Laundering & care guide

Commercial Laundry Realities

Contract linens face a much harsher life cycle than retail bedding. They are subjected to high-temperature washes, heavy-duty pressing, and continuous rotation. To maximize your investment, your laundry operations (whether in-house or outsourced) must adhere to proper protocols.

Best Practices for Longevity

• Rest Periods: Always allow linen to "rest" for at least 24 hours between washing/ironing and being placed back on a bed. This allows the cotton fibres to rehydrate from the atmosphere, significantly reducing tearing and extending lifespan.
• Chemical Dosing: Ensure your laundry chemicals are strictly calibrated. Excessive use of alkali boosters or optical brighteners will artificially weaken fibres and lead to premature greying or yellowing.
• Thermal Disinfection: If washing at thermal disinfection temperatures (e.g. 71°C), ensure cool-down cycles are properly implemented to avoid thermal shock, which permanently creases and damages the fabric structure.
• Over-drying: Towels and linens should not be bone-dry when leaving the tumble dryer. Over-drying bakes the fibres, making them brittle and harsh to the touch. Towels should retain about 3-5% moisture upon removal.

Ironing & Pressing

Flatwork ironers should be operated at the correct temperature for the fabric blend (lower for polycottons to prevent melting the polyester, higher for 100% cotton). Linen must be fed into the ironer with correct residual moisture (around 15-20%) to achieve a crisp finish without scorching.