CRT LEARNING MODULE 13

Course Code H. E 01
Course Title Housekeeping Procedures
Hours 320 hours
Module Title Laundry Linen and Guest
Clothes

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 College for Research & Technology of Cabanatuan

HOW TO USE THIS DIGITIZED LEARNING MODULE

Welcome to the module in Housekeeping Procedures. This module contains

training materials and activities for you to complete this module.

The Unit of Competency “Laundry Linen and Guest Clothes” covers the
knowledge, skills and attitudes required as part of the competencies to complete so
as to qualify in the National Certification in Housekeeping NCII.

You are required to go through a series of learning activities in order to

complete each learning outcome of the module. Each of the learning outcomes is
provided with Modules. Follow these activities on your own and answer the self-
check at the end of each learning outcome. You may remove a blank answer sheet
at the end of each module (or get the answer sheets from the online facilitator) to
write the answers for each self-check. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask
your facilitator for assistance.

This module was prepared to help you achieve the required competency in
Housekeeping NC II. This will be the source of Information for you to acquire
knowledge and skill in this particular trade independently and at your own pace, with
minimum supervision of help from your instructor.

 Talk to your online facilitator and agree on how you will both organize the
Training of this unit. Read each through the module carefully. It is divided
into sections, which cover all the skills and knowledge you need to
successfully complete this module.
 Work through all the information and complete the activities in each section.
Read Modules and complete self-check. Suggested references are included to
supplement the materials provided in this module.
 Most probably your facilitator will be your supervisor or manager. Your online
facilitator will support and correct you.
 Your online facilitator will tell you about the important things you need
consider when you are completing activities and it is important that you listen
and take notes.
 You will be given plenty of opportunity to ask questions and practice on the
job. Make sure you practice new skills during regular work shifts. This way
you will improve both your speed and memory and also your confidence.
 Talk to more experienced workmates and ask for their guidance.

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 Kindly the self-check questions at the LMS (EDMODO) to test your own
progress.
 When you are ready, ask your online facilitator to watch you online via Zoom
or Google Meet to perform the activities outlined in this module.
 Ask your online facilitator work through the activities: ask for written feedback
on your progress. Your online facilitator keeps feedback/pre-assessment
reports for this reason. When you have successfully completed each element,
ask the facilitator to mark on the reports that you are ready for assessment.
 When you have completed this module, and feel confident that you have
sufficient practice, your online facilitator will arrange an appointment with
registered assessor’s to assess you. The results of your assessment will be
recorded in your competency Achievement Record.

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 HOUSEKEEPING PROCEDURES

Contents of this Learning Module

No. Module Title Topic Code

1 Laundry Linen Role of an on- Module 13.1

and Guest premise laundry
Clothes

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 MODULE CONTENT
MODULE TITLE : Laundry Linen and Guest Clothes

MODULE DESCRIPTOR:
This course is designed to enhanced the knowledge, skills, and attitude in
housekeeping specifically it covers provision of housekeeping services to the guest,
preparing room for the guest, cleaning the premises, provision of valet service,
laundry linen and guest clothes.

Number of Hours:
6 hours

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this module you MUST be able to:

1. Differentiate between an on premise laundry and an off-premise

laundry.

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 MODULE 13.1

ROLE OF AN ON PREMISE LAUNDRY

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 Hotels may elect to have either an on premise laundry or use an off-site
laundry. The decision on which one to use may be influenced by the size of the
hotel, its location or its star rating.

What is an on premise laundry (OPL)?

This is where the laundry is situated somewhere within the hotel premises.
The hotel will be able to process all hotel linens for use in hotel rooms and
restaurants. In some cases, the hotel may also have a dry cleaning facility which will
enable them to process all items needing to be dry-cleaned including guests‟
clothing and hotel soft furnishings.

Where there is an OPL, the hotel will own all the laundry equipment, all linen
items and employ all laundry staff. The hotel will also be responsible for maintaining
all laundry equipment.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having an OPL

Advantages of having an OPL

 The hotel has total control over the quality of linen used because they can
select and buy the quality and quantities required.
 The hotel has total control over the quality of the laundering and finishing
processes.
 The hotel has total control over the scheduling of staff working hours and the
scheduling of maintenance and repairs i.e. Staff may be rostered off during
quiet periods and rostered for extended hours if necessary during very busy
periods.
 Where the OPL also processes guest dry cleaning and laundry, the revenue
generated from this will help to offset some of the operating costs.

Disadvantages of having an OPL

 The hotel will have to outlay a large amount of initial capital expenditure to
purchase all laundry equipment including its installation and ongoing
maintenance.
 The hotel will have to outlay a large amount of capital expenditure to
purchase all hotel room and restaurant linens and its ongoing replacement.

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  The hotel will need to find a location for the installation of a laundry facility.
This may mean that space that could be used for revenue generation, such
as a restaurant or additional guest rooms, may be sacrificed for this purpose
 There will be additional staff to recruit, train and manage
 The hotel will need to purchase all laundry supplies such as chemicals,
trolleys, packaging, and coat-hangers
 The hotel will incur additional utility costs including gas, electricity, water and
sewage costs
 There will be a “noise and vibration” factor associated with washing machines
and dryers. The laundry will need to be located well away from guest rooms
and guest areas
 The hotel will need to have ample storage areas to store both clean and
soiled linen
 In the case of major machine breakdowns, laundry staff may be idle and
production halted, causing disruption and linen shortages to the operation.

The advantages and disadvantages of using an off-site laundry

Advantages of using an off-site laundry

 All capital expenditure of machinery and linen is the responsibility of the

laundry service provider.
 All utility, maintenance and staffing costs are borne by the laundry service
provider.
 Regular scheduled deliveries and collection times.
 The hotel will know all unit processing costs and can budget accordingly.

Disadvantages of using an off-site laundry Off-site laundry

 Providers may not accommodate requests from hotel owners to purchase
specific styles of linen items. (Five star hotels may have to use the same
quality linen as a two star property, for example).
 The hotel operator does not have full control over the quality of linen
processing.
 The hotel will need staff to count all clean linen received and check against
the delivery docket. Shortages and damaged linen will need to be managed
so that predetermined stock levels can be maintained.
 Because the laundry is located off-site, there is less flexibility and, should
there be a need for certain items such as additional napkins, the level of

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 service to the guests may be compromised because of an inability to make an
extra delivery to the hotel or to make an urgent delivery when there are
shortages.

Whether or not to use an OPL or an off-site laundry provider will depend

on

 The size of the hotel. Usually small hotels and motels will use an outside
contractor due to the large capital expenditure required.
 Small motels may choose to use an off-site laundry to process sheets and
table linen because of the better results that can be achieved during the
pressing process but may also choose to wash and dry towels in house for
convenience and as a potential cost saving.
 Location. Where hotels are remote (on islands or in the countryside), they
may choose to install a small OPL to process all their own linen.
 Large five star hotels may choose to install an in-house laundry purely
because they require a high standard of finished linen and also because it
saves them money in linen replacement costs and the benefit of being able to
also offer a 24 hour laundry/ dry-cleaning service to their guests. It also
offers flexibility if certain items need to be processed urgently.
 The decision to use an OPL or an off-site laundry provider will be largely
influenced by the costs involved. Some hotels choose to install an OPL as time
progresses whilst others remove this facility and elect to use a contractor.
Costs must always be determined by analyzing all associated costs and
consideration should always be given to service and quality if electing to use
an off-site provider.
 Whilst many hotels will have an OPL, they may contract out the dry cleaning
function to an outside contractor because of the requirement of having
specially skilled and trained dry cleaner operators and the specific training
required for the use and handling of the dry cleaning solvents.

Dealing with outside Laundry contractors

Should the hotel decide to use contractors for the supply of laundry or dry cleaning
Services, it is extremely important that initial negotiations cover all aspects of
servicing the hotels operation and that a written contract is agreed upon for a
definitive time. It is also prudent for the key Hotel operations personnel to inspect
the laundry to ensure that volume can be handled and to ensure a high standard of

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cleanliness and hygiene is maintained. References from current clients should also
be reviewed.

Issues that should be covered in a contract should include but are not
limited to:
a. The quality of linens provided specifying fiber content and sizes of all items
b. The items that are to be provided or washed. This will depend on whether
linen will be leased from the laundry or owned by the hotel and washed by
the laundry
c. The par levels to be maintained by either party
d. Days of the week that soiled laundry will be collected and clean items
delivered including frequencies of these e.g. twice a day or three times a
week
e. Approximate delivery times – these must meet the needs of the hotel
f. The provision of transport equipment – whose responsibility is this? Will
trolleys or bags be used?

Identify the equipment that may be found in an on premise laundry

Depending on the size of the laundry premises and the size of the hotel it
needs to service, equipment types and sizes will vary considerably.

The following is a list of the main types of equipment used for processing
hotel linens:

a. Washer extractors (also known as washing machines). These vary in size

and can hold between 5kg and 200 kg of soiled linen. They wash linen and
also extract most of the residual water content by spinning in the last cycle.
b. Continuous batch washers. These are only used where there is a large
volume of washing such as in a five star 500 room hotel where linen is
changed every day. The machine resembles a tunnel and is controlled via a
computer program which can direct the loading, unloading and drying of
linen through automation, reducing the need for several staff members.
c. Tumble dryers. These are used to dry towels primarily and can again vary
largely in their capacity – from 5 kg to 80kg.
d. Flatwork feeders. Used to assist in feeding sheets and table linen on to the
flatwork ironer. They are comprised of a series of clips which automatically
feed sheets on to the ironer.

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 e. Flatwork ironer. This is a machine that irons and dries sheeting and table
linen in one pass.
f. Flatwork folder-this is attached to the flatwork ironer and is pre-
programmed to mechanically fold sheets and table linen. The folding
mechanism can be switched off when ironing small items like napkins.
g. Roller irons. These are found in small laundries for ironing small items like
napkins and pillow cases. Larger versions can be used for ironing sheets.
The item is passed through the ironer and returned to the operator for
manual folding. The final result is inferior to the larger flatwork ironer but in
motels where the sheets are a blend of 50%polyester and 50% cotton the
result may be satisfactory. They are labor intensive. They would not usually
be suitable for ironing sheets made of 100 % cotton.
h. Towel folding machines. These are machines where dry clean towels are
fed manually on to the towel folder and automatically folded. They may be
single lane or multi-lane. The towel folding machines can be pre-
programmed for producing different folds.
i. Presses. Hot head presses are used mainly to press clothes but can also be
used to press small items like napkins and pillow cases. Pressing in this way
however is labor intensive and not recommended for large quantities.

The following is a list of the main types of additional equipment needed if processing
hotel soft furnishings, guest dry cleaning and staff uniforms:

a. Polymark machine. This is a machine that is used to identify guest

garments by attaching heat stamp labels on to each garment. These labels
withstand the laundry and dry cleaning processes but can be easily removed
and do not damage the garments if used correctly.
b. Spotting board. This is a specially designed table used for spotting
garments prior to being washed or dry cleaned. Stains are treated according
to their classification with specific spotting chemicals. The spotting table uses
a steam hose which can be used to assist in the removal of stains and can
also generate air to dry the fabric after stain removal. It is operated by using
foot pedals. This piece of equipment should only be used by experienced and
trained staff.
c. Dry cleaning machine. This is a machine that is used to dry clean items
that cannot be washed in water. They operate similarly to a washing machine
but use a solvent to clean. The main solvent in use today is perchlorethylene.
The machine cleans and dries the garments in one cycle.

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 d. Different types of presses. These are many and varied. There are presses
designed specifically for pressing trousers and others designed to press shirts.

CLEANING AGENTS AND CHEMICALS USED IN AN ON-PREMISE LAUNDRY

The choice of washroom chemicals is very important. It is absolutely vital to

use a reputable company who can provide the training to staff and support to the
laundry operator for solutions to problems in the wash. If the correct chemicals are
not used, this may result in a large amount of items needing to be rewashed
because stains remain, adding to the overall cost of laundering linen. Using too little
or too much chemical in the wash cycle may result in damaged linen and complaints
from hotel guests.

TYPES OF LAUNDRY CHEMICALS

WATER

Water by itself is not a good cleaner but the chemicals that are added to the
water makes it a medium to allow the chemicals to penetrate the soil and hold it in
suspension. Water also allows the chemicals to be transported to the wash load and
to carry away the soiled solution. It is an excellent rinse aid. Water quality is
important in determining which washroom chemicals will be chosen.

Water may have a high iron or calcium content or even a high volume of
vegetable dyes from plants located by the supplying dam. All these minerals will
affect the effectiveness or not of washroom chemicals chosen. Water testing must
be carried out at regular intervals by a reputable company. The results of the water
testing must be shared with the chemical supplier who will consider these findings
when recommending the choice of chemicals necessary to produce good wash
results.
Hard water will have an impact on the type of detergents selected and the
cleaning quality of the linen will decrease if unsuitable chemicals are chosen.
Water treatment of the boiler may be necessary by a qualified company.

Water temperature
Washing at a temperature of 70C for approximately 25 minutes will kill most
bacteria in hotel linen (except spores). This is known as thermal disinfection. This
temperature is however not recommended for woolens or synthetic fabrics.
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 Alkalis

Most soil in linens is acidic in nature and alkalis are used in the first part of
the wash cycle to neutralize the soils in the linen prior to the main washing process.
They also assist the detergent to "wet" the linen, thereby penetrating the soil and
holding it in suspension. Alkalis also assist in converting fats and oils to soap so that
they become water soluble.

Builders

Builders can be added to both alkalis and detergents. Their function is to

assist in water softening and to increase the function of the detergent to get better
wash results. Common builders include phosphates, silicates and carbonates.

Detergents

These are used to wash the linen, allowing water to penetrate the soil and
hold it in suspension before rinsing. All detergents used in a commercial laundry are
synthetic, combined with builders to allow fats to emulsify. Detergents have a high
tolerance to hard water and can be efficient at all temperatures. They are more
suitable for commercial laundering than soap which can produce a film when used in
hard water.

Chlorine bleaches

These are used to white linen and remove residual stains. Chlorine bleaches
must only be used on white linen. Chlorine bleaches if used in excess can cause
fabric damage and loss of tensile strength in linens. They also act as a sterilizing
agent leaving linen in a sanitary condition. Chlorine bleaches are available in both
liquid and powder form. The most common chlorine bleach is sodium hypochlorite.

Oxidizing bleaches

These can also be used to remove stains. Examples include hydrogen

peroxide and sodium perborate.

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 Antichlors

These are used to inactivate any residual traces of chlorine bleaches and they
prevent linen from yellowing. Some contain an optical brightener which makes white
linen seem whiter by increasing light reflection. They are usually added to the
second rinse cycle with a high water level.

Fabric softeners

These are used to soften towels and reduce lint, but are also used in the
wash cycles of sheets to assist in the ease of ironing by reducing static electricity on
the flatwork ironer. They are absorbed into the fabric and form a protective coating.
They make towels softer to the feel and also assist the washman as linen will be
easier to pull from the washing machine when emptying.

Starch

Starch is added to the final rinse in the washing of cotton table linen and
chefs‟ jackets to present a crisp and fresh appearance. Starch lays down a
protective barrier on the fabric to help prevent stain absorption. This makes stain
removal in the next wash cycle easier. Starch should never be used for sheeting due
to the stiffness and itch factor!! Care must be taken not to over use. It is usually in a
powdered form and must be pre-dissolved. Starch will not be absorbed by polyester
fibers.

LINEN ITEMS THAT MAY BE LAUNDERED IN AN ON PREMISE

LAUNDRY

Hotels have many items that will need to be laundered or dry-cleaned. The
most common items requiring laundering will include:
 Sheets (all sizes)
 Pillow cases
 Pillow protectors
 Duvet covers
 Mattress protectors
 Mattress toppers
 Duvets
 Pillows (polyester or microfibre fill)
 Bath towels

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  Hand towels
 Colored towels (used in hairdressers or in massage rooms)
 Bathmats
 Face washers
 Bathrobes
 Table cloths (all sizes)
 Colored table linen
 Napkins
 Tray mats
 Staff uniforms
 Guest laundry
 Cleaning cloths
 Tea towels
 Glass polishing cloths
 Mops

Items requiring dry cleaning

The most common items in a hotel will include:

 Curtains
 Cushion covers
 Table skirting’s
 Chair covers
 Bedspreads and bed skirting’s
 Blankets
 Pillows (feather fill)
 Staff uniforms
 Guest dry cleaning.

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 SELF CHECK 13. 1

SHORT ANSWER:

1. What are the linen items that may be laundered in an on premise laundry?

2. What are the items requiring dry cleaning?

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