HCT Laundry & Linen Care 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What water temperature is generally recommended for washing white cotton bed linens to achieve proper sanitation?
- Cold (60°F)
- Warm (100°F)
- Hot (130°F or higher) (Correct answer)
- Lukewarm (80°F)
Correct answer: Hot (130°F or higher)
Hot water at 130°F or higher kills bacteria and dust mites, making it the standard for sanitizing white cotton linens.
Question 2: When treating a blood stain on fabric, which type of water should be used immediately?
- Hot water
- Warm water
- Cold water (Correct answer)
- Boiling water
Correct answer: Cold water
Cold water prevents blood proteins from coagulating and setting into fabric fibers, making the stain much easier to remove.
Question 3: Which laundry care symbol indicates that an item must be dry cleaned only?
- A circle with a 'W' inside
- A plain circle (Correct answer)
- A triangle
- A square with a circle inside
Correct answer: A plain circle
A plain circle on a care label indicates the item must be dry cleaned; letters inside the circle specify the type of solvent to use.
Question 4: What is the correct procedure when sorting laundry before washing?
- Sort by fabric weight only
- Sort by color and fabric type (Correct answer)
- Wash all items together to save time
- Sort by the owner's preference only
Correct answer: Sort by color and fabric type
Sorting by both color and fabric type prevents color bleeding and ensures each item is washed at the appropriate temperature and agitation level.
Question 5: How should delicate items such as lace or lingerie be laundered in a washing machine?
- On a heavy-duty hot cycle
- In a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle (Correct answer)
- Hand washed only, never machine washed
- On a normal cycle with extra detergent
Correct answer: In a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle
A mesh laundry bag protects delicate items from agitation and snagging while still allowing the gentle cycle to clean them effectively.
Question 6: Which type of detergent must be used exclusively in high-efficiency (HE) washing machines?
- Any standard detergent in double the amount
- Powder detergent only
- HE-labeled low-sudsing detergent (Correct answer)
- Bleach-based detergent
Correct answer: HE-labeled low-sudsing detergent
HE machines use much less water, so standard detergents create excessive suds that interfere with sensors and reduce cleaning effectiveness.
Question 7: What does a care label showing a square with a circle inside it indicate?
- The item must be hand washed
- The item can be machine dried in a tumble dryer (Correct answer)
- The item must be dry cleaned
- The item should be line dried only
Correct answer: The item can be machine dried in a tumble dryer
The square represents the dryer and the circle inside indicates the item can be safely tumble dried; dots inside the circle indicate the recommended heat level.
HCT Laundry & Linen Care 1
What water temperature is generally recommended for washing white cotton bed linens to achieve proper sanitation?