the different laundry steps

© Partner Program Guide 2009 1

THE DIFFERENT

LAUNDRY STEPS

Sorting

Storing

&

delivery

Washing

Drying/ironing

Manual or automatic

folding

Finishing

Tumble drying


Different Types of Processing

Today, the laundry process is handled differently depending on

where in the world you are. The two major ways are the American

way and the European way.

It is possible to pre-dry linen in a tumble dryer before ironing. For

this type of setup, normal spin washer extractors are sufficient.

Since linen has lower residual moisture, it is possible to iron at a

higher speed.

In some countries the linen is taken directly from the washer

extractor to the tumble dryer. In others, a washer extractor with a

lower G-force and a hydro-extractor are used before the linen is

put in the tumble dryer.

There is nothing wrong with this process, though it involves more

steps. There are a lot of machines in the laundry requiring enough

space for the operators to move freely. Besides this, pre-drying

entails significant costs as dryers are one of the most expensive

units to run (in terms of energy consumption costs) in a laundry.

LIGHT

POLYCOTTON

Dryer

5 minutesDryer Ironer Cyl.

D500 8 m/min

Washer

Extractor

200G 20%

residual

moisture

55%

residual

moisture

American Way



Northern European way (AHL)

It is also possible, and this is frequent in Europe, to combine

high spin washer extractors (or separate washers and

extractors), tumble dryers and ironers.

For this kind of setup small chest ironers (ELS IB423 series),

which are not drying, are sufficient.

They allow excellent finishing of the linen.

COTON OR

POLYCOTTON

Dryer

10 minutes Chest Ironer

D400 4 m/min

Washer

Extractor

300G 15 à 20 %

residual

moisture

50%

residual

moisture

Washer

80 GExtractor

COTON OR

POLYCOTTON

Washer

Extractor

300G

40%

residual

moisture

Dryer Ironer Cyl.

D500 4 m/minute

European way (OPL)



COTON OR

POLYCOTTON

Washer

Extractor

300G

40%

residual

moisture

Dryer Ironer Cyl.

D500 4 m/minute

European way (OPL)

Flat linen

Terries & clothes

To optimize the space, use and cost of the laundry, OPL runs

with High Spin washers. Here, terry towels and all shaped

garments are dried in the tumble dryer while all flat linen is fed

directly from the washer to the ironer where it will be dried,

ironed and, depending on the options, folded and stacked in

the same operation.


The Different Laundry StepsThe following description is for general purposes only and does not take into

account specific applications, such as the barrier concept, clean rooms and so

on.

From sorting to storing

The washing process in a laundry comprises several stages, from collecting the dirty

laundry to the delivery of the finished goods.

The flow chart on the previous page provides an overview of the entire washing

process, a process which begins by sorting the soiled laundry. Sorting the laundry

correctly is essential to obtaining a good washing result.

How to sort the laundry

Before actually putting the laundry into the washer extractor, the laundry has to be

sorted. By carefully sorting the laundry, mishaps in the washing process are avoided.

The list below can be used as a guide. Sort the goods according to:

1. The washing symbols

Always begin by checking the washing labels in the garments.

2. The textile material

If there are no washing symbols in the garments, sort the laundry according to the type

of textile.

3. The colour of the laundry

White and light coloured items can be washed together. Dark coloured items can be

washed together, but pay attention to any colour bleeding indicated by the washing

instruction labels.

4. The degree and type of soiling

Sort the laundry according to the degree of soiling – lightly or heavily soiled. Lightly

soiled laundry may be bed linen at a hotel, while kitchen laundry or industrial laundry is

heavily soiled. It is also possible to sort the laundry according to various types of dirt,

such as oil, blood and infected goods.

5. Textile families

When the laundry has been sorted and is ready to wash, it is important to load the

washer extractor with the proper amount of laundry. This will ensure the optimal

washing economy as well as the best washing result.


The Different Laundry Steps

5. Textile families

A textile family is comprised of by that require the same finishing. Nurses shall, of

course, be equipped with soiled laundry trolleys allowing to them to sort the different

textile families, of which there are four:

LF: Large Flat

Bed sheets, undersheets, items measuring more than 1m², bedspreads

(that can handle high temperatures)

SF: Small Flat

Pillowcases, hospital nightdresses, handkerchiefs, kitchen linen

LD: Linen to Tumble Dry

Terries (incl. possible face masks to be washed in nets), underwear

(that can handle high temperatures)

ATR: All the Rest

Garments, bedding

Bags can be of different colours, however:

Never use red bags reserved for contaminated items

If you use colour bags, please note that the colour of the laundry bag indicates its

content, never its origin.

Ideal for collecting the dirty laundry in the health services is a trolley carrying bags of

different colours with lids order to prevent the spread of bad odours and even airborne

infections.

Practice to avoid

Laundry collection with plastic bins:

Some customers collect the laundry in plastic bins. In terms of bacteria, this seems like

a good idea, but in practice it is a catastrophe. Moreover, plastic bins or bags do not

allow the moisture from the linen to evaporate. Moisture remains in the garments and

creates fungus, which is unpleasant for the guests/patients.

Always sort on a table at a comfortable height to avoid fatigue and discomfort.

Sorting on the floor, even if protected, is bad as floors always convey numerous

bacteria, germs, viruses and so on. There is no reason to contaminate the already

soiled laundry.


The Different Laundry StepsThe following pictures illustrate good and bad sorting

practices:

YES

NO



The washing resultWhen the laundry has been sorted and weighed according to the different kinds of

textile and degree of soiling, it is washed. The washing result is affected by several

parameters, such as the quality of the water, the detergent and the washing

programme. It is important to load the washer extractor with the proper amount of

laundry. This will ensure the optimal washing economy as well as the best washing

result.

Two main factors have to be considered to know whether the washing process is

satisfactory: Rate of re-washing

Life-time of the laundry

Rate of re-washing (re-washing to be done daily):

To be considered on a daily basis. It should comprise between 1 and 2% of the

daily load.

< 1%: Detergents are too strong, too aggressive and will wear the

laundry quite fast. Looking at the tumble dryer, you would

notice the results on the lint, the presence of oxycellulose.

> 2%: The detergents are not suitable for the type of soiling.

Tumble dryingThe tumble dryer is used to dry garments, or in other words to bring about water

evaporation with the purpose of obtaining a quick and efficient drying process.

Energy consumption and drying time are closely related. Tumble dryers are the most

energy-demanding units in a laundry. They account for up to half of the total energy

consumption in a laundry. To save energy and thereby achieve a more profitable drying

process, proper air flow and accurate temperature control are essential. In addition,

Electrolux Laundry Systems dryers feature Residual Moisture Control (RMC).

RMC stops the dryer when the garments have reached a pre-selected degree of

moisture. This process is controlled automatically, and will bring several advantages to

the drying process:

Energy is saved, as the machine operates only for as long as needed.

There is less wear on the garments, because the machine does not run longer than

necessary.

The machine stops when the garments are in the right condition for subsequent

treatment, such as ironing.



Ironing – Finishing

Removing creases

When the laundry has been washed, some textiles are fully dried in the tumble dryer

while other textiles are just pre-dried. The type of textile will determine how the fabric is

treated in the finishing process. Domestic washing will normally utilise an iron to finish

shirts and the like, but for industrial purposes there are several kinds of finishing

equipment.

The finishing process may include the following steps:

Conditioning

During a wet cleaning or dry cleaning process, garments will normally be de-creased on

a steam air finisher before being pressed. This process is called conditioning. After

conditioning, the garment is pressed.

Finishing wet-cleaned garments

After garments have been wet cleaned, as in the Lagoon process, a special finishing

process is performed.

Finishing dry-cleaned garments

When garments have been dry cleaned, they are finished in a process similar to

Lagoon.

Pressing

This is when the final appearance is achieved, creases are formed, seams, hems and

panels are pressed. Pressing can be executed in a number of different ways depending

on the type and quantity of items to be pressed. Basically, the heat of the iron removes

the residual water, and the pressure removes the creases.

Ironing

The purpose of pressing and ironing is the same – to soften the fabric, to remove

creases and to dry the fabric. Flat linen is generally ironed. This applies to bed sheets,

tablecloths and similar items.



Flat linen finishing

Hygienists agree that laundry should not be handled more than 4 times between the

end of the wash cycle and the time it is stored in delivery trolleys.

The best way:

Large Flat: The large flat linen coming out from the washer is put in trolleys or on

stands from which it is back to be directly fed into the flatwork ironer. If the ironer

has no built-in folding device, the operators feed one piece and while this is being

processed they fold the one that just came out. Once folded, one operator puts

the piece of linen in the delivery trolley next to him or her. To avoid excessive

handling, we also recommend that the first piece of linen is only folded lengthwise,

with the 9 following pieces properly folded and placed inside the first, finally

wrapping these latter pieces in the first. This results in a “package” of 10 pieces:

There is no more need after to touch each piece to count them, 1 package = 10

pieces = less handling = less risk of re-infection = time saved.

Small Flat: Put in trolleys when unloaded from the washers, it is fed into the flatwork

ironer, folded rapidly to prevent any creasing and stacked exactly the same way as

for the large flat linen.

Practices to avoid

Laundry should be sorted prior to washing; never after. This is to avoid re-soiling of the

laundry by the operators as hands always convey germs, even if regularly washed.

Storing

Folding, mending and storing

After washing, drying and finishing, the laundry is folded and stored. The textiles

should be stored stacked on shelves, or hung on garment hangers or similar.

However, before folding the laundry, it should be inspected to ensure the washing

process has been successful. Moreover, the textiles should be checked to see whether

they need to be mended in any way.

Consequently, the laundry must be able to handle:

•Laundry damage

•Mending

•Folding

•Storing

the different laundry steps

Documents

laundry process

kitchen laundry

laundry white

industrial laundry

dirty laundry

laundry bag

different laundry stepsthe

different laundry steps5