LAUNDRY LINEN

and
GUEST CLOTHES
- deals with the skills and
knowledge required to work in an
on –premises” laundry section in
a commercial accommodation
establishment.
• The Laundry Department is very crucial to
the success of a housekeeping department.
It is responsible to wash tons of linen and
uniforms that are generated daily. The
supply of fresh linen is crucial to be able
to make rooms available for sale or for
food and banquet outlets to be ready to
sell their food and services. In other
words, the revenue generating capacity is
greatly enhanced or impaired by the
efficiency of the laundry services.
LINEN AND LAUNDRY SERVICE
The Linen and Laundry Section is
responsible for the processing of all
requests for laundry service,
including guest laundry, employees’
uniforms and linen used for banquet
functions.
The laundry section is usually managed by a Laundry Manager or a
Supervisor and is manned with the following personnel:
VALET RUNNER Picks ups and delivers guest laundry
SORTER/MARKER/ This is the area where guest garments are received by laundry,
PACKING SECTION and sorted by several laundry treatment required: dry cleaning
and washing, degree of soil, type of fabric and urgency of
delivery. They are labelled for identification later and packed for
guest delivery.
WASHING AND DRY Responsible for washing and drying guest laundry items and
CLEANING SECTION linen.
FLAT IRONER Does the ironing of linen used by the Food and Beverage and
the Housekeeping Department
STEAM PRESSER Performs steam pressing of delicate materials like wool
DRY CLEANER-SPOTTER Dry cleans and does spot removal
LINEN ATTENDANT Does the recording, storage and issuance of linen
SEAMSTRESS Does mending of guest laundry or employees uniforms
TUMBLER OPERATION This is a drying operation for towels and towel –like material that
SECTION ensures that the material of a towel retains the fluffiness.
 In big hotels with voluminous laundry job to be
done, there is a rigid division of labor with one
laundry staff concentrating on one task. One is
assigned to do washing, another one for dry cleaning,
one for steam pressing, etc. however, if the
establishment is small, with limited laundry job to
attend to, it is not practical to have many laundry
staff. The job of a valet runner which is to pick up
and deliver guest laundry can be done by the room boy
or chambermaid, steam pressing and ironing can be
delegated to just one person. If there are limited
items for washing, only one washer maybe needed to
handle both guest laundry and items for house use.
If the lodging establishment does not have sufficient
laundry facilities, the laundry service is sometimes
contracted to a commercial laundry.
 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAUNDRY STAFF
• A. Linen and Laundry Supervisor : to direct, lead monitor and
control all activities relating to linen and laundry service.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1.Check the quality of the laundry service; ensure that the laundry
standards are complied with and that garments are protected from damages;
2.Ensure the proper use, storage and maintenance of linen and laundry
equipment, tools and supplies;
3.Check the condition of laundry equipment. Make a schedule of preventive
maintenance.
4.Maintains par stock requirements. Initiates requisition when needed;
5.Initiates and supervises weekly inventory of laundry supplies and other
items; reports losses and damages and take corrective action against
reckless use of equipment;
6.Sees to it that laundered items are delivered on time;
7.Trains, coaches and supervises laundry staff, conducts performance
evaluation of subordinates as well as appraisal interview;
8.Attends to complaints regarding linen and laundry service;
B. Valet Runner: Responsible for the pick up and delivery of laundry
items of guests and also those for house use.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1.Picks up guest’s items for laundry and endorse them to sorter/marker
for proper classification;
2.Check laundry items for possible damages and immediately informs the
guest about it. Also indicates noted damages in the laundry list;
3.Inform the sorter/marker about the special instructions of guests
regarding their laundry items;
4.Helps in sorting finished laundry items that are ready for delivery;
5.Delivers processed guests laundry making reference to the tag number
and the room number. Makes sure these items are delivered on time;
6.Coordinates with the rooms keeping supervisor for the delivery of all
processed items when guests are not in their rooms;
7.Informs the laundry office of his whereabouts in case there is any call
for pick up and immediate delivery;
8.Coordinates with the front office and the housekeeping office regarding
information on room changes to avoid wrong delivery.
C. Washer ( for guest items): Responsible for washing and extracting, drying
of all guests laundry and FOC (free of charge) items.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1.Receives laundry items of guests from the sorter-marker; counter-checks
number or tag placed by the sorter/marker’
2.Sorts and classifies items according to kind, color, and degree of dirt;
3.Manually cleans with detergent the badly soiled portion of guest items prior
to machine washing; informs the sorter or supervisor regarding irremovable
stains for the latter to bring it to the attention of the guest;
4.Inspects items for damages and stains and reports any damage to the laundry
supervisors.
5.Loads the guest’s items into the washing machine and performs washing
procedures. Unloads washed items and transfer them to the laundry cart;
6.Loads the extracted items to the drying machine for processing;
7.Inspects and sorts dried items and forward them to the Pressing section for
pressing or ironing;
8.Constantly check the cleanliness and maintenance of the equipment and
reports any defect to the supervisor.
D. Washer ( for linens): to attend to the washing, extracting and
drying of all Housekeeping linens such as towels, bed sheets, pillow
slips and pillow cases etc. and also linen used for dining and banquet
functions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1.Sort all dirty linens and towels brought into the laundry section;
2.Sorts all dirty linens like table cloths, napkins, and cocktail
napkins received from the different food outlets;
3.Loads items into the washing machine and perform washing in
accordance with standard washing procedures;
4.Unloads extracted items and forward them to either mangling or
pressing section, depending on the type of laundry needed; and
5.Daily cleans his work area and the washing machine.
E. Flat work Ironer/Wrangler: responsible for ironing of linen items
in the flatwork machine following the standard procedures.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1.Prepares flat work ironing machine for operation;
2.Sorts all items by classification before running them in the
machine;
3.Feeds items neatly, straightens edges and smoothly presses
wrinkles, operates the machine according to prescribed procedures;
4.Inspects and sorts out stains and damaged linens. Refers them to
the supervisor for proper action;
5.Folds laundered items; counts and classifies them;
6.Prepares and keeps record of accomplished laundry;
7.Cleans work areas and machines after use;
8.Reports malfunction of machines to superior.
F. Seamstress: handles sewing or mending of guest room linens as well as
those used for banquet and food service operations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1.Performs mending and repair of guest garments as well as uniforms and
linen for house use;
2.Mends and repairs torn or damaged curtains, bed cover, skirting of
guest rooms;
3.Maintains the cleanliness and condition of the sewing machine;
4.Reports to superior any malfunctioning of the sewing equipment;
5.Assists line attendant in the issuance of guest room linens and banquet
linen during peak season.
G. Linen attendant/Custodian: responsible for the storage and issuance
of employees’ uniforms, linens, cleaning supplies and guestroom
amenities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1.Attends to the issuance of uniforms as well as guestroom, restaurant
and banquet linen, cleaning materials, supplies as well as guestroom
amenities;
2.Records and accounts for all issuances of guestroom amenities,
uniforms and linen used from guestrooms, banquet and dining service;
3.Reports to the Supervisor missing articles, losses, breakages and
damaged items in the linen room;
4.Assists the supervisor in conducting inventories of linen, general
supplies and uniforms;
5.Looks after the proper arrangement and storage of linen, uniforms and
general supplies in the linen room;
6.Receives all surrendered linen items; checks if they are complete and
in good condition; endorses soiled items to the Laundry Section for
laundry
 LAUNDRY EQUIPMENTS
Dryer
Washing Machine for drying washed items
for washing clothes
Hydro Extractor
for extracting
Spotting table moisture from linen
for removal of
spots/stains Steam Presser
for pressing delicate
Flat work ironer fabrics like wool,
For ironing flat sheets, silk, etc.
linen, pillow case and
other flat linen

Laundry Cart
Used for the delivery of guest
laundry Ironing table Iron
 PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING GUEST LAUNDRY
1.Guest shall fill up the laundry list and shall request for pick-up either
through the Housekeeping or Laundry Office or through the Front desk.
2.If the pick - up request is coursed through the laundry clerk, the latter
shall log down any instruction of the guest regarding the processing of the
guest’s items. Then he shall call the linen attendant, valet runner or room
boy for the pick –up of the items.
3.The laundry list together with laundry items shall be picked up by concerned
staff.
4.Upon pick-up of the laundry items, the attending staff will check items on
the list in front of the guest if he is around. If the guest id not around,
the checking is done in the presence of a floor guard, a room boy or a
supervisor who will serve as witness to any noted damage.
If stains or damage are found in the item, the valet runner or room
attendant who is assigned to pick up the laundry will fill up the Damage
Notice Form to notify the guest of the noted damage or any discrepancy in the
guest list. This notice is brought to the guest by the room boy or bell boy
and the guest shall acknowledge receipt of said notice by signing his name in
the notice form.
If the item is not suited for the requested processing method, the guest is
also notified through the same notification form, indicating therein the
recommended method for processing the item.

5. Items for washing are endorsed to the washer for processing. Upon receipt
of the items, the washer shall:
Count and double check the items against the laundry list;
Sort and classify them, then place the appropriate tag like:
a. blue tag if the item is for dry-cleaning
b. pink tag if the items is for machine-washing
6. The washer should hand-wash with care the items that are sent for hand
washing.
7. If the item is fit for other forms of processing it is endorsed to other
laundry staff; namely:
a. presser –for blouse, dresses, trousers, and related items
b. hand ironer – for normal shirts
c. utility presser – for trousers, skirt and long dresses
8. The attending staff shall double check each item upon receiving them,
and will take note of discrepancies in quality and damaged parts.
9. If the item needs no further processing, it shall be placed in its
appropriate pigeon box. (if any).
10. if the item is ready for delivery, the linen attendant or valet
runner shall sort them against the laundry list, then will collect
altogether the laundry items of each guest in a garment bag and attach
the laundry list to the bag.
11. If the guest is on cash basis, the laundry clerk shall prepare a
voucher to be attached to the item for billing. The payment must be made
upon delivery of the items. If the guest has a
signing privilege like when he is covered by guaranteed booking, he will
be asked to sign and his bill shall be forwarded to the Front Office
cashier.
12. The processed items will now be delivered to the guest. If the guest
is around, he is asked to acknowledge delivery by signing in the logbook
or delivery receipt. Then the bill is presented to him for settlement
 LAUNDRY DEPARTMENT

NAME OF GUEST: ___________________________________________________

We are constrained to return to you the attached laundry items inasmuch as we have noticed the following on the garment
when it was sent to us for laundry.

( ) discoloured areas or spots ( ) double creases ( ) stains

As these are in excess of what normal, we cannot guarantee that the garment will be laundered /Dry cleaned/Pressed to your
satisfaction. Please let us know what you would like us to do.

( ) the other items are being processed to avoid further delay and will be delivered to you shortly.
Your comments: ______________________________________________________________

Thank you
LAUNDRY DEPARTMENT
 PICK –UP THE GUEST LAUNDRY
1. The room attendant, room boy or valet runner( whoever is in charge) shall
pick up the guest laundry together with the laundry list form the guestrooms.
2. The actual count of items shall be validated against the ones listed in the
laundry list.
3. The room attendant shall check for possible damages like missing buttons,
discoloration, etc.
4. The guest shall be informed of any noted damage.
5. The nature and extent of damage shall be indicated in the laundry list.
6. Items that have been picked up shall be places in plastic laundry bag then
will be placed directly at the linen chute or personally brought to the
linen/laundry section.
7. The linen attendant shall pick up the soiled linen from the laundry chute.
All soiled linen that was gathered from the chute will be recorded in the
logbook, indicating the number of pieces for each item and damage, if any.
8. The soiled items shall be turned over to the linen in charge. The latter
shall acknowledge receipt of the item by signing in the endorsement form or in
the logbook.
SEGREGATION AND TAGGING OF LAUNDRY ITEMS
To facilitate processing of laundry items, they should be
segregated and labelled. Each item may have a specific laundry
requirement and there is a danger of damaging the linen if
inappropriate laundry job is performed.
Segregate items by:
1. Color – separating white from colored items;
2. Classification – towels from bed sheets, etc, wet
from dry and
3. Extend of dirt – separating the heavily soiled items
from lightly soiled items
THE LAUNDY SEQUENCE
1. SORT
2. CLASSIFY
3. WASH
4. DRY
5. FOLD
6. IRON
7. STORE/FOLD/DELIVER
LAUNDRY METHOD
1.Hand –wash
2.Machine wash
3.Dry cleaning
LAUNDRY WASH STEPS
1.Flush – by flushing the linen is wet to dissolve water soluble soil and
reduce soil load in succeeding suds steps.
2.Pre-treat – preliminary treatment of the linen if heavily soiled.
3.Suds – this involves actual washing step. A detergent is added to the wheel.
4.Bleach – to eliminate stains that could not be removed by the detergent.
5.Rinse – remove detergent and soil from the linen by rinsing.
6.Sour and soft steps – this is the final conditioning of the linen using
fabric softener and sour ( wild acid).
7.Extraction – by this process the moisture content of linen is reduced by
50%.
 TYPES OF FABRICS
• 1. Cotton: Cotton a unicellular, natural fiber that grows in the
seed pod of the cotton plant.
• 2. Linen : Linen a fabric made from linen fibers obtained from
inside the woody stem of the flax plant. The term, linen, cannot be
used except for natural fiber flax. Linen fibers are much stronger
and more lustrous than cotton. Linen fabrics are very cool and
absorbent, but wrinkle very easily, unless blended with manufactured
fibers.
• 3. Silk: Silk the only natural fiber that comes in a filament form;
from 300 to 1,600 yards in length as reeled from the cocoon produced
by the silkworm. Most silk is collected from cultivated worms. All
silk comes from Asia, primarily China.
• 4. Wool:Wool, a fiber from the hairs of animals such as sheep,
goats, and yaks, is a textile with an immense number of uses. One of
the major uses of wool is in garment production, but this fiber can
be used for many other things.
5. MAN-MADE
• a. Nylon: Nylon Produced in 1938, the first completely synthetic fiber developed.
Known for its high strength and excellent resilience, nylon has superior abrasion
resistance and high flexibility.
• b. Polyester: Polyester A manufactured fiber introduced in the early 1950s, and is
the most commonly used manufactured fiber worldwide. Polyester has high strength
(although somewhat lower than nylon), excellent resiliency, has high abrasion
resistance, and resists shrinking, stretching and wrinkles. Polyester's low
absorbency allows the fiber to dry quickly. Polyester fabrics are used in apparel and
home furnishings.
• c. Rayon:Rayon A manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose, derived from
wood pulp, cotton linters, or other vegetable matter. Today, various names for rayon
fibers are taken from different manufacturing processes. Rayon is soft and absorbent.
• d. Acrylic : Acrylic A man made fiber derived from polyacrylonitrile. Its major
properties include a soft, wool-like hand, machine washable and dryable, excellent
color retention.
• e. Acetate:One of the first manufactured fibers. It is soft and has a crisp feel. It
has the lustrous appearance of silk and excellent appearance when draped. It is not a
strong fiber, as its resistance to abrasion is poor.
• f. Blends:Blended fabrics are created when two or more different kinds of fibres are
mixed together to create a new fabric with unique properties.
 KINDS OF FABRICS
1. Colorfast 2. Non-colorfast
HOW TO IRON SHIRTS AND BLOUSES:
• 1. Starting ironing at the top of a blouse or shirt. Begin or end
with the collar, working toward the middle from the outer edges
or points.
• 2. Lay one shoulder over the narrow end of the board. Iron one
side of the front yoke, then the shoulder, across the back below
the collar line, the other shoulder, and the remainder of the
front yoke, shifting as needed.
• 3. Iron the sleeves and cuff, working down from the underarm
seams.
• 4. Next, iron the body of the garment, moving from one half of
the front around the back to the second half of the front. If a
blouse or shirt doesn’t open, slip it over the end of the ironing
board and iron front and back in turn.
PANTS
1. Turn the waistband inside out and pull the pockets
out to iron first, then iron the zipper placket.
2. Turn back to the right side, iron the waistband
and the remainder of the top all the way around.
3. Put the leg seams together in the middle and fold
lengthwise. Lay the pants flat on the board, fold
back the top leg, iron the inside of the lower leg.
4. Turn and iron the outside. Repeat the process for
the second leg. Finally iron the 2 legs together. If
the pants have creases, press heavily on the folds.
PLEATED SKIRTS
1. Arrange group of pleats and hold in place
or pin to the board as you iron in long
strokes from top to bottom. Don’t iron over
pins.
SEQUINED GARMENTS
Turn the item inside out and place it
carefully on the ironing board with the
sequins facedown on a towel. Put a pressing
cloth on top and press with the iron on a low
setting.