Laundry and Linen Management Flashcards

What water temperature is generally recommended for washing heavily soiled cotton bed linens in a commercial laundry?

Answer: Hot (160–180°F)

Hot water at 160–180°F is recommended for heavily soiled cotton linens to ensure proper sanitization and soil removal.

Which of the following best describes the 'par' level in linen inventory management?

Answer: The number of linen sets needed to support one complete room turnover

A par is the quantity of linen required to support one complete cycle of room turnover and operations.

A linen showing a yellowish discoloration after laundering is most likely caused by:

Answer: Residual alkaline detergent buildup

Residual alkaline detergent that is not fully rinsed can cause yellowing of white linens over time.

What is the primary purpose of a sour (acid rinse) in the commercial laundry process?

Answer: To neutralize alkalinity left by detergents and softeners

A sour neutralizes the alkaline residue from detergents, leaving fabric at a proper pH and preventing skin irritation.

Which formula is used to calculate linen replacement needs?

Answer: Discard rate × total linen inventory

Replacement needs are calculated by multiplying the discard rate by the total linen inventory to determine how many pieces must be reordered.

When setting up a linen room, which organizational principle is most important for stock rotation?

Answer: FIFO — first in, first out

FIFO (first in, first out) ensures older linens are used first, distributing wear evenly and extending overall linen life.

A housekeeping manager notices that terry cloth towels are becoming stiff and rough after laundering. The most likely corrective action is to:

Answer: Add a fabric softener or lower the dryer temperature

Stiff towels often result from inadequate softener or excessive dryer heat; adding fabric softener and adjusting dryer temperature improves softness.