Type of linen fabric and linen and practice label reasing and its function

What is a linen?????

In the Longman dictionary there are two meaning of linen. Linen is normally known as cloth or thread made of flax. Flax is a plant of natural fibers  (cellulose fiber) . however , there is another meaning of linen that is widely used in hospitality context, which means household articles made of cloth. Some of linen that are being used in hospitality establishment are towel, bed sheet, bedspread, napkin, tablecloth and many more.

The name linens is retained because traditionally, linen was used for many of these items. In the past, the word "linens" was also used to mean lightweight undergarments such as shirts, chemises, waistshirts, lingerie (a word also cognate with linen), and detachable shirt collars and cuffs, which were historically made almost exclusively out of linen.

Several factors to choose linens

• ·         Fiber content
• ·         Fabric quality
• ·         Thread count and yarn count
• ·         Type of weave
• ·         Fabric finish
• ·         Dyes and printing quality
• ·         Texture
• ·         Size
• ·         Recognizing quality
• ·         Caring for fine linens

Type of linen and fabric

Natural fibers from animal and vegetables

NATURAL FIBER.

·     

                             Wool

-          comes from sheep, camel and rabbits.

-          Most popular from Merino and Crossbred sheep in Australia.

-          Normally it is used for  carpets, blankets and upholstery.

-          Wool is easy to clean and fire resistant

-          Wool does not flatten or crease easily and very elastic.

·                                            Silk

-          Produced from the cocoon of silk worms. The silk worms are reared in China, France, Italy and Japan.

-          Some of its usage in hotel include wall covering, cushion cover and bed sheets.

-          It is an elastic fabric.

     

Cotton

     -   Cotton plant seed grown in India, USA, Egypt,West Indies and China.

-          Normally, used for bed linen, table linen, towel and uniform.

-          It is very absorbent, easily laundered and more resistance to bleaches and alkalis.

·                                                       Linen

-          Comes from the stalk of flax plant

-          Famous for making napkin and table linen.

-          Linen is hard-wearing and easily washed but requires careful finishing.

-          Linen easily dyed and the colour does not fade when wash.

        MAN-MADE FIBERS.

       Made by regenerating and synthetic. Also call manufactured fabrics. Normally,                made from some of

• ·         Wool pulp/ cotton linters
• ·         Rubber
• ·         Oil by-products
• ·         Chemicals

 ACETATE

-          Made from cotton linters plus chemicals.

-          Look like silk but do not wear like silk.

-          In hotel it used as curtain and furnishing.

-          Strong when dry.

-          Should be washed in warm water, moderate drying and lowest temperature when ironing.

            ACRYLIC

-          Look like wool and washable. Made from chemical.

-          Strong when dry.

                -     Blanket and carpet in hotel are normally made from acrylic because they                         are cheap, do not shrink and easily maintained

           

            POLYESTER

-          Is a synthetic fiber and is normally added to cotton and wool so that they are easily laundered.

-          Used in pillow, upholstery, bed linen, and table linen.

                RAYON

-          Made from wood pulp and cotton liners.

-          Look like silk and has draping qualities.

-          Used for curtains and bedspreads. Requires cool iron.

-          Rayon is strong, extremely absorbent and burn at high temperature.

            

             SPANDEX

-          Is a mixture of rubber and chemicals.

-          Very elastic fiber that can be stretched many times its length and then spring back to the original length .

-          Resistance to washing, perspiration and heat

    

             NYLON

-          From chemicals

-          Its is elastic, resilient, smooth, non-absorbent and dry quickly

-          Used in hosiery, netting for bridal veils, carpeting and socks.

-          Use a low temperature on the wrong side when ironing nylon.

LABEL IDENTIFICATION AND LINEN CARE

The reason for putting labels on fabrics.

• ·         Fabrics need no identification since we can read the label and understand the characteristics of the fabrics
• ·         Fabrics need no hassle of sorting by type of fabric and washing process will be easy.
• ·         Save time when trying to figure out the exact type of fabric for quality, checking, washing and knowledge purposes.
•    Able to retain the white and coloured fabrics. The eventually will make them look whiter and brighter.

WASHING SYMBOLS

SYMBOLS	FUNCTION
	Normal
	Permanent press / wrinkle resistant
	Gentle / delicate
	Hand wash
	Water temperature 50 C/ 120 F (HOT)
	Water temperature 40 C / 105 F (WARM)

	Water Temperature 30 C / 85 F (COLD / COOL)
	Warning : do not wring
	Warning : do not wash

BLEACHING  SYMBOLS
SYMBOLS	FUNCTION
	Any bleach ( when needed)
	Only non-chlorine bleach (when needed)
	Warning : do not bleach

DRYING SYMBOLS

SYMBOLS	FUNCTION
	Dry
	Normal
	Permanent press / wrinkle resistant
	Gentle / delicate
	Heat setting : high
	Heat setting : medium
	Heat setting : low
	Special instructions: line dry / hang to dry
	Special instructions : dry flat
	Special instructions: drip dry
	Special instructions : dry in the shade
	Warning : do not  dry (used with do not wash)
	Warning : do not  tumble dry

IRONING SYMBOL

SYMBOL	FUNCTION
	Iron
	High
	Medium
	Low
	Warning : do not  iron
	Warning : no steam

 DRY CLEANING SYMBOLS

	Dry clean
	Any solvent
	Dry clean – normal cycle : any solvent except Trichloroethy lene
	Dry clean – normal cycle : petroleum solvent only
	Professionally dry clean : reduce moisture
	Professionally dry clean : short cycle
	Professionally dry clean : no steam finishing
	Professionally dry clean : low heat
	Warning : do not  dry clean