Table of Contents
Q. 1. Explain the activities carried out by linen room in a hotel.
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LINEN ROOM :-
Collection and Transportation: This is facilitated through chutes, canvas bags, trolleys, collapsible wire carts, skips.. It is an essential activity when laundry services are on contract. Guest laundry may also be collected, and billing and marking undertaken, should the laundry be off-premises.
Sorting and Counting: Sorting is carried out primarily to make counting possible as well as for streamlining laundry procedures. Linen is counted in order to make a record so that issuing to
departments may be accurate and it is possible to tally the exchange of linen between the linen room and the laundry and a basis for billing exists.
Packaging: Linen is packed in canvas bags to prevent damage to the linen articles. Those articles that need mending and those, which are heavily stained, may be segregated and put into separate canvas bags. The use of colour coding in this respect is useful.
Despatch: This obviously refers to the off-premises laundry. The time for despatch is usually anytime between 1300 hrs and 1600 hrs so that servicing of rooms is over by then and
guest laundry will have been collected. It is possible that soiled linen from the F&B outlets will also have been collected.
Deliveries: Clean linen is delivered in the morning hours and evening deliveries are usually for guest laundry.
Checking and Inspection: Checking the quantity to ensure that the amount of laundered linen tallies with the amount of soiled linen articles sent. Inspection of the quality of wash i.e. stains and dirt removed, no damages, no loss of shape or colour, no blue streaks or patches from the optical brightener, properly ironed. It is also possible that articles belonging to other hotels have been inadvertently delivered, so checking for this is essential.
Storage: The amount of space to be allocated for storage depends on the size and type of operation and the linen coverage.When designing the storage space for linen it is necessary to consider the type of shelves required, the method of storage as well as hygiene and safety factors.
Distribution to units: This is generally done on a clean-for-dirty basis. Some hotels use other systems of exchange such as topping up or a fixed issue based on expected occupancy. Still others may use a package system. Linen may be colour-coded for convenience. Whatever the system, it must be practical and serve the purpose of control. In some hotels specific timings are fixed for issue of linen.
Monogramming: The name or logo of the establishment is put onto the linen item for identification. The supplier may do this or the establishment, by embroidering, printing or embossing either directly on the fabric or on labels which are attached to the linen article. In special cases,the logo/name may actually be incorporated in the weave by the manufacturer. To judge the life span of an article, the date that it was first put into circulation may also be indicated on the article.
Repairs and Alteration: Damaged items are mended by stitching or darning. Alteration of uniforms is usual and condemned linen is converted into useful items called cut-downs/ makeovers. It is important to maintain a record of the condemned articles and the makeovers, so that they can be adjusted in the stock records.
Stock-taking and Records: Many records are entered on a day-to-day basis for the exchange of linen between the linen room, laundry and floors/departments. Purchase records are essential and records of condemned linen and makeovers are usually maintained. Periodical stocktaking is carried out and the annual stocktaking is recorded in the stock register, thereby providing the value of linen as an asset.
Security: It is important that the access to the linen room is restricted so as to prevent misuse and pilferage. Also linen is prone to fire breakouts so precautionary measures are taken to prevent this and the linen room is strictly a non-smoking area.
OR Illustrate flow process of an industrial laundry.(10)
Q.2. Discuss factors to be considered while selecting linen for various hotel purposes. Give quality specifications for bed sheet.
Bedsheets
• Should have a good finish, usually with a slight lustre, and be made from a non crease fabric so as to retain its appearance. For comfort, the texture should be soft and smooth, absorbent and free from static. They should be easily laundrable and the fabric should not lose colour in repeated washes.
• Superior quality bed sheets made from linen or union (a combination of cotton and linen) are expensive and not easily available. Cotton is absorbent, less expensive and is capable of withstanding extremely hot washes. Cotton may be Percale or Muslin. More frequently used are combinations of natural and man-made fibres like polyester cotton or terry-cot. Blending with man-made fibres offsets the disadvantages of the natural fibre.The introduction of a man-made fibre increases durability and makes laundering easier,but some of the absorbency is lost. 65% of cotton and 35% man-made combinations are the best. Blended no-iron sheets must be folded while still warm from the tumbler to eliminate creasing.
• The crinkle sheet or night sheet is made from cotton seersucker.
• A sheet should be large enough to be tucked in securely all around the mattress. The width of the fabric is dependent on whether the bed is single or double. When cutting the length of fabric for the bedsheet, it is necessary to make a provision for:
• Fitted sheets are unpopular as they have more disadvantages than advantages
OR Explain laundry agents. Mention relevant examples for each type.(7+3=10)
Q.3. Describe the need and benefits of uniforms for staff.
1)Create an attractive business image. For better or worse, society tends to judge people by how they dress. Selecting an appropriate employee uniform can immediately establish a professional business image that attracts and helps retain customers.
2)Promote your company or brand. When employees wear uniforms displaying corporate logos and colors, they help brand and differentiate their business in the markets they serve.
3)Free advertising. Well designed work uniforms worn in public become “walking billboards,” promoting a company’s products and services “for free.”
4)Protect workers. Uniforms deliver functional benefits, like wearer safety. For example, flame resistant (FR) workwear can help prevent injuries caused by accidental electrical arc flashes or flash fires, and high visibility uniforms can help protect workers from being struck by motorized vehicles.
5)Improve security. Company uniforms featuring specific styles or colors quickly identify who does or does not belong in specific work areas or on job sites.
6)Prevent product cross-contamination. Uniform programs designed specifically for the food or healthcare industries can help reduce cross-contamination threats; those constructed to dissipate static electricity can help prevent damage to sensitive electronic components.
7)Foster team spirit. Work uniforms promote a sense of team spirit and a sense of belonging. This, in turn, can improve worker productivity.
8)Employee benefit. Employer provided uniforms save employees money, and when provided as part of a Rental Program, eliminate employee laundering time and expense.
9)Improve customer relationships. Work uniforms immediately identify company representatives who can be approached for purchasing information, thereby improving overall customer service.
10)Promote company pride. Work uniforms help instill a sense of pride and responsibility and can convert employees into “brand ambassadors” outside the actual workplace.
4. Discuss operational advantages and economy in operation of OPL for a hotel.
OPERATIONAL ADVANTAGES:
1. Time taken for laundering is reduced because transportation is eliminated.
2. Linen is readily available especially in the case of emergency.
3. Control over the wash process and the laundry agents used making the wear and tear on linen comparatively much lesser.
4. Pilferage is reduced.
5. The par stock required is reduced.
6. Revenue is earned from guest laundry.
7. Helps to render quality service to the guests.
Economy
1. Initial cost of equipment and its maintenance is fairly high.
2. Related expenses like water tax, energy costs are high.
3. More staff who are technically qualified are required
4. High labor costs
OR Discuss in detail the stages of wash cycle.
There are nine stage of a typical wash cycle:
Flush– This dissolves and dilutes the water soluble salts to reduce the soil load for the upcoming suds steps. Items are generally flushed at medium temperature at high water levels.
Break– A high alkaline solution is added to remove soil along with additional flush. It is usually carried out in medium temperature.
Suds– detergent is added. The articles are n ow agitated in hot water at low water levels.
Intermediate rinse/ carryover suds– This rinse cycle removes soils and alkalinity to help the bleach work more effectively later. It rinses linen at the same temperature as the suds.
Bleach– Added in cold water at low water levels. It kills bacteria, whitens fabric and removes stain.
Rinse– 2 or more rinses are required at a medium temperature and high water levels to remove detergents and soils from the linen.
Intermediate extract– The high speed spin removes the leftover detergents and soils from the linen. It should not be used on ironed linen.
Sour/softener/starch/sizing– used for conditioning fabrics. Runs at medium temperature at low water levels. Starch is added to stiffen cotton fabric.
Final extract– a high speed spin removes most of the moisture from the linen. The length of the spin depends upon the fabric type, extractor capacity and extractor speed.
Q.5. What is meant by linen control? Discuss the stages involved in linen control.
Handling linen from purchase to use to laundering and storage before it is used again is a difficult task requiring much expertise as well as close supervision. Each system has its own merits and linen control must be balanced against time saving time and wages.
Linen Control Procedures
1) Routine checking of linen for appearance: –
- Inspection of fresh and soiled linen.
- Spot checking of linen in lockers, service rooms Right linen for the right job Clear standards of ‘use’ for each department
- Ongoing monitoring by senior housekeeping personnel
- Disciplinary action for misuse
- Effective security personnel and Lockable storage
- Clear standards for washing and drying
- Purchase good quality linen
- Train and educate employees on how to use linen
- Good quality cleaning chemicals
- Recycling
2) Quantity control of daily flow of linen: –
a) Proper linen exchange records are maintained daily
b) Specific timings for different outlets are maintained for exchange of linen.
c) Maintain proper records of all documents in Linen Room entry book
3) STOCKTAKING: –
a) Stocktaking is physical verification of linen, it is counting what you have(ACTUAL OR PHYSICAL STOCK) and comparing it with BOOK STOCK.
b) Done at periodic intervals
c) Determines shortage and excess amounts of linen, acts as control measures by highlighting discrepancies.
d) It is carried on every month with‐
‐ROOM LINEN INVENTORY FORM &
‐MASTER LINEN INVENTORY FORM.
4) Proper documentation of linen‐
- The master inventory control sheet helps the EHK to analyze results of inventory
- Helps to determine losses
- The linen in circulation should be brought to the par number and ordered accordingly
The completed record should be send to General Manager and then to Accounts Department which calculates cost per occupied room, loss and helps in departmental Budget
Q.6. Briefly describe the following:
(a) Recycling of discarded linen
- Use old sheets and blankets to make new ironing board pads and covers.
- Thick blankets make ideal ironing board pads. If the sheets are still in good condition, make them into curtains.
- Use your old sheets to make a tablecloth, table runner, placemats and napkins.
- Used pillow covers could be used to make a wiping sheet or dusters.
(b) Function of sewing room
• Machine marking or monogramming may be carried out in the sewing room and when marking linen, it is usual to mark on the right hand side of the article, the name of the organization and the department and the date it was put into circulation. The latter shows the wearing quality of the article and helps to estimate the life span of the article.
• Frayed parts and tears frequently occur in towels, table and bed linen and these are repaired by machine darning. Patching, repairing flaps of pillowcases and torn pockets are among the common sewing tasks. Ideally, mending should be carried out before laundering, but dealing with soiled or wet articles is unpleasant, so mending is usually done on laundered linen.
• Straight-forward , ordinary machining is done for hems on sheets or towels. New items which require straight stitching like bed sheets and tablecloths, may be made.
• Creating makeovers and cut-downs involving the innovative use of discarded linen.
• Stitching of buttons, hooks etc and the mending and alteration of uniforms
Q.7. Write short notes on:
(a) Guest laundry service
Guest laundry service:
1. Proceed to the guest’s room and knock on the door three (3) times and announce “Laundry Service”.
2. When the guest open the door, inform the guest that you came to collect guest laundry.
3. Ask permission from the guest to count and check the items to be laundered.
4. Tally the count with your own physical count.
5. Write the correct number of items laundry request form.
6. Notify the guest for any discrepancies.
7. Check if the guest has filled-in the laundry list. Look for the following:
The name of the client
Room number
Date
Urgency of services according to guest request
Guest’s signature
Ask the guest if he/she need additional help or if they have additional request.Bid the guest goodbye and remember to say thank you.
(b) Care of indoor plants
Care of indoor plants:
– Use trough planters as natural screens. They reduce noise and are useful as barriers to separate walkways etc.
– One of the most common causes of plant death is over-watering. If in doubt, leave it to Ambius, the experts!
– Your plants need water, light and warmth to survive. So when you’re off on holiday, don’t forget about your green friends. Make sure that someone else knows to keep the blinds open and the thermostat up.
– Peat free compost is suitable for all your indoor plants. Contact us for an excellent peat free alternative.
– Variegated plants (featuring leaves with white edges or white flecks) often need more light than their green cousins. Keep them nearer to a window so that they can get all the light that they need.
Q.8. (a) Briefly discuss the equipment and materials used commonly for flower arrangement.
BASIC INGREDIENTS
1. Mechanics
2. Equipment
3. Containers
4. Bases
5. Accessories
6. Plant material
7. Support
MECHANICS:
These are items used to keep flowers, foliage, and stems in place within the container.Mechanics must be fixed securely and should be hidden from view.Examples – florists’ foam (oasis), pin holders (Japanese term – kenzan), chicken wire,prong, adhesive clay and tape, florist cone.
Floral foam, also called oasis, is a cellular plastic material, available in two types –green foam and brown/grey foam.
Pin-holders, also called kenzan or needle-point holders, is a series of sharply pointed pins are firmly held in a solid lead base, to hold thick and heavy stems securely by
impaling them on the pins.Chicken wire, also called ‘wire mesh’ or ‘wire netting’, is a fine- gauge wire used to cover floral foam blocks in large displays.Prong is the simplest type of floral foam anchor. It is a small plastic disc with four vertical prongs. The base of the prong is attached to the container with adhesive clay and the floral foam is pressed down onto the prongs.
Florist’s cone, also called a ‘flower tube’ or ‘flower funnel’. It acts like a miniature vase. It is used in large arrangements, where foliage or flowers need to be placed above their stem height.
EQUIPMENT:
This includes tools used to ensure t hat a satisfactory arrangement of plant material is created within the container.Examples – bucket, scissors, knife, watering can, mister, wire cutter, cocktail sticks, turn, wire, floral tape, candle holder, cut flower preservatives, and secateurs.Mister is a hand- held spray bottle to produce a fine mist of water droplets to keep an
arrangement look fresh in warm weather.Secateurs are used to cut through thick and woody stems.Cocktail sticks or a tooth pick is used to make holes in florists’ foam for a soft stem of
flower.Cut-flower preservatives is a bactericide ,available in powder or liquid form, to prevent slime and smell from developing in the vase water, plus sugar to prolong the life of fresh
flowers. A preservative can be made in-house by adding 3 teaspoons of sugar and 1 drop of bleach to half a litre of water.
CONTAINERS:These are receptacles that hold the flower arrangement. They may or may not be hidden by the plant material. The container must be waterproof and neutral colours such as soft grey, dull brown, off-white, or earth colours are most suitable because they are inconspicuous and do not detract attention from flowers displayed. Theme and simplicity should be kept in mind while choosing the design of the container.Example – vases and jugs, basket, bowls and trays, wreath frame etc.
BASES:An object that is placed underneath the container to protect the surface of the support and/or to add to the beauty of the display is called a base.
Example – table mat, tree section, wood base, stone base, and oriental base.
SUPPORT:This refers to the structure on which the container stands.Example – tables, sideboards, alcoves, and shelves.
PLANT MATERIALS:These can be divided into 3 basic types
A) Flowers ( dominant/ focal/ point material) –This consists of bold flowers or clusters of small showy blooms. The dominant material provides a centre of interest.Example – Gerbera, Chrysanthemum, lilies,Tulips, Poppies, Roses, Dahlias, and Daffodils.
B) Fillers ( secondary material) –This consists of smaller flowers and all sorts of leaves and foliage that are used to cover the mechanics and edges of the container and also provide added interest and colour to the display.Example – Asters, Ivy, Button Chrysanthemum, Carnations, Gypsophila (Baby’s breath), Limonium and Marguerites.
C) Foliages ( line material ) –This consists of tall stems, flowering spikes, or bold leaves that are used to create the basic framework or skeleton. This line material may be straight or curved and it sets the height and width of the finished arrangement.Examples – Gladioli, birds of paradise, golden rods, larkspur, asparagus ferns, palms,tuberoses, and Peruvian lilies.
ACCESSORIES:These are non-plant materials included in or placed alongside the arrangement. Their purpose in generally decorative but could be functional at times. Accessories are added to the design for extra interest or to ‘stretch’ the flowers when they are in short supply.Example – miniature dolls, hats, ribbons, beads, painted wire, wooden fruit shapes, silk flowers and foliage, candles, driftwood, shells, idols, interesting pebbles etc.
(b) Explain the applications of design principle ‘Rhythm’ in flower arrangement.
This involves using techniques and materials that guide the eye from one part of the display to another. Rhythm can be in colour, size and size.
Rhythm in flower arrangements may be achieved by –
- Using curved stems
- Hiding all or part of any tall, straight stems.
- Placing flowers ‘in and out’ through the arrangement.
- Having flowers at various stages of development in the arrangement.
- Using foliage of various sizes and contrasting shapes.
- Having an irregular line of various- sized blooms.
- Rhythm is best achieved by repetition and easy gradual change
Q.9. Define the following (any five):
(a) Cut down
Alteration of uniforms is usual and condemned linen is converted into useful items called cut-downs/ makeovers
(b) Par Stock
Par stock is the minimum linen required in housekeeping so as to ensure smooth operations. This is established at the beginning, before the hotels becomes operational, by the linen supervisor. It is also known as Linen Coverage/housesetup
(c) Laundromat
Laundromats/ Self serviced Laundry:- A Laundromat is a self serviced laundry where clothes are washed & dried. Some laundries staff to provide service to their customer.Some popular brands that serve the market are Electrolux, primus & Maytag. It is generally operated by monthly membership or by coin system depending on the type of load.
(d) Antichlor
These are agents used to neutralize the chlorine bleach and are essential particularly bin the case of polyesters. The use of chlorinated bleaches has a tendency to leave yellow deposits.
(e) Seika
A triangular, symmetrical, forma FLOWER arrangement with strict rules of lengths and angles is SEIKA style
(f) Clean for dirty
Method to exchange uniform. One on one basis: Also known as clean for dirty basis. A uniform register is maintained by uniform staff
(g) Bonsai
Bonsai is a Japanese art form using trees grown in containers.
(h) Prong
This is the simplest type of floral foam anchor. It is a small plastic disc with four vertical prongs. The base of the prong is attached to the container with adhesive clay and the block of round floral foam is pressed down onto the prongs.
(i) Drill
A heavy, cotton fabric where warp & weft are either both dyed or undyed. Used for overalls.
(j) Thimble
Thimbles are protective covers worn on the thumb and second finger when sewing. Steel thimbles are the best.
Q.10. Fill in the blanks:
(a) Plant materials used to hide stem, container edges and most importantly the cases is called __________.
(b) Thermal insulation of blankets is measured in __________.
(c) Sodium bisulphite is a type of __________.
(d) Fabrics that come from the loom without any finishing is called__________.
(e) The golden ratio of 2:3 in design is also known as __________.
(f) A strong fabric with a tight twill weave made from cotton or blends used for uniform is __________.
(g) The longitudinal, visibly distinct self-boarder, closed by the loops of weft yarn is __________.
(h) A reweaving process to repair small holes on a fabric is __________.
(i) Boundary of a garden made from shrubs instead of walls is called__________.
(j) The door of a washing machine is also called as __________.