HH204 HOUSEKEEPING MANAGEMENT

LINEN AND FABRIC HANDLING

2.1.1 INTRODUCTION

Linen and fabrics supply is important ensure the effectiveness of a hotel’s operation.

Without linen and fabric a hotel cannot provid service that we lead to customer satisfaction.

Linen and fabric involves hundred thousands of dollars. Housekeeping department’s responsibility to protect this

investment. This responsibility involves proper selection of linen and using

proper procedurs for linen and fabric handling.

WHAT IS LINEN and fabric?

Linen is normally known as cloth or thread made of Flax. Flax is a plant of natural fiber (cellulose fiber). The another meaning for linens is widely use in hospitality

context,which is household article made of cloth. Fabrics are material made usually by weaving or knitting fibers.

HOW TO CHOOSE LINENS? To choose linens,we must understand that every attribute of

the products affects the QUALITY and PRICE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS TO CONSIDER: Fiber content Fabric quality Thread count and yarn count Type of weave Fabric finish Dyes and printing quality Texture Size Reconizing quality Caring for fine linens

Types of linen and fabric

The fibers that are most commonly used today can be divided into two categories:

o Natural fibers (vegetables and animal)o Man-made fibers(regenerated or synthetic)

NATURAL FIBERS

WOOL - The most commonly used wool comes from sheep. It can also be produced from camel

and rabbits. The most popular wool is produced from Merino and Crossbred sheep in Australia.

- Wool is extensively used in hotels although expensive. It used for carpets,blankets and upholstery.- Wool does not flatten or crease easily and very elastic.- Wool easy to clean and fire resistant.- Often mixed with with other man-made fabric in 80/20 rations to make it more

affordable.

SILK- Silk is the strongest of natural fibers and a very light fabric.

- Some of its usage in hotel include wall covering,cushion cover and bed sheets.- Silk has a draping power – which means it retains shape and caresses

the body. It also an elastic fabric.- It is a very expensive and seldom used in hospitality except for luxury

suites and apartments.

COTTON -Cotton comes from the cotton plant seed grown in

India,USA,Egypt,West Indies and China.-Cotton is used for bed linen,table linen,towel and uniform.-very absorbent,easily laundered and more resistant to bleaches and alkalis. Cotton is stronger when wet than dry.-Nowdays a man-made fiber polyester is added to cotton to make it

resistant to wrinkle.- All cotton tend to shrink during the first few washings unless they have been pre-shrunk.

LINEN -Linen comes from the stalk of flax plant (a plant fiber used especially

for making ropes). -Linen is hard-wearing and easily washed but requires careful finishing. -Famous for making napkin and table linen. -Good quality linen has a smooth appearance and cool to the touch. -Linen can be easily dyed and the colour does not fade when wash.

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MAN-MADE FIBRRES

Made by regenereting(combining with other substance)

Synthetic(from chemicals) Man fibers are normally made from some

these substances: -wood pulp/cottion linters -Rubber -Oil by-products -Chemicals

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MAN-MADE also called as manufactured fabrics.

This fabrics start as liquid and their fibers are colored before they are woven into fabrics.

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LETS LOOK AT SOME OF THE POPULAR MAN-MADE

ACETATE -from cotton linters plus chemicals. -look like silk but do not wear like silk. -sensitive to nail,polish,nail polish remover and perfumes. -strong when dry. -in hotel,normally they use as a curtain and furnishing. -should be washed in: -warm water -moderate drying -lowest tmperature when ironing

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ACRYLIC -looks like wool and washable -made from chemicals -strong when wet and dry -hotel's blanket and carpet normally

from acrylic because they are cheap,do not shrink and and easily maintained

-should be iron with low heat or at times not should ironing at all

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POLYESTER -synthetic fiber -added to cotton and wool so it easily to

laundered -used in pillows,upholstery,bed linen and table

linen -not shrink or strecth and is very elastic -resistant to crease and can retain its shape -polyester is versatile and important man-

made fabric.

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RAYON -made from wood pulp an cotton linters -looks like silk and has draping qualities -used for curtains and bedspreads -requires cool iron -strong,extremely absorbent and burn easily in

high temperature -wrinkled easily and will stretch when wet and

shrink when washed

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SPANDEX-made by mixture of rubber and chemicals-very elastics fiber-streched many times its length and spring

back to original length-resistant to washing,perspiration and heat-used in foundation garments: -swimming suit -hoseiery

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NYLON -made from chemicals -elastics,resilient,smooth,non-absorbent and dry quickly. -used in hoisery,netting for bridal

veils,carpeting and socks -use a low temperature on the wrong

side when oroning nylon.

LINEN AND FABRIC HANDLING

2.1.2 LABEL IDENTIFICATION AND LINEN CARE

• To assist consumers in getting proper information about clothing care.

• Requires manufactures and importers to attach care labels and giving full instruction for at least one satisfactory method for clothing care.

• The rule also requires that the manufacturer or importer possess, prior to sale.

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To be more specific, let’s look at the reason for putting label on fabrics.

a)Fabric no need to identification since we can read the label and understand the characteristics of the fabrics.

b)Fabric no need to complicate of sorting by type of fabrics and washing process will be easy.

c)Save time when trying to figure out the exact type of fabrics for quality, checking, washing and knowledge purposes.

d)Able to retain the white and coloured fabrics. This eventually will make them look whiter and brighter.

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