FABRIC
Fabric are used in a great variety of ways throughout an establishment, and may be chosen for their decorative value, for their comfort, warmth or coolness, their protective qualities, their durability and even for hygienic reasons.Basically, fabrics are made from fibres which may be natural-cotton, linen, wool and silk being the most frequently used natural fibres, or manmade, for example, rayon, nylon, teryiene and acrilan.
Of the most frequently used natural fibres, cotton and linen are of vegetable origin, while silk and wool are of animal origin. NATURAL FIBRES
Vegetable fibres
Cotton
- is the most frequently used natural fibre, and is obtained from the seed of the cotton plant. The length of the fibre varies from 1.5 cm-5 cm, and the longest fibres comes from the West Indian and Egyptian cotton plants.
- Cotton fibres are flat and ribbonlike, and have a natural twist which aids the spinning and makes a strong thread.
- Cotton fibres are good conductor of heat, but they have a slight hairiness and the air held between the "hair" is a bad conductor, so cotton materials have a slight feeling of warmth, and this may be increased when the material is brushed or teased since more air is then held.
- The hairiness of the fibre accounts for cotton material being unsuitable for polishing glass, as linters or "bits" are left on the surface, and for materials soiling more easily than ones made from smoother fibres, e.g. linen.
- Cotton has little resilience so creases occur in the fabrics made from it, and cotton yarn used for the pile of carpets soon has a flattened appearance.
- Mercerised cotton is produced by treating the yarn or fabric with caustic soda, under conditions where the fibres are stretched. Mercerisation results in smoother, more rodlike fibres which have a gloss or sheen, and it gives cotton a greater affinity for dyes and improves its strength.
Linen
Jute, ramie, hemp and sisalis obtained from the stem of the flax plant, and the fibres vary between 1/2-1 m in length. The length of the fibre enables a fine, strong yarn to be spun. The fibres are smooth, straight and almost solid, and these factors account for the chief differences between cotton and linen fabrics. The smoothness of the fibres gives good dirt and abrasion resistance, so linen fabric being cool to the touch. The smoothness and the straightness of the fibres give linen its lustre, which can be increased by mercerisation, when its strength and dye affinity are also increased. The solidity of the fibres makes linen much heavier than cotton. Kapok
- are also natural fibres of vegetable origin, the first three coming from the stems of plants and the last from the leaves of a plant, but they are not used in fabrics to the same extent as cotton and linen.
Animal fibres
- is obtained from the seed of the kapok tree. The fibre is smooth, light and lustrous. It is used for the filling of pillows and cushions.
WoolSilk
- normally means the fibre from the fleece of the sheep, but fibres from other animals, e.g. horse, camel, llama, and goats are also used.
- Most wool is the yearly growth from the living animal, that is, fleece or virgin wool, but "skin" or "pulled" wool may be obtained from the bodies of dead sheep, and remanufactured wools may be obtained from used wool.
- Wool fibres vary in length from about 4-40 cm and they also vary in diameter, some being very much finer than others.
- They have a natural crimp or wave, and this gives wool its elasticity and resilience, enabling it to resist crushing, and making it particularly suitable for carpets and upholstery.
- The fibres are not smooth but have overlapping scales which enable air to be held between the fibres, and woollen material to feel warm.
- Wool cannot be dyed to the same standards of uniformity or fastness as vegetable and man-made fibres, and unlike these it is attacked by moth. Wool can be mothproofed, but care must be taken to see that the proofing withstands any cleaning process.
- is obtained from the cocoon spun by the cultivated silkworm, in the form of long filaments which may be on an average 274-456 metres long.
- The cocoon may consist of up to 3 Km of filament, but this cannot be unwound continuously. The filaments are smooth and tubelike, with no irregularities and the beautiful lustre of silk fabrics is due to these properties.
- Silk is stronger than cotton ( i.e. it has greater tensile strength ) ; it is elastic and resilient and so it does not crush easily. It is, however, weakened when wet, and it disintegrates in sunlight. All silk materials have elegance but due to their expense, their use is normally confined to luxury establishments.
Regenerated fibres
MAN-MADE FIBRES
RayonSynthetic fibres
- The term "rayon" often covers viscose, acetate and cuprammonium fibres, but while viscose and cuprammonium rayons have many properties in common, they differ considerably from rayon acetate.
- Viscose rayon filaments consist of pure regenerated cellulose obtained from wood pulp or cotton linters.
- The basic properties of viscose rayon can be modified during manufacture and a number of modified rayon fibres are available.
Synthetic fibres may be grouped according to their chemical composition, for example:Nylon
- Polyamide fibres, e.g. nylon
- Polyester fibres, e.g. teryiene
- Acrylic fibres, e.g. acrilan
- Polyvinyl fibres, e.g. saran
- Polyolefin fibres: polyethylene, e.g. couriene , polypropylene, e.g. ulstron
- Their individual names, however, prove confusing as different manufacturers give their own trade names to fibres of similar properties; thus Perlon is the German brand of nylon, and Dacron the American terylene. Most synthetic fibres are produced as continuous filaments which may be cut into staple form; these may, in some cases, be "bulked" to give a softer and warmer handle.
Teryiene
- is a polyamide fibre and is produced in various forms with melting points varying from 185'C to 250'C e.g. the heat from cigarette ends.
- Nylon is not normally harmed by dilute chemical and does not crease easily, but when creases appear, they are difficult to remove.
- Nylon is electrostatic and so attracts dirt, and should be washed frequently ; it is, however, easy to wash and dry, because of its low moisture absorbency. Its great strength, elasticity and abrasion resistance make it very suitable for upholstery fabrics and carpets.
Acrilan
- is a polyester fibre. It melts at 243'C and has a very low moisture absorbency which makes dyeing difficult and terylene more electrostatic than nylon or the acrylics. It has a very good resistance to abrasion which even so, is inferior to nylon.
Orlon
- is an acrylic fibre used in staple form. It is the mist wool-like of the synthetic fibres having a fluffy, soft warm handle, good resilience and crease recovery. It absorbs little moisture, melts at 246'C and has good resistance to chemicals and sunlight. It is less resistant to abrasion than nylon and terylene but it is better than wool. It is used for blankets, upholstery fabrics and in the manufacture of carpets.
- is an acrylic fibre and has properties similar to Acrilan, except that it has excellent resistance to sunlight, and is therefore very suitable for curtain fabrics.
The identification of textile fibres1. Appearance, feel and length;
2. Appearance under the microscope;
3. Behaviour to heat and flame;
4. Behaviour and solubility in certain acids, alkalis and organic solvents,
5. Reaction to colour staining solutions, such as ShirlastainFabrics
In the manufacture of textiles there are several standard weaves, e.g. plain, twill, satin, huckaback, damask, pile, etc.Plain weave
In a plain weave, the weft goes over and under alternate warp threads, as in darning. Fabrics made in a plain weave are normally smooth, and their firmness will depend on the number of warp and weft threads per cm, that is, on the closeness of the weave. A close weave gives a strong cloth, but one which tears easily. The weight and appearance of plain weave fabrics vary enormously according to the thickness, character and closeness of the threads, none of which need be the same for warp and weft.Twill weave
In a twill weave, the weft threads cross the warp at different intervals in the different rows, so that a series of diagonal lines is produced on the surface of the fabrics. Twill sheeting, drill and gabardine are fabrics made in a twill weave.Satin weave
In a satin weave, there are fewer intersections of the warp and weft threads, and the intersections are uniformly distributed. The warp "floats" over, for example, four weft threads and forms the surface of the fabric, i.e. the fabric is warp faced.Figures weaves
Figures weaves are those which introduce a pattern into the fabric. The pattern may be introduced by combining two of the previously mentioned weaves, as in damask, or it may be introduced by the used of coloured threads additional to the foundation cloth, as in brocade or tapestry.Pile weave
In a pile weave, there are tufts or loops of yarn which stand up from the body of the cloth. The tufts or loops are extra warp or weft threads woven at right angles through the foundation cloth. These extra threads form the pile or surface thickness, and they may be cut or uncut. Patterns can be produced by combining cut and uncut piles. Velvet is a cut, warp pile fabric; turkish (terry) towelling is an uncut pile fabric and the pile is on both sides of the material; moquette may be either a cut or uncut pile fabric.
Characteristics and Uses of the More Usual Fabrics
Damask
A figures fabric which, when used for table linen, has the figure or design in weft and the background in warp satin weaves. Both single and double damasks are used for table linen. In single damask, the satin weave is produced by one warp thread going over four and under one weft thread whereas in double damask the warp thread goes over seven or more, and under one weft, and the warp threads are frequently finer than the weft giving a closer, stronger fabric although this is not necessarily so. The essential difference is that the double damask weave gives a clearer design.Felt
A fabric produced from densely matted (felted) wool. It is used under table cloths, and as carpet underlays when it can be impregnated with latex.Gingham
A plain, woven fabric, normally of cotton, with a check or striped design. It is used for bathroom curtains and as dust sheets.Net
A very open or meshed fabric in which the threads may be twisted, knotted or woven together. It is made from many fibres but especially terylene, and is used for glass (sheer) curtains.Percale
A plain woven cotton fabric made from Egyptian cotton. It is used for bed linen and was first used in American hotels.Sateen
A cotton fabric of weft satin weave used for lining curtains, and for the underside of quilts as it is not as slippery as many fabrics chosen for the top.Satin
A smooth, lustrous fabric woven in satin weave (warp faced). Originally it was of all silk, but now many fibres are used giving rayon satin, cotton satin, etc. It comes in a variety of weights and may be used for curtains, bedspreads and cushion covers.Taffeta
A plain woven fabric with a slightly thicker weft than warp producing a very fine rib. Originally it was all silk but now more generally contains rayon or other man-made fibres. It is used for bedspreads and cushion covers.Tapestry
A closely woven, patterned fabric in which the pattern is formed by coloured weft threads. Originally it was hand woven and all wool, now wool, cotton, rayon or mixtures are used and the name is given to many closely woven, patterned fabrics. It is used for upholstery and the lighter weights can be used for curtains and loose covers.Towelling
A reversible uncut cotton or linen pile fabric of turkish (terry) weave and used for towels and bathmats.Velvet
A cut, warp pile fabric in which the pile is woven over wires and cut. It was originally all silk, but now cotton and many of the man-made fibres are used when it should be called cotton pile velvet, rayon pile velvet, etc. There is great variety in weight, and it is used for upholstery, curtains and cushions.
MOST COMMON STAINS IN WASHABLE FABRICS
Although many scientifically worded stain-removal charts are available from detergent and laundry machine r-manufacturers, the instructions below are explicit, easy to follow and works.Test all fabrics for colourfastness and durability before applying any chemicals; either apply the chemical to an inconspicuous part of the fabric or to a similar piece of fabric. Never use water hotter than recommended in fabric-care chart for ordinary laundering use suggested bleach.
Alcoholic
Soak in cold water before stain has a chance to set., sponge with Beverages liquid detergent and rinse, putting a few drops of vinegar in rinse water. Launder. If stain persists, sponge with solution of one part of alcohol to two of water., if that doesn't work, use alcohol full strength.Blood
Soak in cold water-, then wash with detergent in warm water. If stain persists, soak in lukewarm water to which ammonia has been added in the proportion of three tablespoons of ammonia to a gallon of water, for at least half an hour. Then wash with detergent again.Cosmetics
Sponge with heavy detergent suds. Repeat until all sign of the stain has gone. On some fabrics, letting the material dry between applications of detergent may produce better results. if cosmetics are greasy, follow directions for removing grease stains.Egg
Be careful never to use hot water 1 or stain may become permanently set. If stain has dried, scrape off as much as possible, then sponge with cold water. Work detergent into stain; then launder as usual, using bleach if recommended. Fabrics with special finishes may need further treatment with a spray stain remover for washable fabrics (see Grease). Treat stains from meat juice the same way.Fruit
Sponge with cold water first. If stain persists and boiling water will not damage fabric, stretch cloth over a bowl and pour boiling water through the cloth. If stain remains stubborn, sponge with hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice solution. If boiling water can not be used, soak in cold water, then rub stain with glycerine and let it remain on fabric for at least three hours. Rinse thoroughly in water to which several drops of white vinegar have been added, then launder.Grass
Work detergent into stain and launder, using bleach recommended for the fabric. If stain persist, let fabric dry and sponge with rubbing alcohol, using one to two parts of water on coloured fabric.(Be sure to test solution on scrap first)Grease
Scrape off as much as possible, sponge with liquid detergent, then launder as usual. Non-iron fabrics may also be treated with a solution of two tablespoons of washing soda to a cup of warm water. Rub it into dampened spot and allow to remain for not more than five minutes. If stain persists after either method, sponge with cleaning fluid, let dry and repeat until stain is gone. Another method is to use one of the new spray stain removers. Spray it on stain and launder according to directions on package. This is particularly useful for specialty-finished fabrics, which, although stain-resistant, are very hard to get clean once a stain has penetrated the finish.Ink, Ballpoint
Ordinary laundering (with bleach, if recommended) will wash out some types of ballpoint ink; others need special treatment and may be set by washing. To determine which type the stain is, mark a similar piece of fabric with the same ink and wash. If laundering does not remove mark,,, pour denatured alcohol through fabric (testing first on scrap) or rub white petroleum jelly into stain and soak in detergent solution; then launder. You can also spray with hair spray until soaking wet, then scrub by hand using a thick solution of liquid detergent. (if fabric is not likely to be harmed by a small amount of abrasion, rubbing the stain with an eraser specially designed to remove ballpoint ink before you try any of the other methods may do the trick.)Ink, Regular
Run cold water through stain until R runs clear; then rub in thick detergent suds. Let stand., then launder, using bleach if recommended. If stain persists, sponge with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide, or spread a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda on stain and steam; however, all of these methods may affect the colour. You might also try a solution of one pad of alcohol to two parts of water, then full strength alcohol. Some ink is permanent and can't be removed. Paint Stains must be treated before they are dry or they will be almost impossible to remove. If they are from an oil-based paint, sponge with turpentine (testing fabric first); then launder, using bleach, if recommended. If stains are from a water-based paint, sponge with liquid detergent and launder. In either case, if traces remain, soak overnight in liquid detergent and launder again.Perspiration
Sponge fresh stains with ammonia, older ones with vinegar. Rinse and wash in water as hot as the fabric can take, using bleach, if recommended. If there is any residue of the stain, sponge with cleaning fluid. Since perspiration may weaken a fabric and change the colour, it is not always possible to remove its effects completely.
COMPARISON
NATURAL FIBRES
Produced seasonally and stored until used.
Vary in quality because they are affected by weather, . nutrients, insects or disease.
Lack uniformity.
Physical structure.depends on natural growth of plant or animal.
Chemical composition and molecular structure depend on natural growth.
Properties conferred on fabrics can be changed by yarn or fabric finishes.
Only silk is available in filament.
Less versatile.
Fibres are absorbent.
Not heat sensitive.
Require fabric finish to be heat-set.MAN-MADE FIBERS
Continuous production.
Uniform in quality
Uniform or made purposely non-uniform.
Physical structure depends fibre-spinning processes and -after treatments.
Chemical composition and .molecular structure depend on starting materials.
Properties of fibres can be changed by varying.sminning solutions and spinning conditions.
Fibres can be any length.
Versatile, changes can be made more quickly.
Most have low absorbency (except rayon and acetate).
Most are heat sensitive (except rayon).
Most can be heat set (except rayon and acetate).
APPROXIMATE REQUIRED FOR CLEANING PROCEDURES
Procedure Place Time
Sweep Smaller rooms 1000 sq ft per 20 minutes
Sweep Unobstructed corridors 1000 sq ft per 10 minutes
Sweep Stairways 40 - 50 steps in 12 minutes
Damp mop Unobstructed areas 1000 sq ft per 10 minutes
Wet mop & rinse Less obstructed areas 1000 sq ft per 30 minutes
Vacuum wet pickup Unobstructed areas 1000 sq ft per 45 minutes
Machine scrub Unobstructed areas 1000 sa ft per hour
Wax Unobstructed areas 1000 sq ft per 30 minutes
Machine buffing Unobstructed areas 1000 sq ft per 15 minutes
Dusting offices 1000 sq ft per 10 minutes
Damp dusting Guest rooms 1000 sq ft per 12 minutes
Washroom cleaning Bowls, floors, etc. 500 sq ft per hours
Wall washing 400 sq ft per hours
Window washing 60-80 windows per 8 hours
HOW TO REDUCE LINEN DAMAGE 1) Know the various colours of the linen for the various outlets. You can spot right away a napkin or a table-cloth being misused.
2) Check linen trolleys, shelves, baskets etc. for protruding nails, splinters, or anything that might damage linen.
3) Losses can be cut down by hanging mesh bags at right location for their collection.
4) Insist that all torn linen be sent down straight away to the Linen Room for exchange.
5) Train Waiters and Waitresses to separate damaged linen immediately so it will not stay continuously in circulation!. .
6) Check wastepaper baskets and garbage cans to prevent linen being disposed off.
7) DO not let damp linen lie on concrete floors. Concrete stains are almost impossible to remove. Rust may cause holes.
8) Stop straightaway if you spot anyone is likely to abuse a piece of linen as 'unknow' stains are the worse to dlean.
9) Separate according to heavy soil and light soil and according to colours.
10) Skirtings should never.be allowed to mix . wit . h the napkins and the table-cloths especialy the soiled ones.
11) Count all dirty napkins and tie them in bundles of ten before sending to the Linen Room for exchange for clean ones.
For Delicate Fabrics1) Environment: A dirty laundry room will lead to soiled linens and indicates a lack of concern for cleanliness on the part of the operators. Every operator has to ensure that the work area has to be cleaned and mopped every night before signing off.OPERATION PROCEDURES
2) Good results: Good results for the laundry do require alot of effort. Stains should be properly treated or they get out of control. Personnel must be trained and recommended procedures enforced. Facilities and equipment must be maintained.
3) Laundry Procedures: Sort restaurant linen according to soil, fabric type and finishing required.a) By soil - For best results, restaurant linen is classified as heavy soil or very heavy soil e.g. kitchen rags, mops etc. Flushing will help reduce the gross soil content.4) 'Spotting' procedures should also be set up for stains found after processing, otherwise stains can build up and gradually become a major problem. Rust stains can be caused by linen contact with exposed rusty bars in a linen cart being run over by cart wheel etc. Use rust remover but with caution. Avoid contact with skin and in-use fabric immediately after application. e) Wash Formulas Use of proper wash formulas and chemicals according to the linen and soil requirements is essential. Formulas are modified to suit individual hotel and specific operations. If pillowcases are retaining oil type soil or towels are retaining bleachable stains, use a medium soil formula with separate suds and bleach operations.b) By fabric type - This sorting is primarily for the safety of the fabrics. Separate non-iron from cotton so that they may be processed with shorter extract time and handled with special precautions to avoid excess wrinkling. Sort delicate fabrics. White and coloured to be washed separately(do not mix red with yellow etc). New coloured linen(even pastel colours) often losses dye in the wash whether a bleach is used or not.
c) By finishing required - Separate non-iron from cotton - separate uniforms from table linens. Sorting dry, soiled linens is much easier than handling clean, wet linens.
d) Pre~wash stain treatment - Pre-treated grease - based stains are much more effectively removed than those which are washed then treated for stain removal and re-washed. It would be ideal if stains can be identified and the source,eliminated. If that is not practical, sorting during collection and treating stains before washing should be a standard practice.
For very delicate fabrics such as fibreglass etc., use minimum drain and minimum extract time or hand process.Rejects:
For gross soil (kitchen rags, rags, mops, occasional heavy soil), first determine the frequency and requirements for a suitable heavy soil formula. If there are enough heavy soil to process on a daily basis, a heavy soil wash formula should be established. Generally, a heavy soil wash formula includes 2 - 3 fresh water flush operations followed by a suds, followed by a separate bleach, followed by normal rinsing.Depending on the quantity, a reject formula is required. A reject formula usually consists of a 20 - 30 minutes suds/bleach operations with double or triple the normal amount of detergent and bleach followed by normal rinsing. 4 ~ 5% reject rate indicates inadequate sorting, pre-wash stain treatment or wash procedures. 2 - 3% rejection rate indicates very efficient operation, less than 2% if the linen processed is rejected it is possible that controls are more rigorous than necessary.Finishing procedures - Drying
Non-iron are usually dried at 180 F for 8 minutes plus 4 minutes cool down. The dryer is usually loaded to approximately 0.5 rate poundage capacity. The linen should be completely dried when remove from the dryer. If moisture can be detected in the linen after drying, increase drying time(180 F)from 8 to 9 or 10 minutes. Cotton fabric are usuallydried at 180 F from20 to 40 minutes on the time required for complete drying.
CAUTION: Some fabric must be drip- dried
Folding Procedures Proper folding will eliminate unnecessary wrinkles. Exercise care not to re-soil clean linen.
The folding station is an excellent point to determine the quantity and types of rejects after washing.
Gentle touch finishing - The non-iron operation requires the gentle touch finishing procedure to remove creases on the linen. Storage - While efficiency and organisation are important, storage room must be very clean. It must be completely separated from the soiled linen room or processing area.
Transferring clean linens - Clean linens . should always be moved in clean carts, racks etc. Take care not to re-soil clean linens and avoid over-loading carts.
Quality Control Visual observations on results should be taken in the clean linen storage area. Any general discolorations or variations in whiteness will be readily apparent and should be noted. Should consider lighting and shadow effect when making evaluation check.Wrinkling,
Rating should be based on appearance, odour (fresh, musty, greasy, none), feel(towels, diapers soft, sheets smooth. Greasy can mean too much soft), stain removal (check reject pile), Wrinkling (do not judge wrinkling on the top 2 or 3 sheets - they will always have some wrinkles).
especially in table linens can often be more unsightly than stains. In fact, a table setting may make small stains almost unnoticeable, but wrinkles will be very obvious. Wrinkling problems are usually caused by 3 main factors: temperature, pressure and time.
Common Causes:a) Linen being extracted too hot.Proper handling to minimize wrinkling in Non~iron linen
b) Too hot linen sitting in a hot dryer wheel - inadequate cool down time.
c) Hot linen sitting in linen cart, either waiting to be dried or to be folded.
d) Overloading the dryer.
e) Underdrying
f) Improper folding procedures.
g) Inadequate shelf time and storage.
h) Quality of linens1) Do remove linen from laundry machine immediately after wash cycle.
2) Do place linen in dryer immediately after removing from laundry machine.
3) Do load dryer to 1/3 dry weight capacity of the dryer.
4) Do dry at 1800F.
5) Do completely dry the linen.
6) Do allow a 3-4 minutes cool down at the end of the 'hot' drying cycle of the dryer.
7) Do remove the linen from dryer immediately after 'cool down' drying cycle.
8) Do fold linen immediately after removing from dryer(fold tight and hand smooth out wrinkles).
9) Do stack linen minimum of 12 inches high, for minimum of 12 hours.
10) Don't allow linen to sit in laundry machine or carts waiting to be dried or folded.
11) Don't overload the dryer.
12) Don't extract linen over 120 0F temperature.
Glossary
Italicized words identify word or phrases in each definition that are defined elsewhere in this glossary.
Absenteeism absence from work. A high rate of absenteeism is consider to be a reliable indicator of low employee morale.
acrylics A group of clear, toligli plastic resitis produced froin acrylic acids.
actual expenditures Actual spending for labor and supplies to support the generation of revenue as opposed to budgeted (planned) costs or forecast (expected) costs.
administration A management task. Attending to the details of executive affairs,
administrative theory First introduced by henry Fayol, it was an attempt to apply scientific principles to a business organization. A subcomponent of the classical shool.
aerobic A bacteria that must be exposed to, and requires, air (oxygen) to survive and grow.
all-purpose cleaner A multi-purpose agent designed for several different cleaning tasks upon the dilution ratio applied.
amenity Anything that make a guest's stay easier and more pleasant. Often pertains to items that are viewed as luxurious. An amenity is not normally categorized as a guest essential.
amortize To periodically and gradually decrease a cost or expenditure to zero over a stated period of' time for exainple, the preopening cost of a hotel or hospital.
A.m. room clieck A visual look at guestrooms that are supposed to be ready to receive guests for the purpose of verifying status. Check is made at about 8:00 A.m. Those rooms not in a ready status are called. A.m. discrepancied must be investigated. Some hotels conduct A.M.room check on every room to determine each room’ status. Sometimes the housekeeping department schedules workers according to the results of the A.M. room check.
anaerobic A bacteria that can live without exposure to air (oxygen).
analyse problems Gather facts, ascertain causes, and develop alternative solutions.
annual linen reorder plan System of ordering linen that provides long lead times for various items oflinen; allows the hotel or hospital to deal directly with a linen-mill; allows for the mill to weave linen at the time most beneficial to the mill.
Antichlors A substance used to remove excess chlorine from fabric after breaching.
antisepsis A process where chemicals are used on the skin for bacteriostatic and germicidal purposes.
area responsibility plan A document that geographically defines physical areas of a facility and assigns responsibility for cleaning among the various department of a hotel or hospital organizatios); usually developed from the division of work ducoment.
asepsis To be free from germs and infection.
asepsis ( medical ) A method uesd to prevent the spread of a communicable disease. Handwashing and isolation are examples.
asepsis ( surgical ) A method using sterile equipment, supplies, and procedures when entering the "sterile" interior of the body.
assets Items of value. Notations on a company balance sheet in the books of account, which represents the book value of assets.
atom The smallest combination of nucleus (core or protons and neutrons) and surrounding electrons that is associated with a given "name element."
autoclave An oven-like machine, using steam under pressure, in which supplies are subjected to intense heat for a specific period of tims. It Is also called a sterilizer.
bacillus Bacteria that is rod-shaped
bacteria Used to refer to microorganisms in general, also the same as germs and/or micropes.
bacterial Soils or compounds containing active (live) bacteria.
bacteriostat An agent that arrests the growth of bacteria.
badgesystem Method of identifying employee by the identification badges. Badges usually indicate where the employee works and identification number and may contain the employee’s photograph.
bed and bath linen. Items such as sheets, pillowcases, hand towels, bath towels, washcloths, and clothi bath mats.
Bedding All bed Iinens, such as sheets and pillowcases, and all blankets, shams,dust ruffles, pillows, quilts, comforters, coverlets, mattress pads, and bed-spreads.
behavioral school Attempts to apply knowledge gained from the disciplines of human psychology and sociology to the management of employee. Proponent assert that organizational productivity can be enhanced by meeting the psychological needs of the employee.
bomb threats Malicious announcements of forth-coming explosions or bombings.
books of account Collection of all accounting ledgers, journals, and files associated with the financial accounting system established for the particular housekeeping operation.
budgeting Act of creating a management system used for the allocation of resources over a given period of time.
buffing The act of polishing the surface of a floor with a low-speed (175-350 rmp) floor machine.
Burnishing the act of polihsing the surface of a floor with a high-speed (350+ rmp) floor machine to achieve an extremely high gloss (wet look) surface.
capital assets Long-term tangible ot. intangible assets such as land and buildings. See also current assets..
capital expenditure budget Financial statement of estimated capital expenditures over a given period of time.
theory y Managerial thinking that infers that work is natural and to be enjoyed by the worker; that the committed worker win exercise self-discipline and direction; that avoidance of responsibility, lack of ambition, and emphasis on security are general consequences of expericnce-not inherent human characteristics.
theory z Japanese management model that asserts that productivity can be enhanced in the organizaion by involving all employees in the plannnig and decision-making process. Term coined by Thomas Oucni in his management text, "Theory Z. "
thermoplastic Certain resins that have the potential of becoming soft when heated.
thread count The total number of threads in a one inch square piece of cloth. It is one of a number of quality indicators.
three-stroke solution Refers to the delution with water ratio of air all-porpose that provides a proper agent for certain cleaning operations in approximately three wipes; for example, 40:1 delution of specific cleaning agent isused to clean mirrors and windows in three wiping strokes.
ticking A strong cloth used to cover mattresses and pillows.
tidy (tidies) (T) The act of tidying or identifying rooms that require tidying in order to makeReady to rent. Tidies require only light service and usually do not require the full making of a bed or heavy service. Tidies are also rooms that have already been serviced once before a guest departs but then require light service to make the room ready for reoccupancy.
tight schedule System of scheduling whereby a standing rotational schedule may be or is modified daily basis to accommodate a specific guestroom occupancy.
workweek and the time that paychecks or pay will become available; ranges between three and fourteen days depending on payroll processing and delivery procedures.time sheets, weekly or periodic Documents on which time from employee time card are recorded; form the basis for calculation of earned or benefit pay. A basis for payroll. May contain other forms of pay besides time actually worked.
torn sheet size Torn sheet size is the length and width of a sheet before the top and bottom hems are added. Top and bottom hems will substract approximately five inches from the length of the sheet.
Total linen on hand See linen on hand
training employees Making employees proficient in the proficient in the performance of a task through instrtiction and practice An activity of staffing.Tricophyton interdigitale (Tri-co-fi-ton inter digit-all -ee) No gram stain. A fungus (athlete’s foot) The fungus can be used to evaluate a germicidal.
tung oil A poisonous oil from the seeds of the tung tree. It is often used in wood surfaces.
turnover The number of the employee separations in an over a Period expression as a percentage. Calculated by taking the total number of separations that occur in a year and dividing by the average. number of total positions in the organization (the total number of the positions in the organization at the begining of the year plus the total number of positions at the end of the year divided by two. High turnover is costly to the organization.
turnover rate See turnover
uniforms distinctive clothes worn by employees so that they can be recognized by the general public as being a part of the business.
vanish A liquid that gives a shiny, hard, transparent surface to wood or metal. It is made from resins that have been dissolved into oil, tirpentine, or alcohol.
virus A part of' the protist kingdom, includes influenza (a flu virus), herpes simplex, vaccine (cow pox), adeno virus type 2, and AidS. gram positive (blue stain). Major cause of infectious and food poisonings. Size is .8 to 1 micron. It is resistant to antibiotics. Best cure is heat.
wage costs Classification of labor based on the calculation of hours worked times a given or assigned wage rate depending on the classification of the employee.
wage department Classification system for the identification of various types of man-hours used by departments in hotels and usually refer to the types of work that ire to be performed.
warp Lengthwise threads of yarn in a fabric.
wash formula Quantitative determinants of how long a specific type or piece of linen is to be washed, rinsed, and extracted; includes temperature of wash and rinse solutions and quantities of detergents,bleaches, and softeners to be used during the various wash cycles.
washing capacity Optimum weight of linen thatt should be placed in all automatic commercial washing machine; for example, -50-pound, 100-pound, 200-pound washer; used in the sizing of laundry
weekly maintenance Identified Housekeeping service or repair type maintenance that is to be performed each week on schedule.
weekly wage analysis Breakdown of expended wages by departments, showing comparisons to budgeted and forecast wages; identifies out~of~ control areas and indicates corrective measures to regain control of costs if necessary.
weekly wage forecast Document prepared weekly by housekeeping management indicating how many man-hours will be required or expended and in what wage department classifications to support a specified forecast of guestroom occupancy.
weft The threads of yarn that run the width of a fabric.
"What-If" publication Interesting presentation of emergency situation. a person might encounter in a hotel or hospital. Presentation is in the form of questions asking "what if" and enlightened alternative responses.
work-centered theory of' management Classical theory of management that revolves around
a concern for production. Two major principles emerge from this theory: authority-the right to command and the power to exact obedience -and the task of decision making are vested in those who must ensure production.Work calcendar Seven-week period of time divided into workweek, indicating regular workdays and regular days off in each week as presented in the standing rotational scheduling system
workshop training training techniques used primarily for supervisors. Involves the presentation of managerial problem and allows the participants to work out one or more solution, which are then critiqued
workweek Seven cotsecutive days with and identifiable beginneing and ending used to separate and identify one week from another in a continuous daily operation Workweeks may begin on any day of the week and end six days later. The indentification of workweek is imparative im continous daily operations for scheduling and accounting purposes.
zero-base budgeting A concept of budgeting that require the planner to start the entire budgeting process from scratch each year.. No prior assumptions regarding past years are made While extremely accurate in its approach, it is the time consuming and difficult to attempt in an extremely complex and/or large organization.
zone Segmented part of a facility subject to zone inspection.
zone inspection program A form of property inspections where various sectionsl of a hotel are divided into zones and assigned to several zone inspectors; usually conducted once each week.