Ever wondered how spa linen is processed?

 Today we will discuss how linen for a spa is processed. We will deep dive into what are the necessary steps and processes involved in washing spa towels. Spas which come under the luxury category need to have quality towels that will give good customer satisfaction to their clients

Therefore it is very important to understand the process of washing spa towels which needs to be given extra care when compared with hotels and other segments

Below is the link of my previous articles-

1. What are the important aspects required for laundry?

https://pkpkclaundries.blogspot.com/2023/10/looking-for-quality-timely-laundry.html

2. SOPs for washing hotel laundry?

https://pkpkclaundries.blogspot.com/2023/10/ever-wondered-how-hotel-linen-is_14.html

Q. Is Pre-Wash necessary?

A. Pre-wash of linen is absolutely important as it-

·         Softens the linen

·         Removes dust, bacteria and any other unknown foreign agents

·         Eliminates shrinkage and color fading

·         To rinse of the silicone finish that coats most towels

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in washing the spa towels-

1.       Washing of White Towels separately from the Colored Towels:

White spa towels need to be washed in hot water and separately from all dark shaded towels. Dark shaded towels need to be washed in warm water. This increases the longevity as well as helps to keep the whiteness intact.

This seems to be a lot of work, but for good results this is a must.

 

2.       Detergent Usage:

Detergent usage need to be kept in check. Excess detergent usage will make the towels stiff

 

3.       Shake the towels before putting them in the dryer:

The spin cycle after the washing squeezes the towels and they will become in the size of a round cake. We need to separate and give them a good shake. This will help the dryer process to be more efficient

 

4.       Drying:

In this step it is important to see that we don’t use high temperatures to dry. High temperatures might cause the fabrics of the towels to lose their softness and wear them out faster than their life cycle

 

At the same time we need to dry the towels completely before they are folded/rolled as they will be stored. If they are not completely dried then moisture might creep into the towels and it can damage the towels

 

5.       Ironing:

Don’t iron the towels. Ironing causes stiffness and makes the towels less fluffy

Therefore it is very important to follow the above SOPs while washing the spa towels. This will definitely maintain the hygiene and quality of the towels

For more insights you can get connected with me on,

People can get in touch with me in LinkedIN, Facebook, Instagram

PK,            

PKC Groups.

Ever wondered how hotel linen is processed?

We’ve got a very good response to our last article which was on what are the important parameters that affect the wash quality of linen.

 
Below is the link of my previous article-
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/looking-quality-timely-laundry-partner-your-linen-kundurthi-pk/

Today we will discuss on how linen in a hotel is processed and what are the necessary steps and processes involved in washing of bed sheets, pillow covers, duvet covers, bath mats, bath robes, bath towels, face towels, hand towels, F&B linen etc.,
Before knowing the process of washing let us know what parameters the purchase department of a hotel checks before purchasing the linen (bed & bath linen)-

Q. Parameters a hotel purchase department checks before purchasing linen (bed linen & bath linen)?
A. Thread Count(TC)- Bed linen, Grams per Square Meter(GSM)- Bath Linen, Life Cycle of Linen

1. Thread Count (TC):
Thread count is a measure of the number of threads woven into 1 square inch of fabric.
300 TC- It means that the fabric used to make the bedsheet has 300 threads woven horizontally and 300 threads woven vertically per square inch. Essentially it is a parameter which shows us how tightly a fabric is woven. A thread count between 300-500 is a solid range for high quality bedsheets, duvet covers.

Thread Count(TC):

Thread Count(TC)
Items	Worst	Best
Bedsheet	<200	200-600
Duvet Cover	<200	200-600
Pillow Cover	<200	200-600
*Also depends on the type of fabric we choose

2. Grams per Square Meter (GSM):
GSM is a measurement of towel weight.
High GSM towels are usually better in quality. In general, a cotton bath towel that weighs 400 GSM and above is considered to be good in quality. The fabric in the high GSM towels is woven more densely, and hence it is softer and more absorbent when compared to lower GSM towels

A minimum of 500 and above GSM towels are advisable for guest towels (hotel bath linen)

Grams Per Square Meter(GSM):

Grams Per Square Meter(GSM)
Items	Worst	Best
Bath Towels	<200	500-700 or more
Hand Towels	<200	500-700 or more
*Also depends on the type of fabric we choose

Advantages & Disadvantages of TC &GSM:
1. The major advantage of higher TC & GSM is that the quality will be very good and the linen will be very soft. We can feel the luxury of it
2. The cost is more for higher TC & GSM linen when compared with lower TC & GSM linen
3. The absorbent power of higher TC & GSM linen is high when compared with lower TC & GSM linen
4. Higher TC & GSM linen will have more durability when compared with lower TC & GSM
5. Lower TC & GSM linen are good for travelling purposes as they are light in weight
If the budget is not a constraint and only service matters then going for higher TC & GSM linen is a best option
3. Life Cycle of Linen:
The general industry standard is somewhere between 120-200 washes also depending on how the washing process is done.
Therefore to reach the desired life expectancy of the linen it is important that we follow the SOPs while processing the linen. If the SOPs are not followed then the linen will be discarded frequently which affects the costing and the overall profitability of the hotel

After purchasing the linen, the next step is pre-wash.
Q. Is Pre-Wash necessary?
A. Pre-wash of linen is absolutely important as it-
• Softens the linen
• Removes dust, bacteria and any other unknown foreign agents
• Eliminates shrinkage and color fading
Once the linen is pre-washed then the hotel is good to use them

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in washing the linen (white linen)-
1. Segregate the stained linen and non-stained linen
2. Pretreat the stains- Stain removal
3. Wash at a temperature (40-60C) with liquid detergents
(washing consists of three cycles: Prewash, Main Wash, Rinse)
4. Dry them at high temperatures to eliminate bacteria also we should see to it that they we won’t over dry them
5. We should iron them when the linen is still damp to get wrinkle free & crisp finishing
6. Pack and deliver back to the customer

As washing is a daily process we should closely monitor all the parameters which I’ve discussed in my earlier article (water, machinery, chemicals & process)

To maintain the hygiene, quality and health of the linen the above SOP should be definitely followed

A professionally run laundry company can look into all the above processes and parameters and the same cannot be expected from a local dhobi

For more insights you can get connected with me on,
People can get in touch with me in LinkedIN, Facebook, Instagram
PK,
PKC Groups.

Looking for Quality & Timely Laundry Partner for your Linen ?

 Looking for a quality & timely laundry partner for your linen?

PKC Laundries is into laundry and dry-cleaning business from the past 8 years. We’ve worked with various hotels, resorts, gyms, kitchens, restaurants, corporate companies, spas, salons, co-living spaces etc., In the past 8 years we’ve understood that washing garments is a science which includes chemistry and mechanics. If a person is good at understanding these 2 subjects then washing garments will be easier for him/her.

The following is a question which we keep asking ourselves everyday-

Q. What are the parameters that are needed to be concentrated while washing the linen?

A. The first important aspect in the laundry industry is WATER. Water plays a very critical role in the washing of garments. If the water has right PPM and other constituents in right percentages then 60% of the washing problem is solved

So, in our study we’ve found the following parameters and their priority percentages that will directly impact the wash quality-

1. Water- 60%(of the wash quality depends on water)

2. Chemicals- 15%

3. Machinery- 15%

4. Process, Manpower, Logistics etc.,- 10%

Therefore we can see that water is the major parameter on which the wash quality of the linen majorly depends

If the above parameters are checked on a daily basis then the quality and hygiene of the linen need not be compromised at all. Therefore if you’ve wondered why chemistry and mechanics are the intrinsic subjects of laundry industry then you’ve got your answer!

Water (H2O) is the stand out component for all the below parameters to perform well-

• Stain Removal,

• Brightness of white clothes (bedsheets, duvet covers, pillow covers, bath towels, hand towels, face towels etc.,)

• Machinery Maintenance,

• Chemical Usage,

• Linen Quality,

• Hygiene Point of Linen,

• Cleanliness etc.,

Therefore if we really care about our linen then it is good we concentrate on the above 4 important parameters without any delay.

In the next blog I will elaborate more on what are the parameters one should check at the time of purchasing linen, SOPs of washing hotel linen, etc.,

For more insights you can get connected with me on, LinkedIN, Facebook, Instagram

PK,​

PKC Groups.