CHP CHP Laundry & Linen Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended water temperature for washing heavily soiled white cotton linens in a commercial laundry operation?
- Cold (below 60°F)
- Warm (80–90°F)
- Hot (160°F or higher) (Correct answer)
- Lukewarm (100°F)
Correct answer: Hot (160°F or higher)
Hot water at 160°F or higher is required to sanitize heavily soiled white cotton linens and kill pathogens.
Question 2: Which linen rotation system ensures that older stock is used before newer stock to extend overall linen life?
- LIFO (Last In, First Out)
- FIFO (First In, First Out) (Correct answer)
- Random rotation
- Priority-based rotation
Correct answer: FIFO (First In, First Out)
FIFO (First In, First Out) ensures older linens are put into service first, promoting even wear across the entire inventory.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a par stock level in linen management?
- To set minimum inventory needed to meet daily operational demands (Correct answer)
- To track the number of guests per room
- To schedule laundry staff shifts
- To calculate linen replacement costs
Correct answer: To set minimum inventory needed to meet daily operational demands
Par stock defines the minimum quantity of each linen item required to service all rooms through one full laundry cycle without running short.
Question 4: Which chemical is most commonly used as a disinfecting agent in commercial laundry rinse cycles to reduce microbial contamination?
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) (Correct answer)
- Citric acid
- Sodium bicarbonate
Correct answer: Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is the standard disinfecting agent used in commercial laundry to kill bacteria and viruses during the rinse cycle.
Question 5: When inspecting returned linens before laundering, a CHP professional should immediately quarantine items that show signs of:
- Light staining from food
- Bloodborne pathogen contamination or biohazard soiling (Correct answer)
- Slight fading from prior washes
- Minor fabric pilling
Correct answer: Bloodborne pathogen contamination or biohazard soiling
Items contaminated with bloodborne pathogens must be quarantined and handled according to OSHA biohazard protocols before laundering.
Question 6: What is the standard number of par sets of bed linens typically maintained per guest room in a full-service US hotel?
- 1 par set
- 2 par sets
- 3 par sets (Correct answer)
- 5 par sets
Correct answer: 3 par sets
Most full-service US hotels maintain 3 par sets per room — one in use, one in laundry, and one in reserve — to ensure continuous availability.
CHP CHP Laundry & Linen Management 1
What is the recommended water temperature for washing heavily soiled white cotton linens in a commercial laundry operation?