LINEN ROOM:-

Linen:-

Linen is housekeeping department’s second largest expense; these are launder-able

articles like bed-sheets, towels which are used for rooms and public areas. The term
"linen" also refers to a fabric made from flex fibers.
These are expensive to replace and if well maintained, correctly laundered and properly
stored, its life can be extended. Soiled, worn or creased linen leaves a bad impression of
the cleaning standards in a hotel.

Linen room:-

It is a central place in the hotel generally next to the laundry for storage of all hotel linen
and distribution of the same to the rooms, public areas and to the areas of usage in the
establishment. The bulk of clean linen awaiting reuse is stored here.

Types of linen room:-

 Centralized-linen from all floors are collected and sorted in one central area. The
linen room supervisor has complete control over the linen room. These are found
mostly in smaller hotels.
 Decentralized-In this system, each floor maintains its own par Stock of linen. As
and when required these are replenished from main Linen room. The floor
supervisor is responsible for maintaining the Par level. These are mostly used in
hotels which have large number of floors and in resorts where rooms are spread
out.

Activities of linen room:-

 Collection of soiled linen-It is collection of soiled linen stripped from rooms and
send to the linen room in trolleys, carts
 Sorting-Sorting of soiled linen is based on fabric type, color, stain, texture,
 Packaging- sorted linen is sent through carts to the laundry for washing
 Transporting- transporting linen through carts or chutes
 Receiving- Receiving fresh linen from laundry for dispatch to floors and
restaurants
 Checking- Checking, counting of fresh linen when received from laundry for
quality
  Storage- Storing fresh linen in shelves for at least for 24 hours
 Stitching- Mending and stitching linen when required
 Repairing-Same as above
 Monogramming- Distinguishing hotel and guest linen by stitching hotels
monogram on the hotel linen.
Factors to consider while planning linen room:-

 Location- Should be near to the elevators for transportation to laundry

 Spacious- Should be spacious enough for storing linen in the linen room
 Well ventilated- It should be airy and well ventilated for storing linen
 Properly secured-The linen room should be properly secured and locked for
preventing theft of linen
 Well lighted- Adequate lighting should be there in the linen room
 Proper shelves for storage- There should be proper shelves and racks for proper
storage
 Away from kitchen odors- Necessary for keeping linen fresh
 Free from pests- Protection of linen from pests
 Near to elevators- For smooth transportation of linen to elevators

Linen Exchange:-

 Fresh for soiled/one for one-Fresh linen is provided when equal amount of
soiled linen is deposited back
 Topping up-Replenishing stock in each floor when it falls short
 Requisition-This method is used mostly for banquets where requirement differs
everyday and they give a requirement to the linen room on the basis of which
linen is issued.

Linen exchange Procedures:-

 Room linen exchange-In a hotel with an OPL, soiled linen may be received
directly by the laundry or it may be sent via the linen room to the laundry. The
floors supervisor counts the soiled linen from the floor and enters the count into
the room linen control form and this form is sent to the linen room along with the
soiled linen. The linen room supervisor again counts up the soiled linen and
stamps Received on the form. The linen room supervisor issues fresh linen on a
one for one basis. If the linen room is short of linen the supervisor enters the
balance amount and issues them with the next lot.
 F n B linen exchange:-Linen of restaurants is exchanged at stipulated timings.
An F&B employee of the outlet brings soiled linen to the linen room. The linen
room staff checks for damages. All items are counted and verified with the count
in linen exchange form and fresh linen is issued with details entered and balance
is issued with the next lot
Formats used for linen exchange:-
  Room linen control sheet
 Room linen exchange form
 F and B linen exchange sheet

Types of linen:-

 Guest room linen-(Bed linen, Bath linen, Soft furnishings)

 Food and Beverage linen(Restaurant and Banquet)
 Health club linen

Bed linen:-

 Bed sheets-Used on bed above mattresses and come in different sizes like Single,
Double, King sized, Queen sized.
 Duvets- Duvets are quilts filled with down feathers or synthetic fibre.
 Duvet covers- Used for covering duvets
 Pillowslips-Used with pillows to cover them
 Mattress protectors- Used on mattresses below sheets to protect the mattress and
give a soft feeling at the back.
 Bedspreads- These are spread on beds matching the ambience of the room and
cover the day bed.

Bath linen:-

 Bath sheet-Extra large bath towels provided in VIP rooms in luxury hotels
 Bath towels-Standard big towels provided for bathing purposes
 Face towels-Small in size mostly made of terry cloth or Turkish towelling
 Hand towels-Larger than face towels, provided in bathrooms and cloakrooms
 Bath mats- Made of Turkish towelling but are heavier and absorbent

FnB linen:- Linen used on table is referred to as table linen or napery.

 The different F & B linen are:-

 Table cloth, Napkin, Serviettes, Slip cloths, Underlay, Waiters cloth, Frills,
Runners.
Health club linen:-

 Bath towels
 Hand towels
 Masseurs cloths
 Bed sheets

Selection criteria for linen:-

The fabric chosen must not only retain their appearance throughout their useful life, but
must also be serviceable, easy to maintain, long lasting. The general criteria for selection
of fabrics for bed linen, bath linen, soft furnishings, F&B linen and health club linen are
as follows:-
 Strength- Strength of the fabric depends on the type of fibre used. Synthetic
fibres (such as Polyester and Acrylic) have more strengths than natural ones(like
cotton and wool). The type and closeness of weave also determines strength of
fabric.
 Cost- This includes linen and laundry costs right after labor cost on the list of
highest expenditures. Laundering costs differ for fabrics as Synthetics require
lower temperature and shorter cycles while laundering than cotton.
 Comfort- This depends on the feel, texture, softness, weight and absorbency of
the cloth. Any fabric that comes into contact with the skin must be soft and
absorbent and cotton is more absorbent than synthetics
 Thread count- Fabrics are graded by their thread count and tensile strength. This
denotes the number of threads in one inch sq. area of the linen.
 Weave of linen- The type of weave determines the strength, absorbency,
durability of the fabric
 Finishes applied- Fabrics that come straight from the loom without receiving any
finishing are called grey goods. Various finishing treatments such as bleaching,
mercerizing, sanforizing are done to grey goods depending on properties required.
 Weight and size- The linen used in hotels have specific standard weight and size
which should be kept in mind while purchasing for better products.
 Durability- The fabric selected should be durable like polycot is more durable
than cotton and retains its tensile strength even after repeated washes.
  Shrinkage- Synthetics do not shrink but natural fibre like wool and cotton shrink
by 6-8 percent and might lose shape also if not laundered correctly.
 Color- Pattern, Texture and color impart character to a room. Also the need for
maintenance is important. Most hotels prefer white linen as they can be safely
laundered without fear of color fading. Colored fabric should also be checked for
dye stability. Dark color fabrics show dust and lighter marks whereas lighter ones
show dirt and stain easily. Also the color chosen must be chosen that it is easily
purchased for replacement.
 Pattern and texture- A patterned fabric can hide marks. Abstract patterns will
not hide marks. Large patterns makes large area look filled and vice versa.
 Flame retardancy – Wool is naturally flame retardant and synthetic fabrics such
as Teklan which are manufactured to be flame retardant are also available. The
flame retardant fabrics are used for drapery, upholstery and carpets.
 Thermal insulation- The warmth of a fabric used for coverlets and such is
determined by its thermal insulation properties measured in units called “togs”.
This property is used for blankets and drapery to maintain the temperature of a
room to some extent.

Selection criteria of bed linen:-

Bed linen includes sheet, pillowcases, blankets, bedspreads, mattress protectors, pillows

 Bed sheets and pillowcase:-

They should be soft and comfortable. They should have pleasant feel and good
appearance and should wear well.

Fabric:-
Fabrics recommended are cotton and polycot, percale (combed fabric).Polycot sheets
combine the advantage of cotton and polyester. The blends have more tensile strength
and shrinks less than cotton and are cheaper than cotton too. The average lifespan of
cotton sheets is about 200 washes whereas polycot sheets last more than 500 washes.
After launderings cotton loses 35- 40 % of its tensile strength whereas cotton polyester
blend lose only 3-7 % of their tensile strength. Blends also do not shrink as much as
cotton. If cotton is tumble dried it shrinks by 5- 8 % but a blend shrinks only by 0- 3 %.
Also the blends are preferred for the price factor. The blends are also economic to launder
as they retain less water than a pure cotton sheet and are easy to extract. The blends are
also more resistant to abrasion.
Fabric construction:-
When cotton fibre in blend are carded, the resultant fabric is rough and looks dull. When
cotton fibre are combed before spinning, the resultant fabric is smooth, has a greater
tensile strength. Percale sheets are made in this manner and preferred for use in hotels.
The most common weave used in hotel for sheets is plain weave. Night spreads are also
called crinkle sheet, snooze sheets, third sheets and made of seersucker weave
Thread count:-
Fabrics for sheeting are graded by their thread count and tensile strength.The sheet should
have a standard thread count of 180.
Finishes:-
Finishes are applied to provide a permanent press or no iron effect. Various finishing
treatments like bleaching, mercerizing, sanforizing may be done to grey goods depending
on the properties required. Cotton- polyester sheets are normally chemically modified
during manufacturing to provide a permanent press or no iron effect. A fabric treated thus
remains fairly smooth after laundering and while in use too.
Color and Size:-
White is most preferred color sheet used in hotels. The finished sheet has a top and
bottom hem. The top hem should be 2 inches deep and bottom ½ inches deep.
In standard bed making two sheets and one crinkle sheet is required per bed. The pillow
slips should be 2- 4 inches wider than the pillows to allow for shrinkage and ease.

 Pillows-
An ideal pillow should be neither too hard or too soft. They should be comfortable and
have good longevity.With proper care good quality pillows last upto two years.

Materials for fillings:-

Pillows have natural or synthetic fillings. The natural fillings used in hotel pillows are
Down (taken from underbelly of goose)or feathers or combination of both. Synthetic ones
are of polyester or foam. Fabric which encloses the filling is TICK which is generally
made of cotton or polycot.
Finishes:-
Other factors to be considered are whether pillows are hypoallergenic, mildew proof,
moth proof, flame retardant, fluid proof.
Color and size:-
The standard pillow measures 20inch X 26 inch(for a double bed) with 560 gms of
synthetic filling. However hotels can specify amount of filling to be as little as 450 gm
for a flat pillow and as high as 730 gm for a very plump pillow.

 Bedspreads:-
Also called counter panes. They usually have attractive patters. These are generally of
two types-fitted and throw over. The fitted spreads fits the corners of the bed whereas
throw over spreads are allowed to drape in folds and cascades over the foot and corners
of the bed. The bedspread should be of proper size, appearance, color, print, durability
matching the décor and also wearing quality, effect of wash is kept in mind. Synthetic
fabrics are widely used.
Materials:-
The bedspread should complement the colors and other design elements in the
guestroom, but the fabric should be durable and easy to maintain. Synthetic fabrics are
dominating bedspreads in hotels.
Finish:-
Bedspreads are often sat on or folded and stacked away for use later. Hence material
should be crease proof. The fabric should also be fire retardant.

 Mattress protectors:-
Also known as mattress covers or mattress pads.The main function of a mattress
protector is to protect the mattress from spills and stains. They also provide a padded
layer between guests and mattress. Made of quilted fabric with filling of cotton or
synthetic. It should be easily washable

 Blankets:-
Should be warm, fairly heavy weight and hardwearing.Other factor to consider are wash
ability, resistance to moths, mildews, non allergic etc. They also have trim of satin at top
and bottom edges
A good blanket should be warm, fairly heavy weight & hard wearing.
Material:-
Wool because of resilience & warmth.
Construction:-
Loom woven & molded type are preferred because of durability & warmth.
Finish:-
A blanket edge may be finished in one or two ways, being self stitched or bound.
Typically nylon or satin.
Other factors :- Wash ability, resistance to moths mildew, flame retardency, non
allergenic.

Selection criteria for bath linen:-

Bath linen comprises of towels, bath mats, shower curtains etc.

 Bath linen:-

They should be absorbent and soft. The fabric should be urable and soft.
Materials:-
Turkish toweling with uncut pile is suitable for bath towels, hand towels, bathmats while
huckaback weave is ideal for face towels. The uncut pile provides larger surface area for
the absorption of moisture. Bath mats are of heavier material as they need to be more
absorbent.
Also the longer the pile, the greater the absorbency of the towel but the durability may be
affected as long pile tends to get pulled while in use and during laundering. The
recommended pile height is 1/8 inches.
Finish:-
The selvedge for toweling should be firmly woven and ¼ inch wide. The hems should be
firmly stitched. Selvedges along the length are more durable than hems. A logo may be
woven into the fabric.
Color:-
White towels are more absorbent as coloured towels have already absorbed the dye.
The preferred colour at most properties is white, though they are available in many other
hues as well. They are mostly made up of Cotton Terry cloth or Turkish Towelling with
uncut pile for high absorbency.

 Shower curtains:-

Shower curtains need to be waterproof. These include Nylon, vinyl, PVC coated etc
Whether white or colored the folds of plastic curtains tend to stick together when hanging
wet. Nylon curtains have a better finish and can be obtained in lining. They should never
be wrung as they get creases and fibres may be break, and these curtains may grey with
age.

Selection criteria for FnB linen:-

 Table cloths
They are made of fabrics which are able to resist stains and retain color and shape
Material:-
Linen, polycot, or mostly linen cotton union damask are preferred. Damask is self
patterned twill weave fabric and gives a good appearance. The preferable thread count is
175- 200.
Size
Usually they are shaped based on shape of table. The table cloth must be sufficiently
hanging 9 inches below the table edge.

 Napkins, serviettes
Theyare made of pure cotton as they need to be absorbent and should be starched for
folding into fancy shapes.
  Tray and salvar mats are placed on trays and salvers to prevent slipping

 Waiters cloths- Used by waiters during service, Made of casement cotton

 Slip cloths are also known as overlays, throw overs or naperon.It is placed on
table cloths to give contrasting effect and so are colored and protect from spills
and stain.

 Underlay are also known as baize cloths or silence coths. Made of baize or
mouton or felt. It is placed under table to render it non slip and cover sharp edges
of table.

 Frills are also known as skirts. Used for draping the tables, mostly made of satins
and are pleated

 Runners are display aids lad in between two tables to visually unite them

Selection criteria for soft furnishings:-

Curtains:-

 Should not easily collect dust

 Should be washable
 Resistant to fading
 It should drape well and allow light to come in the daytime
 Light ones are net, sheer, lace curtains and heavy ones
 Sheer curtains are made of cotton or polyester and heavy ones of nylon, polyester,
silk etc.
 Should have good abrasion resistance
 Fire retardant fabrics used for curtains are glass fibre, wool or acrylic.

Cushion covers;-

 Should not soil easily or collect dust.

 Should not slip about.
 Should be washable.
Upholstery:-

 Fabric should be strong

 Resistant to soiling
 Closely woven with non fluffy surface
 Should not cling to guests clothes or skin.