swatches.
- Chemical cost per cwt vs. linen replacement cost.
- Customer complaints about stained or gray linens.