Processing and Classifying Laundry

1 Perform checks on laundry

• Handling: wear personal protective equipment (PPE), maintain personal hygiene, use correct manual handling procedures, follow industry best practice and workplace procedures
• Items: sheeting and pillowcases, towelling and bath robes, table linen, uniform, utility cloths, guest clothing
• Signs of damage: loose seams or stitches, missing or loose buttons, tears and frays
• Process: follow industry best practice and workplace procedures, report to supervisor
• Foreign objects: personal belongings in the pockets of garments, badges on lapels, garment embellishments e.g.  fancy buttons or buckles
• Process: follow industry best practice and workplace procedures, report to supervisor, remove and return to guest, label if no indication of ownership
• Remote and redirect: follow industry best practice and workplace procedures, report to supervisor

2 Sort and process all items for laundering

• Items: sheeting and pillowcases, towelling and bath robes, table linen, cleaning materials, uniform, guest clothing
• Fibre type (natural): cotton, linen wool, silk,
• Fibre type (manufactured): viscose, acetate, new generation lyocells – Modal®, Tencel® Lyocells®, synthetic fibres: nylon, polyester, acrylic, elastomeric
• Fabric care labels: symbols and instructions
• Construction of items: badges, logos, press studs, Velcro etc
• Colour: white, colours, dark colours
• Soiling type: oily or protein
• Soiling levels: heavy, medium or light
• Finishing requirements e.g., press, calender, tumble dry
• Type of stain (all types):
• ~protein e.g., milk, blood, egg,
• ~tannin e.g., coffee, juice, alcohol,
• ~oil-based e.g., butter, oil, collar and cuff grease rings,
• ~dye e.g., colour bleeding, grass, combination,
• ~stains require special treatment methods e.g., deodorants, nail polish
• Process: pre-spotting with stain remover, follow instructions
• Foul or Infected: bodily fluids e.g., blood, faeces, vomit or urine, bedbugs or other infestation
• Process: follow industry best practices and workplace procedures e.g.  wearing correct PPE, disposal of items, placing directly into a heavy-duty polythene bag which is usually red in colour and tied with its own soluble tie
• Delicate fabrics: lace, silk, chiffon, satin, wool
• Sensitive items: lingerie, scarves, woollen sweaters, evening gowns
• Process: check labels, wash according to instructions
• Cleaning methods: wet, dry, hot wash, low temperature wash, soaking, re-wash

3 Make up loads for laundering

• Count: number of each item, by size, by department, staff name or number (uniforms), by weight, customer name or room number
• Items: sheeting and pillowcases, towelling and bath robes, table linen, uniform, utility cloths, guest clothing
• Marking systems: temporary marking, permanent transfers, printed heat seal labels, barcode labels, transponders (uniform), following industry best practice and workplace procedures
• Correct loads: weight, colour, item, washing requirements, removing inappropriate items

4 Complete and keep accurate records

• Forms: records, forms, guest dockets, delivery or collection receipts, follow industry best practice and workplace procedures
• Up to date and accurate: fully completed, checked, signed and dated, follow industry best practice and workplace procedures

5 Work as an effective member of the team

• Communication:
• ~spoken e.g., tone of voice, terminology
• ~written e.g., documents, forms, reports, presentations
• ~body language e.g., posture
• Situations: formal, informal, queries or requests, complaints
• Codes of conduct: workplace policies, rules and procedures
• Reporting: supervisor, line manager, challenges, issues, queries

6 Follow health, safety and hygiene procedures

• Personal hygiene:
• ~clean clothing, footwear and headgear
• ~hair neat and tidy
• ~wear a head covering e.g., hairnet, hat
• ~washing hands
• ~no jewellery
• ~cover cuts and grazes
• ~report illness and infections to the proper person
• Common workplace hazards: slips, trips, falls, breakages, hot surfaces, chemicals
• Health and safety procedures: following fire regulations, fire drills, evacuation, manual handling, safe use of chemicals, report accidents, first aid
• Workplace emergencies: accidents, fire, breaches of security, illness
• Emergency procedures: raising alarm, calling emergency services, firefighting equipment, evacuation procedures
• Security procedures: control of keys, electronic systems, surveillance, control of entrances and exits, staff and visitor identity badge, reporting of suspicious persons and packages to line manager