Understanding LaundryDefinitionTypesLoad studyList of Laundry EquipmentsCategoryProcessElementsWash wheelWash CycleChemicalsSpotting chemicalsWash formulaWash stepsLaundry machinesFabricsLinen BasicsCommon Laundry Symbols

Definition

Laundry is an art and a science.

It is an art because it requires a certain degree of skill or perfection in an individual to complete the job.

It is a science because it involves the use of water, chemicals, machines and modern techniques which is based on scientific principles.

Types of LaundryThere are five types of laundry1. Institutional laundry or in house laundry such as

hotel and hospital laundry or any laundry which is on premise. Such laundry’s may or may not cater to customers other than to those in the institutions in which they are housed. These laundry’s are usually spread on an area measuring more than 2000 sq.ft and make uses of industrial laundry equipment. For e.g. Hyatt Regency Laundry, Bombay Hospital laundry.

2. Commercial laundry or stand alone laundry are establishment which caters to anyone and everyone purely on commercial terms and conditions. These laundry’s are slightly bigger than the institutional laundry as they cater to more than one client at a time. For e.g. Akash Laundry, Leach and Weborny, Bandbox etc.,

3. Rental laundry are laundry’s that not only cleans the linens but also supplies the linens on rental basis to hotels and other institutions at a nominal charge. Such kind of laundry exists mostly in Europe and the US.

4. Retail laundry are laundry’s that are very small in size and processes only personal garments or customer clothing's. For e.g. Three star laundry, Beauty Arts etc.,

5. Laundromat or coin operated laundry are laundry’s with washing and drying facilities which is normally operated by the customer themselves. This is a small set up usually in a mall or a petrol pump where people can walk in and wash their dirty linens. One example in India is the IFB Laundromat located at several petrol station in Mumbai.

Laundry capacityFor an housekeeper it is very important to understand the load generations in the hotel based on which the laundry size can be determined.

Therefore one must know the following:1. Washing capacity

2. Drying capacity (bath linens, uniform& guest laundry)

3. Pressing capacity (staff uniforms, guest laundry)

4. Ironing capacity (bed linens, f&b linens)

Washing capacity: The size of any in house laundry is directly proportional to the number of rooms in that hotel. Therefore, if an Hotel is having 300 rooms then we can do the following calculations.

Ttl no. of rooms x load generation/room = total washing capacity

300rooms x 10kgs = 3000kgs per day

Please note that loads generations per room includes everything such as your room linens, f&b linens, staff uniforms and also your guest laundry.

10kgs per room is an international benchmark for determining the size of an in house laundry. Once you have identified your washing capacity, you can now easily determined your drying, pressing and ironing capacity.

Drying capacity: 60% of the washing capacity.Pressing capacity: 20% of the washing capacity. Ironing capacity: 40% of the washing capacity.

Example: Hotel in house laundry is operated on a 24 hour basis.Total load per day = 3000 kgs (100% occupancy)Average wash cycle = 1.20 hrsActual washing hours in a day = 24/1.20 hrs = 20 hrsThus washing capacity required per hour = 3000kgs/20hrs150kgs per hour

The Drying Capacity required per hour (60% of washing capacity)90kgs per hour

The pressing capacity required per hour (20% of washing capacity)30kgs per hour or 30kgs x 2pcs(average 2pcs/kgs) =60pcs per hour

The ironing capacity required per hour (40% of washing capacity)60kgs per hour or 60kgs x 3.5pcs(average 3.5pcs/kgs) =210 pcs per hour

List of Laundry EquipmentsBased on the above the preceding figures laundry equipment can be determined.

Washer Extractors: 55 kgs (2nos) + 25 kgs (1 no) + 10 kgs (1no)

Tumbler Dryers:35kgs (2nos) + 20 kgs (1no)

Dry Clean Machine: 12-15 kgs (1 no)

Flat Work Ironer:3000mm x 800mm x 1 roll chest heated (1 no)

Steam Utility legger: 2 nos

Cotton Utility legger: 2 nos

Cuff & Collar: 1 no

List of Laundry Equipments (contd)Form Finisher: 1 no

Spotting Board: 1 no

Ironing Board: 1 no

Marking Machine: 1 no

Wet Linen Trolleys: 6 nos

Dry Linen Trolleys: 6 nos

Folding Tables: 4 nos

Mobile Linen Trolley: 4 nos

Flapping Table: 2 nos

Weighing Scale: 1 no

Double Bowl Sink: 1 no

Categories of laundry

Laundry job can be categorize into three1. Flat 2. Plush 3. Form Flat category : All room linens, F&B linens or guest laundry that are flat such as bed sheets, pillow covers, table clothes, napkins, etc., is washed and ironed without drying.

Plush category : All bath linens such as towels, bathrobes, etc., that are washed, dried and folded and need not be ironed.

Form category : All staff uniforms and guest laundry which has got a shape and form such as trousers, shirts, dresses which is washed, dried and pressed.

Laundry ProcessThe following are the main process in a laundry job. 1. Receiving2. Registering3. Marking4. Segregation and Weighting5. Pre-spotting6. Wetcleaning/Drycleaning7. Post spotting8. Drying9. Pressing/ironing10. Checking11. Sorting and packing12. Billing13. Delivering

Laundry elementsThe important elements for a successful laundry wash process are1. Mechanical Action 2. Water3. Chemicals4. Temperature5. Time

Chemical

Industrial washing requires 9 -11 ph.

Time

It will depend upon the fabric and soilage.

Water

Ideal water condition would be hardness 60ppm and upto 100 tds

Temperature

Ideal temperature will depend upon the fabric and soilage.

Wash wheelWash wheel

Laundry ChemicalsMain laundry chemicals are1. Emulsifier (Lauryl, octyl, nonyl phenol etoxylate

alcohol)2. Detergent (Sodium silicate, Acid Slurry,

Sodium bicarbonate, Sodium sulphate)

3. Alkali (Caustic Soda, Soda Ash)4. Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite, Sodium

Hydrosulphide, Hydrogen peroxide, Sodium perborate)

5. Neutralizer (Sodium bisulphite, )6. Softener (Fatty acids, Silicone)7. Solvents (Perchloroethylene, Trichloroethylene)8. Enzymes (Amylase, Lipase, Proteas, Cellulase)

Reputed brand in laundry chemicals are Johnson Diversey, Ecolab, Rexodan and Minikem (Indian brand)

Laundry spotting chemicalsLaundry spotting chemicals are used based on the nature of the stain, fabric and colour. Aqueous and Non-aqueousAqueous spotting chemicals are used for water based stains such as blood, food, rust, dyes, earth etc., For e.g. ammonia, hydroflouric acid, bleach, oxalic acid, acetic acid, sodium hydrosulphide, sodium thiosulphate.

Non-aqueous spotting chemicals are used for oil based stains such as ink, grease, paints, lip-sticks etc., For e.g. amyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride, thinner and other forms of solvent.

Reputed brands available in the market are A.L.Wilson, Bussats, Rexodan, Ecolab.

In India most of the chemicals are home made such as Green mixture, BSR, HF, Cuff&Collar, Hydro powder etc.,

Typical washing formula

While making any washing formula one needs to consider the quantity, soilage, fabric content and the colour. A simple F&B linens wash formula would consists of the following steps.1. Pre wash/Emulsifications2. Main wash3. Bleach4. Rinse 15. Rinse 26. Neutralizing/Sour7. Starching8. Final Extract

Wash steps Steps Time Water Level Temp Chem Process

Prewash 5 min Warm Medium 40 C Clax 200s Emulsifying

Main wash 12 min Hot Medium 80 C Clax 100 OB

Clax Build

Washing

Bleach 6 min Warm Medium 45 C Chlorine Bleach

Bleaching

Rinse 1 3 min Cold High n.a. n.a. Rinsing

Rinse 2 2 min Cold High n.a. n.a. Rinsing

Sour 5 min Cold Medium n.a. Clax neutralizer

Neutralizing

Starch 4 min Warm Medium 40 C Maize starch powder

Starching

Extract 6 min n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Extracting

Laundry EquipmentsThe most commonly used laundry machines are1. Washer/Extractor Auxiliary equipment2. Dryers 1. Boiler3. Dry clean machine 2. Compressors4. Marking Machine 3. Dry set vacuum5. Spotting machine6. Cuff & Collar press Supporting Plant7. Body & Bosom press 1. Water softening/RO plant8. Mushroom press 2. Effluent treatment plant9. Cotton utility legger10. Steam utility legger Transporting 11. Form finisher 1. Wet Linen Trolleys12. Touch up board 2. Dry Linen Trolleys12. Flat work ironer 3. Mobile Linen Trolleys13. Bed sheet folder 4. Folding Tables14. Bagging machine 5. Linen Flapping Trolley15. Shirt Body Unit 6. Pigeon Holes Rack16. Towel Folder17. Uniform conveyor

FabricsFor a successful laundry operation it is very important to have a good knowledge about the fabrics because that is the main responsibility of the laundry.There are various kinds of fabrics that are used in the hotels for different purposes such as

Linens - used for making especially room linens such as bed sheets, pillow covers, duvet covers etc., This is mostly derive from the

flax plant.Cotton - used for making towels and especially F&B

linens such as table cloths, dinner napkins, trolley covers etc., This is derive from the cotton plant.

Blend – These fabrics are mixture of synthetic and natural or two different kinds of synthetic yarns used mainly for stitching uniforms, upholstery and drapery. For e.g. polycotton, terrycotton, polyviscose, etc.,

Classifications of fabrics

Fabrics are classified into the following

Natural – Silk, Cotton, Wool, Linen, Jute

Synthetic/man-made – Polyester, Nylon, Spandex,

Regenerated – Viscose

Linen BasicsIt is important to know the basic parameters while selecting any linens for use.Bed linen –

1. CountThis determine the fineness of the fabric. The higher the count, the finer the fabric. The acceptable standard in a star hotel is 40/40.

2. Reed pick (weft)This determine the strength and the stability of the fabric. The higher the reed pick better the quality. The acceptable standard is above 300 reed pick per square inch for bed sheets and around 250 for f&b linens. Here it is important that the threads counts are equal vertically and horizontally to maintain the dimensional stability.

Toweling-Toweling fabrics are specially made as it consists of a base clothes and a piled surface. Therefore, a good toweling cloth will have the following parameters.

2. Base clothThe base cloth must have a minimum reed pick measuring 115 to 118 counts per square inch.

3. Piles lengthThe piles length must be minimum 5.2 to 5.5 mm in height.

4. GSMIt is also know as grams per sq.meter. Higher the GSM thicker the towel. Hotels normally use 600 to 650 GSM. For bath mat the GSM will be slightly higher around 800 GSM.

Common Laundry Symbols

60c

Cl

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