Laundry cycle

Collection & Transportation

Collection of linen may be done in the Linen Room, if the laundry is off-site but is usually in the laundry itself, if the laundry is on-premises. During collection, all accessories that cannot be washed such as metal items; epaulettes, etc. should be removed at the time of collection. Certain linen items are collected separately. For example, kitchen uniforms or dusters are separately collected, as are butchery aprons and dusters, because they have a specific type of soil. Likewise, in a hospital, linen from the surgical ward would be collected separately. The linen is usually packaged in canvas bags lined with polyvinyl. Eyelets on the rim of the bag facilitate passing a nylon cord through, which can be tightened in order to shut the opening of the bag. In some cases elasticized net bags called ‘skips’ are used to collect linen. Carrying the linen in canvas bags or skips is one means of transportation. Trolleys are most popular for transportation and the collapsible wire cart can be used to transport clean as well as soiled linen. Whatever the type of trolley, the soiled linen should not hang over the edge of the trolley, as it looks unsightly. If planned at the construction stage, an in-built chute is used for transporting linen from the floor pantries. It is preferable to put linen into canvas bags before dropping it down the chute so that wear and tear is reduced. However, this is rarely done, so it must be ensured that the flooring at the base of the chute should be easy to clean. The best collection system will vary from one operation to another but the increase of soil must be eliminated in order to prevent incurring unnecessary expenses.

Arrival

On arrival, linen must be dealt with as quickly as possible. There must be a separate section for guest laundry that is usually handled by the most experienced staff. Processing linen for laundering as quickly as possible is necessary:

- to ensure that linen items are available as and when required.

- to avoid transfer of stains and prevent stains from becoming permanent.

- so that it does not provide a breeding ground for bacteria and pests.

- to prevent the formation of mildew on damp articles particularly bath linen.

- to avoid the possibility of linen getting misplaced or lost.

Sorting

In hospitals, the infection risk necessitates the need for using gloves when sorting out linen. Gloves may also be used when handling hotel linen. Sorting is carried out according to the type of fabric and item, colour as well as the degree and type of soil. Sorting is done to separate those articles that need dry cleaning from those that will go through the normal wash process. Those that need mending or stain removal will be separated so that they can be dealt with accordingly. Also, different articles take a different wash process in terms of temperature of water, type of laundering agent, length of wash cycle, whether hydro- extraction should be done and if so, the length of the hydro-extraction cycle. It takes less effort to pre-sort linen than to post-sort washed linen which is 50% heavier in weight due to water retention. Post-sorting is often essential in healthcareprocesses.

Marking

Marking may be temporary (guest laundry) or permanent (monogramming of hotel linen). It is the temporary marking that is carried out at this stage. Most good establishments have a marking machine that attaches a heat sealed tape in an inconspicuous place. The tag has scope for six characters and is intended to indicate the initials of the guest as well as the room number. It provides a clear identification and correct billing, and although it does not come off in the normal wash process, it can be peeled off if so desired.

Weighing

Is carried out to conform to the capacity of the washing machine. (Overloading)

There is no or low centrifugal action because the linen articles are too tightly packed in the drum. Resultingly, there is inadequate friction and the deeply imbedded soil is not removed so the wash process is ineffective. Certain synthetics develop creases as a result of overloading that are difficult to get rid of in the subsequent ironing process. Repeated overloading can cause the machine to breakdown.

(Underloading)

In this case, there is centrifugal action but inadequate friction because the linen articles are too far apart There is a good deal of wastage in terms of time, labour, laundry agents, water and power. Many modern machines have sensors that can gauge not only the load but also the length of cycle, temperature of water, water level, the type and amount of laundry agent and when it will be dispensed in the wash cycle. This is highly beneficial in the conservation of water and energy as well as reducing wear and tear on the linen articles.

Loading

Is often done manually or with a certain degree of automation. Where handling is taboo, a fully automated system exists. Shovel type cranes are used for lifting and depositing linen, thereby providing complete automation by eliminating the need for handling by operators. Alternatively, weighed linen in bags is transported along a track and directed to the opening of the washer extractor with the help of a nylon cord. A lock in the lower half of the bag is released, dropping the soiled linen into the washer extractor. Machines that tilt, provide ease in both loading as well as unloading. Machines may be top loading, front loading or side loading.

Washing

This process is designed to perform three basic functions:

1. removal of soil

2. suspension of soil

3. discharge of the soil from the machine to the drain

In the wash process, the following factors must be considered :

1.Length of cycle :

If the cycle is too short, the linen will not be cleaned. If the cycle is too long, there will be unnecessary wear and tear and the clothes may actually become dirtier as a result of redeposition of soil.

2.Temperature of water:

If the temperature of water is too high, it is likely to damage the linen. If the temperature is inadequate, the chemicals will not work effectively.

3.Water level :

Incorrect ‘dip’ levels can alter the concentration of the laundry agents rendering them ineffective. In case of a gentle action the water level is usually higher forming a protective envelope to the delicate linen.

4.Type and amount of detergent and when it will be dispensed in the wash cycle:

This is also a crucial factor that affects the quality of wash Deciding which laundry agent should be used is dependent on the nature of the fabric being washed. Too little detergent will result in an incomplete cleaning process. And too much may remain as a residue after the rinse cycle is complete. It is important that the laundry agent is introduced into the wash cycle at the appropriate time if it is to have the required action.

5.Mechanical action:

This refers to the centrifugal action brought about by the movement of the drum that causes friction between the linen articles and is radically affected by overloading or underloading as well as the speed of the drum. Modern machinery often operates on sensors, which are capable of gauging each of these requirements for a specific load.

Rinsing

Once the wash cycle is completed, rinsing becomes essential. Rinsing is carried out at least twice and the purpose of this stage is to:

1. remove residue of laundry agents, which might show as patches on the linen after ironing or irritate the skin.

2. remove suspended dirt, which remains in the carry over liquor in the load at the end of the wash.

3. lower the temperature of the wash load by using a cold water rinse or alternatively reducing the temperature of water in consecutive rinses. A running rinse with an open drain is more effective but a larger volume of water is utilized.

Hydro-extraction

Is the removal of excess moisture through centrifugal action and is equivalent to wringing in handwashing.The absorbency of the fabric affects the length of the cycle (6 to 8 mins.) and the residue of moisture (10% to 30 %) Draining must precede hydro-extraction and hydro-extraction must precede tumbledrying. Some articles cannot be hydro-extracted so there is a pumping action to draw out the water from the linen load. Too short an extraction time will increase the drying time and may hinder the proper operation of finishing equipment. The most efficient extraction for cottons takes place at temperatures higher than 38º C but lower than 55º C so that they are not too hot to handle. Polyesters and blends should be extracted at a temperature below 38º C to prevent wrinkling. The compact mass of hydro-extracted clothes is referred to as ‘cheese’.

Unloading

Transferring washed linen from the hydro-extractor to the Tumble Dryer is a difficult task because of the added weight of moisture. Articles may be manually removed and put into trolleys. Tilting and dumping machines reduce the physical effort of manual unloading. A laundry cart can be positioned under the door and a pushbutton operated to rotate the cylinder and empty its contents. Alternatively, the machine can unload onto a conveyor belt that will transport the linen to the next set of operations.

Tumble Drying

This process is capable of rendering the linen completely dry by blowing hot air ranging between 40º C to 60º C onto the articles as they are slowly circulated in the rotating drum. For articles that are susceptible to damage by heat, there is the option of simply airing by circulating air at room temperature. To avoid wrinkles and the risk of spontaneous combustion, many dryers have a cool-down cycle at predetermined intervals. The process of tumble-drying creates a good deal of wear and tear on the fabric as particles of lint come off the fabric in the drying process. The time taken is approx. 30 mins. depending on whether the article is to be completely or partially dried.

Finishing

For those articles that require a pressed finish, ironing and pressing are usual, but there are also other finishing equipment. Articles like blankets, towels, candlewick bedspreads, hosiery, etc. that do not require a pressed finish are only tumble-dried.

Folding

Can be done by machine but in most cases is carried out completely manually or at least the finishing folds are done manually. The use of a folding stand helps minimize this otherwise very labour-intensive operation. Manual folding makes it possible to achieve the desired fold as well as ensure quality control. Employees in this area are the one ones who ‘reject’ stained linen and are a good source for ascertaining what types and quantities of stains commonly occur. This is an important stage in the processing of laundered linen as it can be the ‘bottleneck’ in an otherwise efficient laundry operation. Correct folding is important to the appearance of the article and makes it convenient to store and use.

Airing

This is essential prior to storage, especially if the articles are to be stored in closed shelves. It ensures that any moisture that is likely to cause mildew will be got rid of.

Storage

-Should be properly done in a well–designed storage space.

-Linen should be allowed a rest period to recuperate before it is used again.

-The life span of linen is greatly increased if proper rotation of stock is carried out, thereby ensuring a ‘rest period’ between uses.

- As a general rule, at any given time, approximately 50% of the total linen inventory should be on the shelves, 25% in use and 25% in processing. The storage area must be isolated from the soiled linen and kept clean

Transfer

The linen is issued to the unit/department for use. Since transfer of clean linen is usually done by linen trolleys, it is important to keep the trolleys clean.

Use

The linen is utilized for the necessary function intended and the cycle begins all over again.