MARKET FEASIBILITY OF STARTING A COMMERCIAL

LAUNDRY IN THRISSUR

Research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the award of degree

Bachelor of Hotel Management, University of Calicut

RESEARCH REPORT

Submitted By:

JANEESH JOSEPH

B.Sc.HM & CS (2018 – 2021)

REG.NO: CCASSCT017

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

PROF.TOYBE JOSEPH

(HOD, Department of Hotel Management)

CHRIST COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS)

Irinjalakuda, Thrissur Dist. : 680125

(Affiliated to the University of Calicut)

MARKET FEASIBILITY OF

STARTING A COMMERCIAL

LAUNDRY IN THRISSUR

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the research submitted on the topic “MARKET FEASIBILITY OF

STARTING A COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY IN THRISSUR” is a bonafide record of work done by

Mr. JANEESH JOSEPH, Reg.No: CCASSCT017, B.Sc. HM & CS student towards partial fulfillment

of UG in B.Sc. Hotel Management and Catering Science at Christ College Autonomous, affiliated to the

University of Calicut during 2018-2021 academic year.

Prof. Toybe Joseph Prof. Toybe Joseph

(Research Guide) (H.O.D)

Submitted on for the research Viva-Voice held at Christ College Autonomous,

Irinjalakuda

Internal Examiner External Examiner

CERTIFICATE OF THE RESEARCH GUIDE

This is to certify that the Research work titled “MARKET FEASIBILITY OF STARTING A

COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY IN THRISSUR” is a bonafide record of work done by Mr.JANEESH

JOSEPH, Reg. No: CCASSCT017 for the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of, UG in

B.Sc. Hotel Management and Catering Science under University of Calicut, carried out his study under

my guidance. This research work is original and has not formed any basis prior to this for the award of

any Diploma/ Degree under this University/ Institution. Therefore, this Research Work is completely

currently and correct.

Prof. Toybe Joseph

(Research Guide)

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this research work to God almighty, my parents, my teachers, my

friends and those who all supports me and help me to this research. Without their support this project

would not have been completed. I would like to extent my heartiest thanks to all those who have

inspired me, helped me to make this research works a dream come true.

Thanking You...........

STUEDENT'S DECLARATION

I, JANEESH JOSEPH, hereby declare that the research work titled “MARKET FEASIBILITY

OF STARTING A COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY IN THRISSUR” is the original work done by me and

submitted to the University of Calicut in partial fulfillment for the award of UG in B.Sc. Hotel

Management and Catering Science is a record of original work done by me under the supervision Prof.

Toybe Joseph, H.O.D, Department of Hotel Management, Christ College, Autonomous Irinjalakuda.

Date:

Irinjalakuda JANEESH JOSEPH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I take this opportunity to sincerely thank Prof. Toybe Joseph for being my research guide and for being

my coordinator for their timely valuable contribution and keen observation in the completion of my

research, which would not have been completed without their help and assistance. I also would like to

utilize this opportunity to thank our Principal Rev. Dr. Jolly Andrews, Head Of the Department, Prof.

Toybe Joseph, and all faculty members of Dept. of Hotel Management for their timely contribution and

co-operation given to me and at the last not the least would also thank all the respondents who

contributed their valuable time to answer my questions, thus helped me to take my research to suitable

conclusion.

CONTENTS

SL NO PARTICULARS PAGE NO.

1 Introduction and Abstract 1-6

2 Objectives of the study 7-8

3 Scope of the study 9-10

4 Review of Literature 11-43

5 Research Methodology 44-46

6 Data Analysis 47-62

7 Limitations of the study 63-64

8 Findings of the Research 65-66

9 Conclusion 67-68

11 Appendix 69-70

12 Bibliography 71-72

1

INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION

The Importance of Laundry and Dry Cleaning cannot be over emphasized especially in

Thrissur where a large portion of its population are middle class average incomes workers with time

demanding jobs. The life style of people in Thrissur has changed over the years. Nowadays, the

“housewife” concept is gradually fading away leading to more women who were usually accustomed to

carrying out household laundry spending more time at workplace. Also people are more conscious

about their clothes and use more sophisticated measures for cleaning clothes. There is also the fact that

some people especially students and workers barely have time for their laundry due to tight schedule.

Beside households, commercial businesses such as hotel, industry, restaurants, boarding schools,

hospitals, catering units and other offices also needs the services of laundry & dry cleaning on day-to-

day basis.

This particular feasibility report is intended to provide information for setting up an integrated laundry

and dry cleaning business. It is expected to provide a range of services relating to domestic and

commercial sector customers. These services range from washing, drying and pressing of fabric wears

to complex and more professional services like cleaning sensitive stuff, blankets, curtains, rugs and

other home accessories for both households and commercial businesses.

The proposed “Laundry and Dry Cleaning” unit will have an installed capacity of washing and dry

cleaning of 4000 units per annum. However, initial operational capacity is assumed to be 70% during

first year with a gradual increase of 10% in the subsequent years up to maximum capacity utilization of

90%. It is suggested to open the shop in the student, lecturer and doctor populated Unbowed area of

Thrissur.

Laundry and dry cleaning is not capital or management-intensive business. The proposed business

venture entails a total investment of about #2million. This includes a capital investment and working

capital. The project is financed through contributions from partners. The legal business status of this

project is proposed as Partnership.

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The demand for this service is increasing due to changing life styles, incomes, and the increase in

clothing expenditure. Customers use this service gas there are few or no alternatives. Therefore, the

uniqueness of laundry business are as follows:

1. Rapid technological change resulting in fast change of trend from individualized laundry to

commercial laundry services.

2. Fast, changing and modern lifestyle of the people

3. Laundry business is an easy and convenient business to start. It is not capital or management

intensive.

4. It is a very lucrative business, as not everyone that puts on clothes has the time to do the laundry.

5. Tight schedule of people (students and workers) and personal dislike for laundry for some others

makes the use of laundry/dry cleaning services inevitable.

6. Professionalism sought by cooperate institutions like schools hospitals and offices has also made

the services of laundry and dry cleaning business a very important one.

7. No capital stagnancy, receive payment every month, easy to get instant profit.

8. Capital requirement for purchasing commercial laundry equipment is minimal; therefore the risk

of this business is low.

9. Laundry and dry cleaning services are rated to be one of the top ten to have the lowest failure

rate.

These are some reasons why there is great chance of making a lot of money because individuals and

cooperate firms will definitely seek your services. The laundry and dry cleaning business entails all

activities involving cleaning of all kinds for the purpose of making money. This could either be cleaning

for individuals or cooperate organizations. For individuals, this service cuts across clothes, household

materials such as carpets and ornaments. It could also include sensitive materials such as wedding

gowns and expensive and difficult garments such as jeans, silk, cotton, blankets, curtains. Laundry

services offered to cooperate institutions varies from institutions to institution.

The laundry needs of a school differs from that of a bank and both differ from hospitals. In

summary the laundry is all encompassing making the chances of making money higher as at every point

in time an individual or an organization will require our services. Dry Cleaners provides the service of

dry cleaning which includes garments that require special care such as wool, silk, beaded garments,

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suits, wedding gowns, comforters, blankets, bed sheets, curtains, and tablecloths. The business will also

provide professional removal of a variety of stains as well as a professional finishing press. The

restoration and pressing of wedding and baptism gowns will provide an additional unique service to

customers, because most of the dry cleaners in Benin and surrounding cities do not provide wedding

gown restoration, typically sending these garments out to specialty cleaners. The laundry service has a

second major line in the industry, specializing in cotton dress shirts and polo shirts with the choice of

light, medium and heavy starch. In addition, we will clean blue jeans, agbada, ashioke, khakis with

heavy starch as well as light starch. The laundry can also include sleeping bags, quilts, tablecloths and

comforters according to the materials, care and instructions. In addition to dry cleaning and laundry, the

business includes an alterations department, which specializes in mending garments, hemming, taking

in or out, and altering formal suits and dresses. From the above analysis, the services is similar to those

of other existing Laundry shops in Thrissur but certain things will make it stand and that includes its

quality services, professionalism of its personnel towards its The quality services really matters in this

service. It is planned to provide services such as washing, pressing, ironing and folding customer’s

clothes and garments. It will be using quality equipment’s and machineries that could greatly help and

make the business exist. It shall offer affordable cleaning too, making sure that the output will reach its

quality standard

Personnel of the shop will surely build professional customer relationship. Unlike the other

personnel/workers that may just think business is easy as doing what is assigned to them and this

normally getting payments from customers after doing/giving what the latter wants. More than that, it

would be better to set your customers as part of the top priority. In addition, the team will take care of

each customer item with great respect since personal things are engaged in the business. In order to

achieve this aim, a feasibility analysis is applied to determine whether the laundry lounge, a

combination of laundry and extra services such as cafeteria, reading room and free Wi-Fi, is promising

for the target group. As a result, the objective of the thesis is to measure the feasibility of the laundry

lounge model in the target market. The thesis is structured with four main parts.

To begin with, the main theories in business idea evaluation are thoroughly mentioned. With its

components, the feasibility analysis is employed throughout this study as the main metrics for the

proposed business in order to measure its potentiality. Then, a description of laundry lounge concept

and its basic form, self-service laundry, are clearly presented. After that, an empirical research to collect

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primary data regarding the laundry lounge concept is logically reported. Finally, the feasibility analysis

is implemented in detail to find out the answers for the research questions and hence successfully serve

the objective of this thesis. It is worth noticing that the thesis acts as a market research to explore the

potential of the laundry lounge in the target market. This study does not concentrate on building a

business plan for the case company to raise finance or make profits. For the purpose of this research,

deductive approach was applied along with the employment of quantitative and qualitative research

methods. Besides, both primary and secondary data were collected to serve the ultimate goal of the

thesis. Primary data was obtained by conducting a survey among the target customers and structured

interviews with prospective customers and business people in the service sector. Secondary data was

acquired from publications such as books, laws, reports, articles and electronic sources.

The main findings indicate that the proposed business is feasible and promising. In other words,

the laundry lounge has a huge potential to be further developed in Thrissur. The capital required is

affordable for the start-up and more importantly, the return on investment rate is significantly high for

the business. Then, the main objective of the thesis is described and logically followed by research

questions and sub-questions. After that, based on research topic and objectives, scopes and limitations

of the thesis are briefly shown. Next, theoretical framework is clearly presented so as to point out the

relationship between applied theories. Then, research methodology and data collection are explained

most students did not have a washing machine at their rent apartments so they had to go to the self-

service laundry store which is equipped with coin/cash operated washing and drying machines. It is

simple, convenient and charges at a reasonable price.

That makes it so attractive for students especially who have a tight budget to fulfil the basic needs.

Spontaneously, the authors thought about Thrissur, where a huge market composed of students is

continuously growing every year along with the fast-developing service sector. Thus, if the business can

provide a better service for students, the authors strongly believe that the new business concept, laundry

lounge where washing, drying, eating, studying can be done at the same time, might have a great

opportunity for success in Thrissur During the time studying in Thrissur, the authors saw the fact that

the students have to deal with noticeably heavy studying programs at school. In addition, the majority of

them go to a language centre after school to improve their language skills. Moreover, a large number of

students have part time jobs during week days to support their living costs despite the strict time

schedule of studying and working, most students still have to wash clothes by hand themselves, which

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really takes time, energy and affects negatively to students’ life. Consequently, the authors see an

opportunity for a service that can help them save both time and energy. Instead of wasting time, a

laundry lounge helps to save both time and energy as students can have breakfast, lunch or dinner, read

some books or use free Wi-Fi to do their homework during the waiting time. Hence, this is an obvious

opportunity for the authors to start their own business with a laundry lounge as a pioneer in Thrissur

market targeting students and employers in different sector. And the foremost thing needed to do is

using feasibility analysis to determine if this prospective business is viable or not, and thereby, this

thesis is born to explore the answer.

The authors acquired a great interest in starting up own business when coming back to Thrissur

with the new generation of self-service laundry – laundry lounge. In order to successfully launch the

business, a market research needs to be done properly to see if this new service will be accepted widely

in Thrissur, by students, who are chosen to be the foremost target group, and how profitable it will be.

As a result, the main objective of this thesis is to measure the feasibility of the new business model,

laundry lounge, targeting employees and students in Thrissur. As mentioned earlier, the main objective

of this thesis is to measure the feasibility of the new business model – laundry - in Thrissur. Therefore,

this thesis works as a market research leading to the fact that there will be no practical business plan at

the end as a final outcome. In other words, the authors concentrate on finding out if customers are

promising group for the laundry lounge to survive and develop not constructing a business plan to help

business acquire profits. There is a limitation in estimated earnings calculation as the monthly amount

of customers is not based on precise report or research, but is only the authors’ logical reasoning. If the

real amount of customers differs from the expected one, the business’ financial feasibility might be

higher or lower to avoid preparing failing business plan or launching non-profitable business, it is

essential to test if the business idea and the concept are viable and realistic in the market that the

company wants to enter. Theoretical framework:

• Business Idea

• Business Concept

• Service feasibility analysis

• Industry/market feasibility analysis

• Organizational feasibility analysis

• Financial feasibility analysis

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OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

8

OBJECTIVE:

1. Market feasibility of a new commercial laundry in Thrissur, Kerala

2.Find out the possible clientele of the commercial laundry

3.Find out the machineries used to start a fully loaded commercial laundry with reference to the

money and technology it.

9

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

10

Scope of the Study

• Reasonable capital cost

• Availability of spare parts and ease of maintenance

• Efficiency in working under normal conditions.

• Economy in consumption of utilities like water and power etc.

• Continuity of workflow and reduction of manual effort

11

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

12

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Although the word first laundry came into English in 1530, it didn't mean what i mean here until

1916. ... The French word came from Latin Lavandarius, also “to wash,” but that in turn came from

another Latin word lavanda which were “the things to be washed,” so we've come full circle although

the word first laundry came into English in 1530, it didn't mean what i mean here until 1916. ... The

French word came from Latin Lavandarius, also “to wash,” but that in turn came from another Latin

word lavanda which were “the things to be washed,” so we've come full circle laundry equipment

means washers, washer/extractors, dryers, chest-type ironers, steam boiler, thermal fluid heater for

ironer, lint control devices, linen folders, linen carts, dry cleaning equipment (if required), laundry

sinks, air compressors, laundry scales and similar items used in the laundry operation laundry' can be

defined as a place where the washing and finishing of clothes and other washable articles are carried

out. Laundry cycle in laundry operation. A) collecting soiled linen. Room attendants will strip linen

from beds and bath areas and put them into the linen bags, which attached on the maid's trolley.

Laundry market’s size in India is estimated at a billion dollars in the organized sector and in the

unorganized sector at a whopping 30 billion dollars time poverty of busy working classes and rising

disposable income are factors prompting urban Indians to opt for the laundry services. The days when

laundry was considered to be “unorganized” have been put in the past. Nowadays, India sees rapid

growth in the organised laundry sector in various parts. Since the lifestyle of people is changing, they

are looking for options other than their local dhobis for their clothes. Previously, dry cleaning was

restricted to only to the people belonging to the upper echelon of the society. But now a days even the

average middle-class family also needs dry cleaning and machine wash services for their garments.

Opening a new laundry with all the proper equipment and facilities will set you back by a minimum of

10 lakhs. With the initial investment and subsequent revenue generation, you will reach the break-even

point after one and a half years...

Product / Services & process

The laundry is planning to offer the dry cleaning service to people over the town. This firm

stands for quality and commitment to the customers. The firm is working on the principles of quality

management and time bound delivery to the customers. The firm is positioned itself as a quality service

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provider with affordable pricing. The main focus of the firm is the hotels, middle class working group

etc.

Market potential & Strategy

Since opening a laundry business in India does not take much training or prior experience in the

field, venturing into it is not a difficult task. However, with so many new laundries making their way

into the market, the important thing is to uphold your position in the business. Even though customers

are easily available and the market is a lucrative one, even a single mistake can cost you your customer

to the competition. Also one of the potential areas of problem for your laundry can be covering delivery

charges. Often due to a large distance, delivering the laundered clothes to the customers can become a

liability and eat into your profit margin. So it is best to make smart choices while investing in the

laundry business. Having a target clientele can make it much easier for you to determine the area you

want to expand your business to. Hiring a mode of transport for delivering the clothes can cut back on

your expenditure by quite a margin. And most importantly, leaving no stone unturned in delivering top-

notch service is the key to keep your laundry’s name in everyone’s radar.

Washing machine

Washing Machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, or washer) is a home appliance used to

wash laundry. The term is mostly applied to machines that use water as opposed to dry cleaning (which

uses alternative cleaning fluids and is performed by specialist businesses) or ultrasonic cleaners. The

user adds laundry detergent, which is sold in liquid or powder form, to the wash water.

Fig 1.1

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Washer-dryer

Combo washer dryer (also known more simply as a washer-dryer in the UK) is a combination in

a single cabinet of a washing machine and a clothes dryer. It should not be confused with a "stackable"

combination of a separate washing machine and a separate clothes dryer.

Fig 1.2

Laundry processes

Laundry processes include washing (usually with water containing detergents or other

chemicals), agitation, rinsing, drying, pressing (ironing), and folding. The washing will sometimes be

done at a temperature above room temperature to increase the activities of any chemicals used and the

solubility of stains, and high temperatures kill micro-organisms that may be present on the fabric.

However, it is advised that cotton be washed at a cooler temperature to prevent shrinking. Many

professional laundry services are present in the market which offers at different price range. Agitation

helps remove dirt which is usually mobilized by surfactants from between fibers, however, due to the

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small size of the pores in fibers, the 'stagnant core' of the fibers themselves see virtually no flow. The

fibers are nevertheless rapidly cleaned by diffusiophoresis carrying dirt out Chemicals into the clean

water during the rinsing process

Chemicals Various chemicals may be used to increase the solvent power of water, such as the

compounds in soaproot or yucca-root used by Native American tribes, or the ash lye (usually sodium

hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) once widely used for soaking laundry in Europe. Soap, a compound

made from lye and fat, is an ancient and common laundry aid. Modern washing machines typically use

synthetic powdered or liquid laundry detergent in place of more traditional soap.

Cleaning or Dry Cleaning

Many dry cleaners place cleaned clothes inside thin clear plastic garment bags. Dry cleaning

refers to any process which uses a chemical solvent other than water. The solvent used is typically

tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene). It is used to clean delicate fabrics that cannot withstand the

rough and tumble of a washing machine and clothes dryer; it can also obviate labor-intensive hand

washing.

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Common problems

Novice users of modern laundry machines sometimes experience accidental shrinkage of

garments, especially when applying heat. For wool garments, this is due to scales on the fibers, which

heat and agitation cause to stick together. In cold countries they dry it with their fireplaces, others just

have many or buy more garments in preparation for winter or cold times. Other fabrics are stretched by

mechanical forces during production, and can shrink slightly when heated (though to a lesser degree

than wool). Some clothes are "pre-shrunk" to avoid this problem.

Another common problem is color bleeding. For example, washing a red shirt with white

underwear can result in pink underwear. Sometimes only similar colors are washed together to avoid

this

Fig 1.3

problem, which is lessened by cold water and repeated washings. Sometimes this blending of colors is

seen as a selling point, as with madras cloth. Laundry symbols are included on many clothes to help

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consumers avoid these problems. Synthetic fibers in laundry can also contribute to micro plastic

pollution.

Mangle (machine)

A mangle or wringer is a mechanical laundry aid consisting of two rollers in a sturdy frame,

connected by cogs and, in its home version, powered by a hand crank or electricity. While the appliance

was originally used to wring water from wet laundry, today mangles are used to press or flatten sheets,

tablecloths, kitchen towels, or clothing and other laundry.

Fig 1.4

Ironing

Ironing is the use of a machine, usually a heated tool (an iron), to remove wrinkles from

fabric.[1] The heating is commonly done to a temperature of 180–220 °Celsius (356-428 Fahrenheit),

depending on the fabric.[2] Ironing works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer

molecules in the fibers of the material. While the molecules are hot, the fibers are straightened by the

weight of the iron, and they hold their new shape as they cool. Some fabrics, such as cotton, require the

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addition of water to loosen the intermolecular bonds. Many modern fabrics (developed in or after the

mid-twentieth century) are advertised as needing little or no ironing. Permanent press clothing was

developed to reduce the ironing necessary by combining wrinkle-resistant polyester with cotton.

Fig 1.5

Automatization

Different machines have been shown to automatize ironing, as Effie and Panasonic Sustainable

Maintainer. Both machines individually treat clothes and then fold them onto a shelf.

HISTORY OF LAUNDRY PROCESS

The first commercial laundry in the United States was opened in Oakland, California, in 1851. From the

beginning the laundry industry has grown steadily until, in 1958, there were over 38,000 laundries and

laundry services doing an annual business of approximately two billion dollars. The process of dry

cleaning clothes was invented in 1849 in Paris by a French tailor named Jolly Belin. In the next 10

years, dry-cleaning establishments sprang up all over Europe. They were soon introduced to the United

States, where the industry moved forward slowly. By 1900, dry-cleaning establishment was to be found

in most of the principal cities of our country. After 1945, home dry cleaning has practically disappeared.

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As dry cleaning was applied to other than luxury apparel, it became an indispensable service for hotel

industry.. A sharp rise in business volume started in the 1940‟s and has continued to the present time. In

1954 cleaning and dyeing establishments took in over a billion dollars. Laundry can be defined as a

place where the washing and finishing washable articles are carried out

TYPES OF LAUNDRIES

A hotel may operate its laundry services through the following types of laundries

Commercial / Off – Site / Contracted Laundries

These cater to hotels on a contract basis .The contract specifies the rate for laundering different

articles of linen , the time taken for laundering and so on .Usually the soiled linen are laundered and

delivered back to the hotel within 24-48 hours .The laundries however hold back 3-5 percent of the

soiled linen for stain removal and other specific treatment. Contract laundries are a good option if the

hotel does not want to make a heavy investment in setting up its own laundry or space constraints.

Advantages to the Hotel

• No capital outlay

• Little technical expertise required

• Labour cost is saved

Disadvantages

• Less control over standards

• Delivery and collection delays

• Loss of article may increase

• Extra cost for special treatment

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On Premises/ On-Site/ In House Laundry

An on –premises laundry(OPL) is the hotel’s own industry, situated on the premises. It may be

run by the management or managed on a contract .Many hotel to make this heavy investment to provide

quality services to guest .More care is taken while laundering in house since it is direct responsibility of

the hotel. Services are faster (returns within 8 hours) hence the par stock is reduced .There is a better

supervision and control and hence a longer life for linen.

Advantages to the Hotel

• No losses of missing the article

• Less stock required as the cycle is quicker

• Can cover emergency requirements

Disadvantages

• The initial capital investment is high

• Higherlabour costs

• Technical expertise or special management is required

• High cost of maintenances ,repair and overheads

Laundromats

These are self service laundries usually found in motels .Laundromats may be utilized by using

coin slots to pay by the load or by making a fixed monthly payment. In some resorts long stay guest too

can use the equipment to wash their linen.

Laundered

The items that have to be laundered are classified under three heads according to the fibers used

in fabrics

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a) Vegetables Fibers-which originate from vegetable forms like cotton, linen, jute etc

b) Animal Fibers- which originate from animals like wool, silk, fur etc

c) Synthetic Fibers- which are man-made and originate from fiber prepared by some chemical

action like nylon, terelyne, decron, cilffon etc.

Except for vegetable fibers, all animal or synthetic fibers are safe for dry cleaning procedure. Some

vegetable fibers can be dry cleaned but not all.

LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT

Equipment for Laundry Operations

Hotels with over 200 rooms may certainly decide to have their own laundry for the sheer size of

operations. Smaller properties may decide to have part operation like only washing activity while

outsourcing dry cleaning operations to a public laundry. Alternatively, the owner may decide to

outsource guest laundry while retaining the house operations. Should the hotel decide to have their own

laundry, the best allies are the laundry equipment manufacturers who are able to give reliable estimates

of workloads and the kind of equipment required to meet them. The main equipment for laundry

operations are as follows.

Spotting Machine

The spotting machine is a self-contained table that has all the stain removers and steam gun for

treating spots. The spotter uses a nozzle called a steam gun that can spray a jet of water vapour towel

the stain. Special stain removing chemicals are used depending on the nature of the stain and fabric.

Commercial Washing Machine

All washing machines work by using mechanical energy, thermal energy and chemical energy.

Mechanical energy is imparted to the clothes by the rotation of the agitator in top loaders or by the

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tumbling action of the drum in front loaders. Thermal energy is supplied by the temperature of the wash

bath. The machine may be top loading (lesser capacity), front loading or side loading (for large loads in

industrial laundering). The machine rotates for 15 seconds in one direction, stops and reverses direction

for 15 seconds. This prevents the „roping of linen in the drum. The speed of rotation of the drum

depends on the diameter and ranges between 40 to 60 r.p.m. Centrifugal action of the drum causes

friction between the cloths thereby suspending dirt. The water level is referred to as dip. The

temperature of water ranges from 30c to 95c. The machine operates on manual switches or dial settings

or computerized cards or on computer panels. Modern machinery have sensors that can gauge the length

of cycle, level and temperature of water ,amount of water, amount of laundry agent and when it should

be added in the washing cycle as well as the type of drum action, for a specific wash load. Industrial

machine has a control panel, which displays the stage in the wash cycle in progress, the time remaining

for the completion of the cycle, the temperature of water and the chemicals in use. Machines, which

carry out washing as well as hydro-extraction, are called washer extractors.

Hydro- Extractor

Modern hydro extractor work on the centrifugal action and the procedure is usually part of the wash

cycle. The drum rotates at high speed (at least ten times the wash speed) and the clothes are pressed

against the sides of the drum and water passes out through the perforations and out through the open

drain.

OTHER MACHINES

Tunnel Washers

This is also known as batch washers or continuous washers and are effect in a series of inter-

connect washers. Each „bath‟ is in a different cylinder and the load moves from onecylinder to the next.

Computerized systems automatically adjust the time, temperature and chemicals to be used, so that each

batch receives the required treatment. Machines may be top transfer or bottom transfer. Tunnel washers

have distinct advantages in that they are time saving, thereby reducing staff requirement. Tunnel

washers can also be hooked up to an extractor and subsequently with conveyors to the dryer.

Tunnel Dryer

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It is a fully automated process that transfers the linen to the next area of activity. Clothes are

hung on conveyor belts that pass through a tunnel. Hot air blowing in the tunnel, renders the articles

completely dry by the time they exit.

Tumble Dryer

These are machine that dry laundry by tumbling it slowly in a perforated drum exposed to hot air

ranging from 40 ᵒC to 60 ᵒC in low capacity dryers and going right up to 85ᵒC in an industrial dryer.

There are programmes for delicate articles requiring low or no heat. Dryers may operate on gas

electricity or steam. For speedy drying and less wrinkling the volume of the dryer should be 25% more

than the washer- extractor. Most dryers have a microprocessor computer control system. Although

suitable drying times are usually recommended for specific fabrics, some dryers have sensors hooked

onto their microprocessors so that they can gauge the moisture in the load and cut the dryer off

automatically the moment the laundry is dry. A lint screen traps the lint particles and must be cleaned

regularly. The length of the drying cycle is dependent on the absorbency of the fabric and the residual

moisture. Modern dryers are equipped with high tech features such as signal lights, self-cleaning lint

screens, reverse cylinder drums as well as energy-saving devices like extra insulation and heat

declaimers.

Cabinet Dryer or Drying Room

A chamber where low- crease garments are suspended on hangers steam or hot air is circulated

through the cabinet.

Dry Cleaning Machine

Dry cleaning is a process that removes dirt and stains from fabrics. Dry cleaning uses little or no

water, but the process is not really dry. It involves the use of liquids called solvents. Dry cleaning

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machine are able to handle volume fabrics of the same type. The fabrics must be of the same colour and

type. Before clothes are dry cleaned they must be spotted to remove any stains that could become

permanent during the dry cleaning process. The dry cleaning machine has a movable drum that is filled

with liquid solvent rather than water. A special dry cleaning detergent is added to the solvent to help

remove soil.

Finishing Equipments

For those articles that require a pressed finish there are many finishing equipment. Flatwork

Ironer/ Roller Iron/Calendar. There are used for flatwork i.e. items like sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths,

serve aprons, sarees, etc. the items are passed through heated rollers for ironing. Some of the more

frequently used equipments are listed below:

Flatwork Ironer/Roller Iron /Calendar

These are used for flatwork i.e. items like sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, serviettes, aprons, etc

.the items are passed through the heated rollers and ironing.

Ironing Section

This is the area where linen and clothes are pressed by various means. Uniforms and guest

garments are ironed by means of various types of presses. Press is used for fine pressing of Flat Linen

like table covers, pillow covers, napkins, kitchen linen and staff uniforms. They are special presses to

perform specific functions and operations can be on electricity or steam.

Steam Press

This device comes in a table top version that is operated by hand a floor version that is operated

foot. The press has two padded heads that press together. The top head opens and closes and feeds

steams on the clothes while the lower heads is static on which clothes are spread for ironing. The hand-

leg equipment has a foot pedal that when pressed can lower the top head and open it when pressing. A

busy laundry will have several of these machines.

Hot Head Press

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This press is similar to the steam press in construction. The top movable head has a hot iron

surface instead of a padded one and provides hot pressure on the lower padded head when clothes are

spread for pressing. This is ideal for wrinkle free garments.

Shirt Press: These are special presses to give men’s shirts their proper contours and creases especially

sleeves, shoulder and collars.

Hand Press: They are like domestic presses used for light garments. Laundries can have heavy duty

presses for stubborn creases and materials.

Flatwork Irons (Calendar Machines)

Linen like bed sheet, towels, pillow slips and napkins are fed into the roller by conveyor belt.

Those that do this activity are called feeders. The items come out from the other end and folded into

desired sizes by folder. The materials coming must be properly washed. The feeders inspect items

before rolling them into the flatwork iron. Dirt on linen can shorten the iron’s life; too much sour can

make them catch in the roller; and too much alkali can turn the linen brown. Linen should be moist

before ironing as dry linen causes static electricity. Alternatively, too wet linen can be difficult to feed

in the roller and can overload the effect of the flatwork iron. There are machines that are of single roller

and double rollers that may be selected according to the volume of work and efficiency required.

Folding Machines

This term is quite misleading as the machine does not fold linen but secures it well for a folder

to fold the linen more easily. Earlier, the folder had the onerous task of spreading the linen on a folding

table and folding them with proper creases and sizes. When one considers the tons of linen being

churned out by washing machines the task seems challenging. The folding machine is a labour saving

and productivity enhancing devise.

Stackers

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These are equipment that feed off from folding machines and stock the linen in appropriate

sizes. It helps in determining the lot size for easy accounting of linen.

Steam Cabinets and Tunnels

Steam cabinets or tunnels effectively eliminate wrinkles from uniforms and linen. It is a

chamber fed with hung uniforms or linen that moves through the chamber either manually fed or on a

conveyor belt, steaming them and removing the wrinkles as they move through.

Transporters

In addition to the standard heavy equipment given above, the laundry also has a number of

mobile transporters to carry the volume of laundry from one machine to another or from the laundry to

the linen and uniforms rooms. They come in all shapes and sizes to meet the requirements in a daily

operation.

These are used for the transfer of clean linen from the laundry to the linen rooms and from the

linen room to the floor pantries and so on. Linen carts and trolleys may be made of aluminum or steel.

Laundry sacks may or may not be mobile. They may be made of wicker, fiber glass or plastic

Laundry Process Flow

The laundry department is very crucial to the success of a housekeeping department. It is

responsible to wash tons of linen and uniforms that are generated daily. The supply of fresh linen is

crucial to be able to make rooms available for sale or for food and banquet outlets to be ready to sell

their food and service. In other words the revenue generating capacity is greatly enhanced or impaired

by the efficiency of the laundry services.

Stages of Laundry Operation

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The relationship between housekeeping and laundry is very significant for the smooth

functioning of housekeeping services. The importance of laundry is inevitable as it processes soiled

linen and uniform and supplies housekeeping with clean stocks on a daily basis to keep

Soiled Retrieval

In this step, the linens are collected by laundry personnel and returned to the laundry facility.

Housekeeping staff will place the soiled linen at a collection point, usually by dropping it down a

laundry chute. Laundry workers will then collect the soiled linen, place it in carts reserved for soiled

linen and transport it to the laundry. Linen retrieval poses a problem, especially in health care

institutions. Soiled linen can be contaminated with blood borne and airborne pathogens. For this reason,

employees who retrieve soiled linen are required to use personal protective gear and standard safety

precautions. This problem is especially prevalent in hospitals. Prior to sorting, the linen must be covered

to prevent the spread of airborne germs.

Soil Sorting

At this stage, the retrieved linen is unloaded and sorted according to item type. Different items

often require different washing formulas. Also, later stages in the process require the linen to be pre-

sorted, since it is handled batch by batch. Heavy or bio hazardous stains such as blood and faces may

require longer wash times and stronger formulas. Thus it is inadvisable to mix different items of linen in

the same wash batch. Large institutions often use a production line method for soil sorting, with several

full-time employees assigned to the task. The person who are employed for this task are named as Sorter

/ marker Since soiled linen may be contaminated with biohazards or sharp objects, employees involved

in the sorting process are required to use personal protective equipment and standard safety precautions.

Smaller items tend to "hide" among larger items. For this reason, some sorting goes on during the

washing, processing and packaging stages.

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WASHING

Tunnel Washer

The sorted linen is weighed according to the washing machine's load limit. Large washing

machines are usually operated by a certified washer operator. The washer operator loads and unloads

the washer, decides what is to be washed according to the laundry's schedule, and monitors the chemical

levels in the water. Since modern tunnel washer monitor their own chemical levels and unload linen

directly into the laundry's "clean area", the operator is required only to load the linen. Proper washing

depends on five factors: Water quality, Agitation, Time, Chemical concentration and Heat. Washer

operators use the acronym WATCH. These five factors work together. The purer the water and the

fresher the chemicals, the cleaner the laundry will be. Mechanical action exposes the surface area of the

linen to the water and chemicals, ensuring that the item is thoroughly soaked. Mechanical action also

tends to dislodge stains. Heat helps the chemicals to react with the stains. The longer the item is exposed

to heat, chemicals and mechanical action, the cleaner it will be. The washing process includes the

following stages in which the first one is compulsory while the last two are optional.

Wetting:In this stage the clothes are wetted in a detergent solution; this is done to loosen the soiling or

dirt. Some fabrics are waterproof, so care should be taken while wetting fabrics like wool and silk.

Soil Removal: The main objective of the washing process is to loosen dirt and separate. Soil removal is

done in this step, the failure of this stage will spoil the whole cleaning process.

Soil Suspension: In this stage, the soiling or dirt is to be prevented from re-deposition on the fabric and

must be held back in the detergent solution. If re-deposition occurs on the fabric then fabric turns

greenish and if it is uneven then it forms black spot known as scum.

Removal of Soil: This stage includes rinsing of the clothes to remove the suspended dirt as well as the

detergent from clothes. In washing machine, removal of soil is actually done by diluting the detergent

solution in the machine.

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Bleaching: Bleach improves the white color of white fabrics. The bleaching of an article should be

restricted to a minimum and should be done when it is really required.

Blueing: This is done only to the white linen after wash. White linen becomes yellowish and this can be

corrected by applying blue to a fabric. After bleaching, Blueing can correct yellowness, excess of

blueing can may a shirt look blueish or even spotted or marked with blue.

Wash Cycle

A complete wash cycle is composed of various stages and the time taken is approximately 40 to

50 minutes. It has been proven that quick wash cycles using large volume of water broken down into the

following sequence is most effective. Typical wash cycle consist of 9 steps they are

Flush (1 ½ -3 min)→ Suds( 5-8 min)→ Carryover Suds /Intermediate Rinse(2-5 min ) →Bleach(5-8

min)→ Rinse( 1 ½ -2 min)→ Intermediate Extract(1 ½ -2 min) →Sour / Softer Starch /Sizing(3-5

min).→ Final Extract (2-12 min)

Over the past twenty years, many industrial laundries have switched from conventional washers

to tunnel washers, also called continuous-batch washers. Since tunnel washers don't have to be stopped

for loading and unloading of linen, they provide a more continuous flow of clean laundry. Higher-

volume facilities, which may process over 15,000 pounds of linen per day, often rely heavily on tunnel

washers.

Drying

In this stage, the clean linen is dried, ironed and folded. Some items, such as towels and

blankets, are put through a dryer until they are no longer damp, then sent to mechanical folders. "Wet

work" items, such as sheets are sent through steam-powered ironers which dry, press and fold them.

Dryers use hot air and mechanical action to evaporate the moisture and chemicals from the linen prior to

folding. Heated air is forced through pores into a spinning central cylinder called the drum. As the

cylinder constantly spins, the linen inside tumbles, exposing the surface area to heat which evaporates

the moisture. The air temperature must be carefully controlled. If it isn't hot enough, the linen won't be

thoroughly dried. If it is too hot, the linen may over dry, the product and creating a fire hazard.

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Ironing

Ironers use heavy steam-heated rollers to dry the linen while pressing out wrinkles. Sheets,

pillow cases, tablecloths and napkin directly goes into the flat irons. Guest clothing and uniform s are

finished on various steam presses.

Folding

Folders use mechanical action to fold the linen into shapes that are easily stored and handled.

Folders come in two varieties: large-piece for blankets and other large items, and small-piece for

smaller items such as towels or pads. The more compact the shape into which the item is folded,the

greater the amount of linen that can be packed into a limited storage space. Some items, such as wash

cloths must be packaged by hand.

Packaging

In this step, the processed linen is prepared for delivery. Individual orders are filled, based on

the needs and requests of the laundry's customers and then sent to the laundry's main distribution points

and storage areas. Linen not used for orders is placed in storage areas, giving a reserve of clean laundry.

Distribution

In this step, trained delivery people transport the clean linen back to the customers. This is a

skilled position, since the delivery person must have a thorough knowledge of both laundry operation

and the principles of good customer service. In hospitals, delivery people must be familiar with patient

relations, policies confidentiality and hospice. Large institutions will usually employ several full-time

delivery employees who are known as valet.

HANDLINGGUEST LAUNDRY

• Guest Laundry desk attendant Valet

• Calls (assigns valet) (proceeds to room)

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• Spotter Sorter/Marker Valet & Guest

• (Remove strain ) (Sorts & marks) (Tally laundry)

• Washer man / Drycleaner Pressman Packer

• (Wash or dry clean) (Iron clothes) (Packs or hangs)

• Guest Desk attendant Valet

• (Receives clothes) (Get involves) (To delivers clothes)

Guest Calls

Dealing with guest laundry is one of the major responsibilities of the house keeping department.

Guest may avail of laundry service by their telephoning the housekeeping desk and room attendant is

sent to collect the laundry. If the laundry is on premise valet runner will collect the laundry. Generally

laundry must be picked up on time, laundered and delivered back to the guest on time without any mix

ups .Usually guest laundry clothes are collected in the morning and given back in the evening. In hotels,

which offer this service, the lists are left in the bedroom, together with laundry bags. .The guest is

expected to place the soiled linen in the laundry bags, fill the laundry forms and handover to valet . In

charge person fills the column “Guest Count” mentioning the number of each item and the expected

cost of each set of items. When linen is sent to be laundered, it goes through six stages. The first three

stages are called "soiled side" operations, since they occur before the linen is actually washed. The last

three are called "clean side" operations, since they involve the handling of clean linen. Laundry desk

attendant is a person who receives the call and notes the name of the guest and room number and alerts

the valet.

Valet Service

Most hotel provide valet service ,the valet is the term given in hotels for those who collect and

deliver laundry from guest rooms, then tallies the guest count with his own physical count and notes the

number in the column “house count”. Valet person makes sure that the laundry list has the guest’s

name, room number, date, urgency of service and his /her signature. Valet verify himself against the list

if they does not match, the guest is requested by the valet to rectify the mistake .Valet are responsible

for returning the clean guest clothes.

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The usual laundry service for in - house guests is referred to as normal service and entails

laundry being collected from guest before 10.a.m and returned by evening. On week days,there are no

additional charges for this service apart from the rate specified in the laundry list. On Sundays and

holidays, the normal service rate is charged at 25 % extra .hotels have a provision for an express

service, which takes about 2-3 hours. Guests are usually charged 50 % extra or double the rate.

Lay out of Laundry

Planning the layout of a laundry, consider the workflow and wherever possible ensure that the

plan does not hinder the smooth flow of operations. To reduce turnaround time between loads, ease of

loading and unloading equipment must be ensured – area for accumulating and sorting linen should be

located close to the washer extractor; dryers should be adjacent to the washer extractor, to save time and

employee effort; hinges on the washer extractors and the dryers are adjustable and can be placed on the

right or left side of the door, so the proper choice must be made in accordance with the laundry layout in

order to avoid employees having to walk around the open door to get from one machine to the next; the

folding area should be located near the area where laundered linen is stored.

When positioning laundry equipment, the following must be considered:

➢ Entrances and Exits

➢ Support columns and beams

➢ Space between adjacent machines and adequate space between the back of the machine and the

wall which is essential to facilitate servicing and repair.

➢ Power points for electrical supply and the required voltage. (gas and steam supply in many other

parts of the world)

➢ Water supply lines with adequate pressure (10 gallons per Kg of linen approx.) and preventing

the occurrence of ‘water hammer’

➢ Hot water supply lines must utilize heavy duty heating equipment which in recent times is being

substituted by the use of solar energy.

➢ Water softening

➢ Also the removal of iron, manganese and sulphur to eliminate staining and enhance the action of

the detergent.

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➢ Drain locations and proper drainage system that will keep up with the rapid discharge rate of

modern equipment. This is best met by a drain trough and the normal floor drain is also installed

to deal with overflows.

➢ A separate section to deal with guest laundry/valet service.

➢ Local code for restrictions/ permit requirements.

➢ Energy and water conservation, as well as safety factors, also affect decisions regarding the

selection of equipment.

➢ Area must accommodate the total number of staff working at the busiest times (approx.1 staff

for 40Kg of laundry)

➢ The size of the property and the type of services offered are major considerations for planning.

As technology strives to automate every facet of hotel operations, computerized laundry systems

have been around for quite a while. The hotel cannot sell a single room or a cover in the restaurant

without the use of textile products. With the realization of the potential benefits of cleaning up the

laundry operations, more and more streamlining processes are being introduced. Apart from exploring

the options of localized laundry operations that service multiple properties, outsourcing laundry

services, water reclamation and heat recovery systems to reduce hotel energy consumption, some hotels

are experimenting with Windows-based laundry software and ozone washing.

Stain Removal

A stain is defined as a discolouration brought about by contact with a foreign substance which is

difficult to remove.

Like first-aid in an accident, the treatment of stains requires immediate action. Some of the first-

aid treatments include blotting, grease absorbent, salt absorbent and often a cold water rinse.

It is virtually impossible to guarantee stain removal, as the agents that are used to remove the

stain often have an adverse effect on the fibre contained in the fabric.

However, a set of general rules for stain removal may serve as a guideline.

• Identify the stain

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• Deal with the stain as quickly as possible. Remove excess staining material immediately.

• Test the stain removal agent in an inconspicuous place.

• Avoid hot water with an unknown stain.

• Use simple methods before resorting to the use of chemicals.

• Use milder agents then stronger ones.

• Repeated mild applications are better than one strong one.

• Ensure that the stain removal agent has been neutralized or washed away.

There are two major factors which are responsible for ensuring correct stain removal. One is the

stain removal agent and the other is the method of stain removal. It is important to select the right stain

removal agent. However, this becomes complex due to the many fibres and fibre blends that are used in

the fabric since they may get damaged by the agents used.

Identification of stains

Identification of stains helps in selecting the reagents and procedures to be used for stain removal.

Stains can be classified based on:-

• Based on colour– for example, a red stain can be of tomato, lipstick, nail polish, blood etc.

• Based on Texture-by touching surface of stain it can be deduced:- If hard it may be an egg; if

soft it may be oil, ghee, lipstick; if sticky can be of glue and gum.

• Based on Smell– every stain has a distinct smell like eggs, medicine, food, perfume

Classification of Stains

Based on source:-

• Animal stains– such as blood, eggs, milk, meat etc

• Vegetable stains– these are caused by plant products such as tea, coffee, juices, fruit etc

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• Grease and oil stains– These stains are from grease or some pigmented matter eg. Butter, oil,

paint, tar, grease.

• Mineral stain– These stains are caused by rust, writing ink, medicines.

• Dye stains- Caused by henna, tobacco, chocolate, tea, coffee etc.

• Wax stains– Caused by nail polish, lipstick and shoe polish

• Acidic stains– these include vinegar, perspiration, urine, medicines etc.

Based on degree of absorption:-

• Absorbed stains– the stains which penetrate the fabric completely like ink, tea, coffee, syrup

• Built up– These stains which leave residue on top of fabric like lipstick, nail polish, chewing

gum, chocolate

• Compound– when it is a combination of both of above

Stain removing agents:-

There are five main stain removing agents: –

• Organic solvents

• Acids

• Alkalis

• Bleaches

• Enzymes

i. Organic solvents – These dissolve grease and require care because they are inflammable and

harmful if inhaled. Generally, it does not harm any fibres or dyes. When using, an absorbent cloth

should be placed underneath and work from the outside of the stain inwards.

E.g. Flammable-benzene, acetone, amyl acetate, methylated spirit, white spirit,

Non inflammable-Carbon tetrachloride(Ccl4), Perchloroethylene (PERK), trichloroethylene. These

take out stains like chewing gum (after scraping), grease, oil paint, lipstick, ballpoint ink, etc.

ii. Acids –Dilute acids can be used on most white fabrics, but most coloured ones get affected. They

affect all animal fibres. It is always better to use weak acidic solutions several times than using

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stronger acidic solution. After treatment, wash using detergent or thorough rinsing should be done.

eg. Acetic acid, Citric Acid, Oxalic Acid.

Acids remove metal stains (especially iron moulds, rust and iron stain left by blood).

iii. Alkalis – Alkalis remove old and heavy vegetable stains (tea, coffee, wine, etc.) from white linen or

cotton effectively. Animal fibres may be adversely affected by it. E.g. soda, borax.

iv. Bleaches – Bleaching is the process in which a coloured substance is changed into a colourless one.

Bleaching weakens fabrics; hence extreme care should be taken. Oxidizing bleaches liberate oxygen

from the stain and render it colourless. Most commonly used is Sodium Hypochlorite. It removes

obstinate stains in white cotton and linen but it ‘fixes’ iron stains. Hydrogen Peroxide is slower

acting and is used on white fabrics. Sodium perborate is the bleach present in most detergents and

safe on most fabrics.

Reducing bleaches remove oxygen from the stain and add hydrogen to the coloured stain

rendering it colourless. Sodium hydrosulphite is the most commonly used one. It is used on white

clothes for removal of iron stains and stripping dyes.

v. Enzymes – Enzymes like powdered pepsin are used to remove protein stains like egg, perspiration,

blood, etc. at a temperature of 40-50 degrees.

Stain Removal Method

According to mode of action:–

a) Solvent action- Here solvent or water is able to dissolve the stain like ballpoint ink stain.

b) Mechanical action:- This dislodges the stain without dissolving it.

c) Chemical action- Chemicals produce an oxidation or reduction reaction which helps to remove

the stain.

d) Absorption- Certain powders such as fullers earth are able to absorb the stain like grease and

oil.

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According to method of application:-

a) Drop method- the stained part of the fabric is stretched and small drops of stain removal agents

are poured on it with a dropper.

b) Dip method- The stained area of the fabric is immersed in the stain remover solution. This is the

ideal method when stain is large or if there are many spots on the fabric.

c) Steam method- Stains on wool, silk or any coloured fabric can be removed by steaming. The

stained area is saturated with steam by spreading the cloth over a basin half filled with hot water

into which a small amount of appropriate removal agent has been placed.

d) Sponge method- the stain removal agent is applied on the stained area of the fabric with a

sponge. This is the most frequently used method of stain removal.

Wash Formula or Wash Cycle

The wash formula or cycle is a proper balance using the four basic cleaning factors and will vary

according to the degree and type of soil. Proper sorting and loading will help ensure that the cleaning

factors-time, temperature. Mechanical action and chemical action are used to design a balanced washing

formula.

The basic steps of a washing formula are:

Flush : (2-3 minutes) This step in the wash process is designed to prepare the laundry load for the

washing procedure by loosening soil and heating up the load. Classifications and soil content will

directly affect the time, temperature and chemicals required for this step in order to achieve optimal

outcomes though items are generally flushed at medium temperature and a high water level. The flush

will break-up and remove gross soils so that the subsequent steps are effective.

Break: (5-10 minutes) The term break is derived from the fact that it is at this point in the wash

formula that the bulk of the soil is broken loose from the fabric and suspended in the washing solution

with the help of a highly alkaline product that has been added at a medium temperature and low water

levels. This is an optional step.

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Suds: ( 5-8 minutes) The actual wash cycle is known as ‘suds’ when the articles are agitated in hot

water and low water levels. The detergent is added at this suds stage.

Carryover Suds/Intermediate Rinse: (2-5 minutes) This step usually employs no chemicals but can

remove or flush residual soils that were not removed during the break/suds. Its main function is to lower

the soil and alkalinity concentration, usually prior to the bleaching step. It rinses linen at the same

temperature as the suds step.

Bleach: (5-8 minutes) This step is used for whitening or to discolor stains. Bleach is added at high

temperature and a low water level. Sodium Hypochlorite is the most commonly used. This step is also

affected by time, temperature and mechanical action. For most operations, sanitizing and disinfection is

accomplished here.

Rinse: (3-5 minutes) Once all the washing and bleaching is accomplished, we can now begin to rinse

out and flush the chemicals and soils out of the goods. Typically this is a high water step and the

temperature gradually decreases through each rinse. Rinses usually average around two minutes with up

to three rinses per formula.

Intermediate Extract: (2-3 minutes) This is an optional high-speed spin that removes detergent and

soil from the linen. It should not be used after the suds step to avoid driving the soil back into the fabric

and also should not be used on no-iron fabrics except at lower temperatures.

Sour or Softener: (3-5 minutes) Often called a “finish step,” the softener and/or sour is added to this

step to condition the goods for removal. The chemicals added here will directly affect the quality of the

goods after being processed. Starch/sizing replaces the sour/softener step when cotton or polyester items

need to be stiffened. This cycle runs at medium temperature and low water levels.

Extract: (2-12 minutes) This removes excess moisture from laundered items through a high speed spin

prior to drying. The length of the spin depends on various factors such as fabric type, extract speed etc.

This step is also important to reduce the weight of the linen for ease of movement to the dryers.

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FLOW PROCESS OF LAUNDERING

Fig 1.6

Collection

Collection of linen may be done in the Linen Room if the laundry is off-site but is usually in the

laundry itself, if the laundry is on-premises. Certain linen items are collected separately. For example,

kitchen uniforms or dusters are collected separately, as are butchery aprons and dusters, because they

have a specific type of soil. Similarly, in a hospital, linen from the surgical ward would be collected

separately. The linen is usually packaged in canvas bags lined with polyvinyl. Eyelets on the rim of the

bag facilitate passing a nylon cord through, which can be tightened in order to shut the opening of the

bag. In some cases elasticized net bags called ‘skips’ are used to collect and carry linen. Trolleys are

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most popular for transportation and the collapsible wire cart can be used to transport clean as well as

soiled linen. If planned at the construction stage, an in-built chute is used for transporting linen from the

floor pantries. It is preferable to put linen into canvas bags before dropping it down the chute so that

wear and tear is reduced.

Arrival

On arrival, linen must be dealt with as quickly as possible. There must be a separate section for guest

laundry that is usually handled by the most experienced staff. Processing linen for laundering as quickly

as possible is necessary:

– to ensure that linen items are available as and when required.

– to avoid transfer of stains and to prevent stains from becoming permanent.

– so that it does not provide a breeding ground for bacteria and pests.

– to prevent the formation of mildew on damp articles particularly bath linen.

– to reduce the possibility of linen getting misplaced or lost.

Sorting

Gloves may be used when handling or sorting linen. Sorting is carried out according to the type

of fabric and item, colour as well as the degree and type of soil. Sorting is done to separate those articles

that need dry cleaning from those that will go through the normal wash process. Those that need

mending or stain removal will be separated so that they can be dealt with accordingly. Also, different

articles take a different wash process in terms of temperature of water, type of laundering agent, length

of wash cycle, whether hydro-extraction should be done and if so, the length of the hydro-extraction

cycle. It takes less effort to pre-sort linen than to post-sort washed linen which is 50% heavier in weight

due to water retention. Post-sorting is often essential in healthcare processes.

Marking

Marking may be temporary (guest laundry) or permanent (monogramming of hotel linen). It is

the temporary marking that is carried out at this stage. Most good establishments have a marking

machine that attaches a heat sealed tape in an inconspicuous place. The tag has scope for six characters

and is intended to indicate the initials of the guest as well as the room number. It provides a clear

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identification for correct billing, and although it does not come off in the normal wash process, it can be

peeled off if so desired.

Weighing

Weighing is carried out to conform to the capacity of the washing machine. In case of

overloading, there is reduced centrifugal action because the linen articles are too tightly packed in the

drum. As a result, there is inadequate friction and the deeply embedded soil is not removed so the wash

process is ineffective. Certain synthetics develop creases as a result of overloading that are difficult to

get rid of in the subsequent ironing process. Repeated overloading can cause the machine to break

down.

In case of under loading, there is inadequate friction because the linen articles are too far apart It

causes a good deal of wastage in terms of time, labour, laundry agents, water and power.

Many modern machines have sensors that can gauge not only the load but also the length of the

cycle, temperature of water, water level, the type and amount of laundry agent and when it will be

dispensed in the wash cycle. This is highly beneficial in the conservation of water and energy as well as

reducing wear and tear on the linen articles.

Loading

This is often done manually or with a certain degree of automation. Shovel type cranes may be

used for lifting and depositing linen, thereby providing complete automation by eliminating the need for

handling by operators. Alternatively, weighed linen in bags is transported along a track and directed to

the opening of the washer-extractor with the help of a nylon cord. A lock in the lower half of the bag is

released, dropping the soiled linen into the washer-extractor. Machines that tilt provide ease in both

loading as well as unloading. Machines may be top loading, front loading or side loading.

Washing

This is the stage during which the actual cleaning of the items takes place. It is designed to

perform three basic functions i.e. remove soil from the textiles and suspend it in solution so that it can

be discharged from the machine through the drain.

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Rinsing

Once the wash cycle is completed, rinsing becomes essential. A running rinse with an open drain

is more effective but a larger volume of water is utilized. Rinsing is carried out at least twice so as to

ensure removal of residual laundry agents and suspended dirt. It may also help to lower the temperature

of the wash load by using a cold water rinse.

Hydro-extraction

Draining followed by hydro-extraction will remove excess moisture through centrifugal force by

spinning the load at a high speed. The absorbency of the fabric affects the length of the cycle (6 to 8

minutes) and the residue of moisture. The most efficient extraction for cotton takes place at

temperatures higher than 38o C but lower than 55o C so that they are not too hot to handle. Polyesters

and blends should be extracted at a temperature below 38o C to prevent wrinkling.

The compact mass of hydro-extracted clothes is referred to as ‘cheese’.

Unloading

Transferring washed linen from the Hydro-extractor to the Tumble dryer is a difficult task

because of the added weight of moisture. Articles may be manually removed and put into trolleys.

Tilting and dumping machines reduce the physical effort of manual unloading. A laundry cart can be

positioned under the door and a pushbutton-operated to rotate the cylinder and empty its contents.

Alternatively, the machine can unload onto a conveyor belt that will transport the linen to the next set of

operations.

Tumble Drying

This process is capable of rendering the linen completely dry by blowing hot air between 40o C

to 60o C onto the articles as they are slowly rotated in the drum. For articles that are susceptible to

damage by heat, there is the option of simply airing by circulating air at room temperature. To avoid

wrinkles and the risk of spontaneous combustion, many dryers have a cool-down cycle at predetermined

intervals. The process of tumble-drying creates a good deal of wear and tear on the fabric as particles of

43

lint come off the fabric in the drying process. The time taken is approx. 30 minutes depending on

whether the article is to be completely or partially dried.

Finishing

For those articles that require a pressed finish, ironing and pressing are usual. Articles like

blankets, towels, candlewick bedspreads, hosiery, etc. that do not require a pressed finish are only

tumble-dried.

Folding

This can be done by machine but in most cases is carried out manually. The use of a folding

stand helps minimize this otherwise very labour-intensive operation. Manual folding makes it possible

to achieve the desired fold as well as ensure quality control. Employees in this area are the one ones

who ‘reject’ stained linen and are a good source for ascertaining what types and quantities of stains

commonly occur. Correct folding is important to the appearance of the article and makes it convenient

to store and use.

Storage

This should be properly done in a well–designed storage space. Linen should be allowed a rest

period to recuperate before it is used again. The lifespan of linen is greatly increased if the proper

rotation of stock is carried out, thereby ensuring a ‘rest period’ between uses. As a general rule, at any

given time, approximately 50% of the total linen inventory should be on the shelves, 25% in use and

25% in processing. The storage area must be isolated from the soiled linen and kept clean.

Transfer & Use

The linen is issued to the concerned department for use. Since the transfer of clean linen is

usually done by linen trolleys, it is important to keep the trolleys clean. The linen is utilized for the

purpose intended and the cycle begins all over again.

44

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

45

Primary Data Secondary Data

REASEARCH METHODOLOGY

The methodology pertaining the study entitled ‘‘MARKET FEASIBILITY OF STARTNG A

COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY IN THRISSUR” is being carried out under the following

Collection of Data

Preparation and finalization Books

of questions

Website

Conducting interview and Survey

News Papers

Collection and Recording of data

Magazines

Journals

46

1. COLLECTION OF DATA

The data collection for my research is carried out by primary and secondary data.

(a) Primary data

The Primary data is collected from (St. James Mission hospital Chalakudy) Primary data

are the data which the researcher collects through various methods like interviews,

surveys, questionnaires etc.

(b) Secondary data

The Secondary data is collected from various resources which is related to the topic. The

researcher collects the data through various sources like newspapers, books, journals,

magazines, websites, and government records.

47

DATA ANALYSIS

48

DATA ANALYSIS

The analysis of data pertaining to the “MARKET FEASIBILITY OF STARTING A

COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY IN THRISSUR” is analyses and represented given below.

1. TABULATION OF DATA

Tabulation of data is conversion of collected data’s in to table format. so, it can be simply

called a table. Table is a means of arranging data in rows and columns. The use of tables is

pervasive throughout all communications research and data analysis. All collected data of my

research was tabulated for analysis.

2. ANALYSIS OF DATA

Analysis of data is a process of inspecting, transforming and modeling data with the goal of

discovering useful information, suggesting conclusions and supporting decision-making.

Sample: Standard Hotels and Hospitals in Thrissur

Sample Size: 5

49

1. Laundry items per day for Hotels

SL

No.

Hotels

Laundry Items

1

Trichur Towers

55 Nos

2

Hyatt Regency Thrissur

64 Nos

3

Park Residency

50 Nos

4

The Garuda Hotels

60 Nos

5

Hotel Elite International

65 Nos

Table 1.1

50

Fig 1.7

Laundry items per day

Based upon the hotels the laundry items per day can vary. When Hotel Elite International have

72items per day, Trichur Towers only have 55 items per day. And the no. of items also varies in

other hotels like Hyatt Regency Thrissur, Park Residency and The Garuda Hotels. The

minimum laundry items per day in a hotel can range from a 50-70 items.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Trichur Towers Hyatt RegencyThrissur

Park Residency The GarudaHotels

Hotel EliteInternational

Hotels

Laundry Items

51

2. Average laundry cost per item

SL

No.

Hotels

Blanket

Bed sheet

Pillow

Cover

Other items

1

Trichur Towers

135/-

32/-

25/-

10/-

2

Hyatt Regency

Thrissur

130/-

30/-

27/-

10/-

3

Park Residency

138/-

35/-

20/-

15/-

4

The Garuda Hotels

132/-

30/-

25/-

12/-

5

Hotel Elite

International

135/-

35/-

28/-

15/-

Table 1.2

52

Fig 1.8

The average laundry cost is different based upon the type of laundry. The laundry can include

Bed sheet, Blanket, and pillow cover. A blanket can cost nearly Rs.130-Rs.140/- item. But for a

Bedsheet it will cost nearly to Rs.30-Rs.35/- item. And for a pillow cover it may be nearly

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Trichur Towers Hyatt RegencyThrissur

Park Residency The GarudaHotels

Hotel EliteInternational

Hotels

Blanket

Bed sheet

Pillow Cover

Other items

53

Rs.25/- item. The laundry cost may vary based on the size and also the quality of the material. It

can also vary based upon hotels.

3. Will you think of change in laundry if cost I reduced 20

percentage

Hotels

Yes/ No

Trichur Towers

Yes

Hyatt Regency Thrissur

Yes

Park Residency

No

The Garuda Hotels

Yes

Hotel Elite International

Yes

Table 1.3

Change in cost reduced by 20%

54

If the cost is reduced by 20% most of them wish for a change in the service. It is only the Hotel

Park Residency that doesn’t need a change even if the cost is reduced by 20%.

4. Time of delivery of laundry in hotels

Hotels

Yes/ No

Trichur Towers

72 hrs

Hyatt Regency Thrissur

48 hrs

Park Residency

72 hrs

The Garuda Hotels

72 hrs

Hotel Elite International

72 hrs

Table 1.4

55

Fig 1.9

The time of delivery in hotels are different. Most of the hotels have 72hrs of delivery time.

Hotels Hyatt Regency Thrissur have 48hrs of delivery time.

072

48

72

72

72Hotels

Trichur Towers

Hyatt Regency Thrissur

Park Residency

The Garuda Hotels

Hotel Elite International

56

HOSPITALS

1. Laundry items per day for Hospitals

Table 1.5

SL

No.

Hospitals

Laundry Items

1

ST James Hospital Chalakudy

26000 Nos

2

SH Hospital Pullur

950 Nos

3

Elite Mission Hospital Thrissur

2150 Nos

4

Aswani Hospital Ltd.

1700 Nos

5

Amala Hospital Thrissur

1340 Nos

57

Fig 2.0

Hospitals can have lot of laundry items per day. The no.of laundry items will be based on the no.

of rooms in hospitals. And no.of rooms may vary depending on the hospitals. For example here

St. James Hospital has more no.of laundry items and the least comes for SH Hospital, Pullur. It is

based on the no.of rooms in hospital.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

ST JamesHospital

Chalakudy

SH HospitalPullur

Elite MissionHospitalThrissur

AswaniHospital Ltd.

AmalaHospitalThrissur

2600

950

2150

1700

1340

Hospital

Laundry Items

58

2. Average laundry cost per day

SL

No.

Hospitals

Average Laundry cost

1

ST James Hospital Chalakudy

46800/-

2

SH Hospital Pullur

17100/-

3

Elite Mission Hospital Thrissur

38700/-

4

Aswani Hospital Ltd.

30600/-

5

Amala Hospital Thrissur

24120/-

Table 1.6

59

Fig 2.1

The average laundry cost can start from a minimum of Rs.10000/-. It may be different upon the

hospitals. The avg. laundry cost also depends upon the no.of items and the quality of the

material.

46800

17100

38700

30600

24120

Hospitals

ST James Hospital Chalakudy

SH Hospital Pullur

Elite Mission Hospital Thrissur

Aswani Hospital Ltd.

Amala Hospital Thrissur

60

3. Will you think of change in laundry if cost is reduced 20 percentage

Hospitals

Yes/ No

ST James Hospital Chalakudy

No

SH Hospital Pullur

Yes

Elite Mission Hospital Thrissur

Yes

Aswani Hospital Ltd.

No

Amala Hospital Thrissur

Yes

Table 1.7

Most of them wish for a change if the cost is reduced by 20%. Here there are only two hospitals

that doesn't wish for change.

61

4. Time of delivery of laundry in hospitals

Hospitals

Yes/ No

ST James Hospital Chalakudy

72 hrs

SH Hospital Pullur

72 hrs

Elite Mission Hospital Thrissur

48 hrs

Aswani Hospital Ltd.

72 hrs

Amala Hospital Thrissur

96 hrs

Table 1.8

62

Fig 2.2

All the hospitals work for more than 48hrs.The time of delivery varies upon the hospitals.

72

72

48

72

96

Hospitals

ST James Hospital Chalakudy

SH Hospital Pullur

Elite Mission Hospital Thrissur

Aswani Hospital Ltd.

Amala Hospital Thrissur

63

LIMITATIONS

64

LIMITATIONS

❖ Due to pandemic Situation very difficult to collect data’s from standard Hospitals

❖ Lack of guests coming in five star hotels in Thrissr

❖ Most of commercial laundry was closed

❖ Lack of infrastructures

❖ Lack of labour resource

65

FINDINGS

66

FINDINGS

• Out of in premises and off premises laundry almost all the hospitals and hotels have off

premise laundry

• There are 30 above commercial laundries in Thrissur .

• The use of machinery saves time.

• Needs only less labour work.

• It is a income earning business since hospitals and some hotels could rely upon this in the

future.

• Hotels will depend on this only for a least amount.

• It also gives importance for customer satisfaction.

• Less charge and more income.

• The laundry items per day in hotels can range from 50 - 80 items.

• The average cost for laundry items will be different.

• Cost can depend upon the quality and the size of material.

• The laundry items include Blanket, Bed sheet, Pillow cover and other items.

• If the cost is reduced by 20% there is a wish for change in most of the hospitals and

hotels.

• The time of delivery is more than 48hrs in all hotels.

• According to the rooms in hospitals the no. of laundry items will be different.

• The average laundry cost is decided based on the no. of items and the quality of material.

67

CONCLUSION

68

CONCLUSION

The above findings make to the conclusion that focusing on hospitals it can make a chance of

profit. It offers a bulk load of laundry. Hotels also gives a chance of profit in this sector. Most of

the hotels are offering off premise laundries. According to the quality and size of material the

average cost also varies. Hospitals can offer more laundry items because of more no. of rooms

and the no. of washable items. Focusing on both hospitals and hotels it helps to earn more

income. The use of machines in this sector helps to save the time. Machines also help to reduce

the labor work. It provides steady income.

69

APENDIX

70

APENDIX

1. Do you have off premises laundry?

2. How much laundry items do you have per day?

3. How much is your average laundry cost per day?

4. Are you fully satisfied with your present laundry?

5. Do you think for a change in present laundry?

6. Do you go for a better laundry at the same cost what you are spending?

7. What is your time of delivery of your laundry?

8. Will you think of a change if your cost is reduced by 20%?

9. Which type of chemical should be used?

71

BIBOLOGRAPHY

72

BIBOLOGRAPHY

• https://www.thelaundrybag.co.in/home/

• https://www.bdslaundry.com/

• https://www.hydrofinity.com/commercial-laundry

• https://www.supersuds.com/

• http://www.quickclean.co.in/about-us/

• https://lowlaundry.com/

• https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/india/hyatt-regency-

thrissur/cokrt

• https://www.thenattikabeach.com/

• https://stjameshospital.co.in/

• https://www.amalaims.org/departments.php