CEH Laundry and Linen Management 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which laundry chemical is specifically designed to remove iron or rust stains from white linens?
- Bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
- Rust remover (oxalic acid-based agent) (Correct answer)
- Enzyme pre-spotter
- Optical brightener
Correct answer: Rust remover (oxalic acid-based agent)
Oxalic acid-based rust removers chelate iron ions and lift rust stains without damaging fabric fibers.
Question 2: A hotel laundry manager wants to reduce energy costs. Which single change typically offers the greatest energy savings?
- Switching to cold-water washing where sanitation standards permit (Correct answer)
- Increasing dryer drum speed
- Using lighter-weight linen fabrics
- Installing brighter lighting in the laundry room
Correct answer: Switching to cold-water washing where sanitation standards permit
Water heating accounts for the largest share of laundry energy use, so switching to cold water when permitted produces the most significant savings.
Question 3: When calculating the cost per pound of laundry processed, which of the following costs should be included?
- Only chemical and water costs
- Labor, utilities, chemicals, water, and equipment depreciation (Correct answer)
- Equipment purchase price only
- Labor and chemical costs only
Correct answer: Labor, utilities, chemicals, water, and equipment depreciation
A complete cost-per-pound calculation includes labor, utilities, chemicals, water, and equipment depreciation to reflect true operational cost.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a linen discard tag or system in housekeeping operations?
- To identify linens reserved for VIP guests
- To track items removed from service due to damage or excessive wear (Correct answer)
- To mark linens that have been chemically treated
- To designate linens allocated to specific room categories
Correct answer: To track items removed from service due to damage or excessive wear
Discard tagging systematically records linen removed from service, enabling accurate inventory control and replacement planning.
Question 5: Which best practice helps prevent mildew growth on stored linens?
- Storing linens while still slightly damp to maintain softness
- Ensuring linens are completely dry and stored in well-ventilated areas (Correct answer)
- Wrapping linens tightly in plastic to prevent air exposure
- Applying a light mist of fabric softener before storage
Correct answer: Ensuring linens are completely dry and stored in well-ventilated areas
Mildew thrives in moisture; completely dry linens stored with adequate air circulation prevent mold and mildew growth.
Question 6: In a hotel with on-premises laundry (OPL), the soiled linen chute or collection area should be located:
- Adjacent to the front desk for guest convenience
- Near the loading dock to facilitate linen transport off-site
- Separate from clean linen storage to prevent cross-contamination (Correct answer)
- Inside guest rooms for easy staff collection
Correct answer: Separate from clean linen storage to prevent cross-contamination
Soiled and clean linen must be physically separated at all times to comply with sanitation standards and prevent cross-contamination.
Question 7: Which type of fabric softener ingredient is known to reduce the absorbency of terry cloth towels over time?
- Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) (Correct answer)
- Citric acid
- Sodium carbonate
- Optical brightening agents
Correct answer: Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats)
Quaternary ammonium compounds coat fabric fibers and improve softness but coat the fibers in a way that progressively reduces towel absorbency.
CEH Laundry and Linen Management 4
Which laundry chemical is specifically designed to remove iron or rust stains from white linens?