Chapter 4 :- Laundry

Laundry:- The 'laundry ' can be defined as a place where the washing and finishing of clothes and other washable articles are carried out.

(A.) Commercial and On-site Laundry:-

(a) Commercial laundries : These cater to hotels on a contract basis. The contract specifies the rate for laundering different articles linen, the time taken for laundering,and so on. Usually the soiled linen are laundered and delivered back to the hotel within 24 – 48 hours. The laundries may,however, hold back 3 – 5% of the soiled linen for stain removal andotherspecialtreatments. Contract laundries are a good option if the hotel does not want to make a heavy investment in setting up its own laundry or has space constraints.

Advantages:

No capital outlay.
Little technical expertise required.
Labour costs are saved.

Disadvantages:

Less control over standards.
Delivery and collection delays.
Higher stocks required as it takes a longer time for the whole process to complete a single laundry cycle, including transportation.
Loss of articles may increase.
Extra costs for special treatments.

(b) OPL – On Premises Laundry/On-site Laundry: The hotel has its own laundry, which may be run by the management or managed on a contract. Setting up a laundry involves high capital expenditures. The type of equipment to be used, their capacities and how well a laundry needs to be designed is of par.Many hotels are ready to make this heavy investment to provide quality service to the guests. More care is taken while laundering, since it is under the direct responsibility of the hotel. Services are faster (maximum 8 hours), hence parstocks are reduced. Better supervision and better control and hence longer life for linen. There are lesser chances of pilferage, since the linen does not leave the premises. However, contingency plans must be made in case of equipment failure. One must be able to fall back on a commercial laundry or another hotel laundry.

Advantages:

No looses or 'shortfalls ' of missing articles are likely to occur.
Less stock required as the cycle is quicker.
Can cover emergency requirements.
Is a capital asset.

Disadvantages:

The initial capital investment is high.
Higher labour costs.
Technical expertise or special management is required.
High cost of maintenance, repairs,and overheads.

(B.) Flow process of Industrial Laundering- OPL:-

Collection and transportation– guest linen are collected and transported to the
Arrival- On arrival the lines must be dealt quickly as possible to ensure fast turn around time for linen. There must be a separate section for guest laundry.
Marking – Marking may be temporary or permanent. For guest laundry initials of the guest as well as room no helps provide a clear identification and helps in correct billing
Sorting- Sorting is carried out according to the types of fabrics and items, color and type of soil. Sorting is done to separate those articles that needs dry cleaning from those that will go through the normal wash process.. Those that need mending and stain removal must be separated so that separate action will be taken.
Weighing– Weighing is carried out to conform to the capacity of the washing machine, and to avoid of the overloading. Repeated overloading can cause the machine to breakdown. Underloading will lead to the wastage of detergent and water.
Loading is often done manually or with a certain degree of full or partial automation
Washing- The process is designed to perform three basic functions

Removal of soil dirt
Suspension of soil
Discharge of soil from the machine and drain.

Rinsing- Once the wash cycle is completed. Rinsing is carried out at least twice. The purpose of this is to remove the residue of laundry agent and reagent.
Hydro-extraction- It is the process of removal of excess water and moisture from the linen which has been washed.
Tumble drying- This process is capable of making the linen absolutely dry , by blowing hot air. For articles that are likely to be damaged by heat there is an option of simple air drying.
Finishing- After washing and drying of all the articles needs proper finishing like folding properly, or hanged in hangers.
Folding- Folding can be done in machines hands and in most cases carried out
Airing- Airing is very much needed to protect the linens from mildew.
Storage- Storage should be properly done before delivering. Linens should be allowed to keep in specific period in the store for distribution.
Distribution– Now the lines are ready for distribution. The fresh linens are distributed to the guests.When the linen or clothes of the guest have been cleaned it has been delivered to the guest room and the guest has to sign the bill which has been handed to the front office for making of master bills.

(C.) Stages in the Wash Cycle:-

There are nine stage of a typical wash cycle:

Flush (1.5-3 minutes)– This dissolves and dilutes the water soluble salts to reduce the soil load for the upcoming suds steps. Items are generally flushed at medium temperature at high water levels.

Break (4-10 minutes)– A high alkaline solution is added to remove soil along with additional flush. It is usually carried out in medium temperature.

Suds (5-8 minutes)– detergent is added. The articles are now agitated in hot water at low water levels.

Intermediate rinse/ carryover suds (2-5 minutes) – This rinse cycle removes soils and alkalinity to help the bleach work more effectively later. It rinses linen at the same temperature as the suds.

Bleach (5-8 minutes)– Added in cold water at low water levels. It kills bacteria, whitens fabric and removes stain.

Rinse (1.5-3 minutes)– 2 or more rinses are required at a medium temperature and high water levels to remove detergents and soils from the linen.

Intermediate extract (1.5-2 minutes)– The high speed spin removes the leftover detergents and soils from the linen. It should not be used on ironed linen.

Sour/softener/starch/sizing (3-5 minutes)– used for conditioning fabrics. Runs at medium temperature at low water levels. Starch is added to stiffen cotton fabric.

Final extract (2-12 minutes)– a high speed spin removes most of the moisture from the linen. The length of the spin depends upon the fabric type, extractor capacity and extractor speed.

(D.) Laundry Equipment and Machines:-

List of machines and equipment used in the laundry are:

1. Washing Machine - Those used in hotel laundries are typically of the tumbler type. Their capacities typically vary from 7 to 200 kg. These are also referred as 'tunnel washing machine '.Washing machines consist of a motor, inside and outside shells,and a casing.

2. Hydro Extractor - These are large centrifuges ,ranging in capacity from 7 to 70 kg. Clothes from the washer are put into a hydro-extractor to remove about 50-75 % of the excess water.

3. Tumbler or Dryer - These are units of tumbler-type equipment meant to remove moisture from damp,tightly packed linen (that have come out of hydro-extractors) by tumbling them in rotating cylinder through which heated air passes.

4. Finishing Machine -

Calendering Machine or Rotary Ironer:- These are large presses meant primarily for bed sheets, bedcovers, table cloths,and similar articles.
Steam press :- This equipment uses steam and heat to press the clothes.
Flat Iron /Hand iron :- Hand irons fall into two categories-those using an external heat source and those heated by electricity (the electric iron).
Suzies/ Genies /Steam-air garment finishers:- This consists of an open-mesh nylon air form bag that shapes garments such as dresses and jackets with a gentle cushion of steam and hot air to restore them to an as-good-as-new appearance.

5. Folding Machine - Folding machines do not fold the linen as such,but aid the worker in doing so. The machines hold down one end of the linen to be folded so that the worker can fold it more easily.

6. Weighing scale - It is used for weighing purposes.

7. Dry cleaning machine - They carry out washing, extraction, drying, and deodourizing in a continuous process. Solvent filtration and distillation are carried out in a closed system.

8. Trolleys,Cart,and Sacks - These are used for the transfer of clean linen from the laundry to the linen room and from the linen room to the floor pantries, and so on.

9. Cupboards, Shelves, Racks, Tables

10. Sewing Machine - A machine with a mechanically driven needle for sewing or stitching cloth.

11. Steam cabinets - These are boxes in which linen such as curtains, bedspreads, and blankets are hung so that steam may be passed through them.

(E.) Layout of the Laundry:-

(F.) Laundry Agents:-

Laundry agents are the materials used to improve laundering results (bleaches,optical whiteners) or to accomplish specific functions or effects (soaks,stain removers,softeners,stiffeners).

Soap - 'Soap' is technically also a type of detergent and is the most widely used fabric cleaner. 'Soaps' are the sodium salts of fatty acids and are made by reacting natural oils with sodium hydroxide or another caustic soda.
Detergents- Soap-free detergents have properties similar to soap- such as foaming, wetting, and cleaning-but they are able to make soluble salts out of the calcium, magnesium, and other metal salts that make water 'hard' and render ordinary soap insoluble.
Fabric Stiffeners and Softeners- Crisp appearance is obtained by using stiffeners. Softeners make fabrics more supple and easier to finish. Fabric softners are added with sours in the final wash cycle.
Bleaches - These are chemicals capable of whitening fabrics and removing stains by destroying pigmented matter.They also disinfect and deodorize.
Antichlors- These are used during the after-wash/bleach rinse to ensure that all the chlorine in the bleach has been removed.
Acid agents - These are useful for neutralizing alkalis and for stain removal. Mild acids used to ne
utralize any residual alkalinity in fabrics after washing and rinsing are called 'sours'.
Organic solvents - Solvents are applied to the most delicate fabrics either to remove stains or to dry-clean them. They do not injure the fibres or the colour of the fabrics. They are used as spot-cleaning agents.
Absorbents - These are substances suitable for removing grease spots from all fabrics and for the general cleaning of light-coloured fabrics that are evenly soiled.

(G.) Dry Cleaning:-

This the cleaning of fabrics in a substantially non-aqueous liquid medium. Dry cleaning removes oils as well as many water-soluble and some insoluble materials with the help of detergents and various other agents. The term 'dry-cleaning' is misleading. It suggests that the cleaning is done using dry materials only, whereas the fact is that in addition to dry powders,liquids such as petrol,benzene, and so on are also used.

Advantages:

Dry-cleaning cleans clothes for which laundering is not suitable.
It causes no shrinkage (which is often seen in laundering).
Dry-cleaning does not flatten the pile of fabrics such as velvet.
Finishes such as moireing are retained even after dry-cleaning .
Colours do not bleed on dry-cleaning.
Stains are more readily removed by dry-cleaning.

Disadvantages:

Dry-cleaning is expensive compared to laundering.
Many dry-cleaning solvents are harmful to health if inhaled for long durations.
After cleaning with solvents, a certain unpleasant smell tends to be retained by the articles.

Process of dry cleaning :

Marking :-

Every article is marked individually to facilitate identification .

Sorting :-

Shoe polish

1. Remove surface deposit.

2. Use dry cleaner or spirit.

Garments are sorted into:

 white and light coloured clothes

 dark coloured clothes

 white and light coloured woolens

 dark coloured woolens

 drapery and furniture covers

 rain clothes

Application of absorbents :-

Absorbents are applied to remove grease spots from all kinds of materials .The common absorbents used are starch, powdered magnesia, French chalk, fuller’s earth , bran etc.

Pre spotting :-

Pre spotters are applied using a spotting gun, which uses compressed air to help spray the solvent on to the stain or a heavily soiled area. solvents such as amyl acetate, emulsifying agents and enzymes are used for pre spotting.

Cleaning :-

Clothes are loaded to the dry cleaning cylinder. very delicate clothes are placed in a net bag.an appropriate solvent is circulated through the clothes. the contact time of the clothes with the solvent and the rinsed time may vary. immersion and agitation of the garments in the solvent takes place, loosening the soil and dissolving it.

Extraction :-

Excess solvent is removed from the garments by centrifugal action in a revolving perforated cylinder .

Drying :-

After extraction, the garments are dried, temp is controlled and kept around 70 degree centigrade.

Filtering and distillation of the solvents :-

Solvents are expensive and therefore filtered out distilled and reused.

(H.) Guest Laundry / Valet service:-

Dealing with guest laundry is one of the major responsibilities of the housekeeping department. Guest laundry must be picked up on time, laundered, and delivered back to the guests on time without any mix-ups. Usually guests clothes collected in the morning are given back the same evening.

Laundry lists:

Every guestroom is provided with laundry bags and laundry lists. The guest is expected to place the soiled clothes in the laundry bag,fill out the laundry form with the necessary details, and place a call to the housekeeping department to get the laundry collected. Even if the guest does not make a call, the valets should approach the room for guest laundry. The bills are sent to the front office, where they are added to the master bill. The flowchart for handling guest laundry is depicted in Figure 17.9.

Valet service:-

Valet collect the soiled guest laundry placed by the guest in the laundry bag along with the laundry list. The usual laundry service for in -house guests is referred to as 'normal service ' and entails laundry being collected from guests before 10 a.m. and being returned by evening. On weekdays, there are no additional charges for this service apart from the ratea specified on the laundry list. On Sunday and holidays, the normal service is charged at 25 per cent extra. Hotels also have a provision for an express service , which takes about 2-3 hours. Guests are usually charged 50 per cent extra or double the list rates for express service.

(I.) Stain Removal:-

A stain is a spot or localized discolouration left on fabric by reaction with or absorption of a foreign substance. Stain removal or spot-cleaning is a kill that demands special attention, specific techniques, and long experience. The two main factors to be borne in mind while attempting to remove a stain are:

The composition and colour of the fabric.
The nature and age of the stain.

General Procedure for Stain Removal:

Identify the stain.
Classify the stain.
Select the reagents to be used.
Select the procedure to be used.
Proceed step by step to remove the stain.

Identification of stains:

Identification of stains helps in selecting the reagents and procedures to be used for stain removal. Stains can be classified based on:-

Based on colour– for example, a red stain can be of tomato, lipstick, nail polish, blood etc.
Based on Texture-by touching surface of stain it can be deduced:- If hard it may be an egg; if soft it may be oil, ghee, lipstick; if sticky can be of glue and gum.
Based on Smell– every stain has a distinct smell like eggs, medicine, food, perfume

Classification of Stains:

a) Animal: Caused by blood, egg, milk, meat juices. As these contain protein matter; heat must be avoided. Otherwise it may coagulated get fixed into the article.

b) Vegetable: caused by tea, coffee, cocoa, fruit, wine. These are acidic and therefore requires alkaline reagents to remove them.

c) Grease: caused by butter, curry, oil paint, varnish, tar. Usually grease solvents are used to remove them.

d) Mineral: rust, black ink, iron mould, certain medicine stains .

e) Acidic stains: These include stains such as perspiration, urine (fresh),vinegar,and medicines containing nitric acid.

f) Basic /alkaline stains: Perspiration, urine (old).

g) Natural dyes and pigments: Caused by henna,betel leaf,coffee,tea,and so on.

h) Synthetic dyes and pigments: Caused by hair dyes, markers,watercolours ,and so on.

i) Sugar solutions with colouring matter: Caused by jams,jellies, soft drinks, syrups, and puddings.

j) Miscellaneous: Some stains as mud,mildew, and scorching do not fall into any of the aforementioned classes.

STAIN REMOVING AGENTS:-

There are five main stain removing agents: –

Organic solvents
Acids
Alkalis
Bleaches
Enzymes

i)Organic solvents – These dissolve grease and require care because they are inflammable and harmful if inhaled. Generally, it does not harm any fibres or dyes. When using, an absorbent cloth should be placed underneath and work from the outside of the stain inwards.

E.g. Flammable-benzene, acetone, amyl acetate, methylated spirit, white spirit,

Non inflammable-Carbon tetrachloride(Ccl4), Perchloroethylene(PERK), trichloroethylene. These take out stains like chewing gum (after scraping), grease, oil paint, lipstick, ballpoint ink, etc.

ii)Acids –Dilute acids can be used on most white fabrics, but most coloured ones get affected. They affect all animal fibres. It is always better to use weak acidic solutions several times than using stronger acidic solution. After treatment, wash using detergent or thorough rinsing should be done. eg. Acetic acid, Citric Acid, Oxalic Acid.

Acids remove metal stains (especially iron moulds, rust and iron stain left by blood).

iii)Alkalis – Alkalis remove old and heavy vegetable stains (tea, coffee, wine, etc.) from white linen or cotton effectively. Animal fibres may be adversely affected by it. E.g. soda, borax.

iv)Bleaches – Bleaching is the process in which a coloured substance is changed into a colourless one. Bleaching weakens fabrics; hence extreme care should be taken.

Oxidizing bleaches liberate oxygen from the stain and render it colourless. Most commonly used is Sodium Hypochlorite. It removes obstinate stains in white cotton and linen but it ‘fixes’ iron stains. Hydrogen Peroxide is slower acting and is used on white fabrics. Sodium perborate is the bleach present in most detergents and safe on most fabrics.

Reducing bleaches remove oxygen from the stain and add hydrogen to the coloured stain rendering it colourless. Sodium hydrosulphite is the most commonly used one. It is used on white clothes for removal of iron stains and stripping dyes.

v)Enzymes – Enzymes like powdered pepsin are used to remove protein stains like egg, perspiration, blood, etc. at a temperature of 40-50 degrees.

Stain Removal Method:

According to mode of action:–

a)Solvent action- Here solvent or water is able to dissolve the stain like ballpoint ink stain.

b)Mechanical action:- This dislodges the stain without dissolving it.

c)Chemical action- Chemicals produce an oxidation or reduction reaction which helps to remove the stain.

d)Absorption- Certain powders such as fullers earth are able to absorb the stain like grease and oil.

According to method of application:-

a)Drop method- the stained part of the fabric is stretched and small drops of stain removal agents are poured on it with a dropper.

b)Dip method- The stained area of the fabric is immersed in the stain remover solution. This is the ideal method when stain is large or if there are many spots on the fabric.

c)Steam method- Stains on wool, silk or any coloured fabric can be removed by steaming. The stained area is saturated with steam by spreading the cloth over a basin half filled with hot water into which a small amount of appropriate removal agent has been placed.

d)Sponge method- the stain removal agent is applied on the stained area of the fabric with a sponge. This is the most frequently used method of stain removal.

Removal Of Common Stains :

Ball point -

1. Use methylated spirit or se glycerine with ammonia solution.

2. If necessary, use chlorine bleach solution.

Blood -

1. Soak immediately in cold water.

2. Wash in warm enzyme detergent solution or soak in hydrogen peroxide solution.

3. For dried stains use ammonia.

Candle wax -

1. Scrape off deposit.

2. Place a blotting paper over and under the stain and pass a warm iron over it. Change the paper and repeat the process until the wax is absorbed.

3. Remove any remnant discoloration with methylated spirit or dry cleaner.

Chewing gum -

1. Chill with ice to harden and scrape off.

2. Use dry cleaner.

Chocolate, Cocoa -

1. Scrape off deposit.

2. Use enzyme detergent solution or borax solution.

3. If necessary, use dry cleaner.

Coffee -

1. Wash off immediately.

2. Use borax solution.

3. For dried stains, use glycerine solution.

4. If necessary use chlorine bleach.

Cosmetics ( Lipstick, foundation, blusher) -

1. Remove surface deposit.

2. Sponge with glycerine. Rinse.

3. Use dry cleaner.

Curry -

1. Remove deposit and use glycerine solution.

2. Use enzyme detergent solution or ammonia solution.

3. If necessary, bleach.

Egg -

1. Scrape off deposit.

2. Soak in cold salt water.

3. Use enzyme detergent solution.

Fat/Grease -

1. Remove surface deposit.

2. Use absorbent powder

3. Or use blotting paper and warm iron.

4. Wash in warm detergent solution or dry cleaner.

Mud -

1. Remove surface deposit.

2. Use detergent solution.

3. For dried stains, brush and use drycleaner.

Paint, oil based -

1. Remove surface deposit

2. Use thinner/ turpentine/ white spirit.

Paint, water based -

1. Remove deposit.

2. Wash in cold water.

3. For dried stains, use methylated spirit.

Perfume -

1. Sponge with water immediately

2. Use glycerine solution.

Shoe polish -

1. Remove surface deposit.

2. Use dry cleaner or spirit.

Care Lebels-

All quality fabrics carry lebels indicating how they have to be cared for and what precautions need to be taken in their care to avoid damage to the fabric.

Symbols used in care lebels:-

Preparation of Hot and Cold Face Towels:-

Procedure for preparing a cold towel:

Take a fresh (laundered and ironed) face towel.
Pour chilled water into a bowl.
Add a few drops of aromatic oil (select as per the hotel's requirements) to the chilled water.
Dip the folded towel into the cold water with a pair of tongs.
Take the towel out of the water and squeeze out most of the water.
Roll up the face towel and place it on ice cubes in an ice-box or in a refrigerator.
Present the towel to the guest from a tray/salver when required, using a pair of tongs to proffer it.

Procedure for preparing a hot towel:

Take a fresh (laundered and ironed) face towel.
Take hot water in a bowl.
Add a few drops of an aromatic oil (selected as per the hotel's requirements) to the hot water.
Dip the folded towel into the hot water with a pair of tongs.
Take the towel out of the water and squeeze out most of the water.
Roll up the face towel and place it on steam-heated warming equipment.
Present the towel to the guest on a tray/salver when required, proffering it with a pair of tongs.

Key Terms:-

Antichlors- These reagents are used in rinsing to ensure that all chlorine from bleaching has been removed.
Calender - A machine with rollers for the ironing of cloth. It is used in institutional and commercial laundries for ironing bed sheets and other flat articles.
Contingency plan - Planning done for uncertain events.
Dry-cleaning- The cleaning of fabrics in a substantially non-aqueous liquid medium.
Laundromats -These are self-service laundries usually found in motels.
Laundry- A place where the washing and finishing of clothes and other washable articles can be done.
Laundry aids- Substances used to improve the results of laundering (soaps,detergents,bleaches, optical whiteners) or to accomplish specific functions or other effects (pre-soaks,stain removers, softeners, stiffeners).
OPL (On -premises Laundry)- It is an in-house area in the hotel where linen and uniforms are washed,dry-cleaned,and pressed.
Optical whiteners- These substances mask the yellowish tinge developed in white fabrics after repeated laundering.
Salt of lemon - This is a compound of potassium oxalate and oxalic acid. It is also called 'salt of sorrel'. It is used for neutralizing strong alkalis.
Saponification - Reaction in which fat/oils reacts with alkali to form soap.
Sizing- A general term for compounds that coat yarns and fabrics to impart stiffness, smoothness, strength, or weight. It includes starches and synthetic stiffeners.
Soap curd - also called 'soap film' or 'lime soap'. This is a water-insoluble material that forms when soap combines with hardness-causing salt of calcium, magnesium, and so on in hard water.
Sours- Mild acids used to neutralize any residual alkalinity in fabrics after washing and rinsing.
Spotting- The specialized function of stain removal carried out by skilled personnel called spotters, using appropriate equipment and stain-removal agents.
Stain- A spot or discolouration left on fabrics from contact with and absorption of foreign substances.
Suds - The foam formed on the surface of a soap or synthetic-detergent solution as a result of agitation.
Surfactants- Compounds that impart good wetting power, emulsifying power, and suspending power to detergents.

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Housekeeping Notes Sem 3rd or 4th