CEH Laundry and Linen Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What water temperature is generally recommended for washing heavily soiled cotton bed linens in a commercial laundry?
- Cold (60–70°F)
- Warm (90–110°F)
- Hot (160–180°F) (Correct answer)
- Tepid (75–85°F)
Correct answer: Hot (160–180°F)
Hot water at 160–180°F is recommended for heavily soiled cotton linens to ensure proper sanitization and soil removal.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the 'par' level in linen inventory management?
- The minimum quantity needed to replace worn-out linens
- The number of linen sets needed to support one complete room turnover (Correct answer)
- The total quantity of linens purchased per quarter
- The ratio of clean to soiled linens on a given day
Correct answer: The number of linen sets needed to support one complete room turnover
A par is the quantity of linen required to support one complete cycle of room turnover and operations.
Question 3: A linen showing a yellowish discoloration after laundering is most likely caused by:
- Over-rinsing with cold water
- Residual alkaline detergent buildup (Correct answer)
- Insufficient ironing temperature
- Excessive use of fabric softener
Correct answer: Residual alkaline detergent buildup
Residual alkaline detergent that is not fully rinsed can cause yellowing of white linens over time.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a sour (acid rinse) in the commercial laundry process?
- To brighten colors and prevent fading
- To neutralize alkalinity left by detergents and softeners (Correct answer)
- To remove protein-based stains like blood
- To increase fabric tensile strength
Correct answer: To neutralize alkalinity left by detergents and softeners
A sour neutralizes the alkaline residue from detergents, leaving fabric at a proper pH and preventing skin irritation.
Question 5: Which formula is used to calculate linen replacement needs?
- Rooms occupied × par level − linens in circulation
- Total linens purchased − linens discarded
- Discard rate × total linen inventory (Correct answer)
- Linens in use ÷ available storage space
Correct answer: Discard rate × total linen inventory
Replacement needs are calculated by multiplying the discard rate by the total linen inventory to determine how many pieces must be reordered.
Question 6: When setting up a linen room, which organizational principle is most important for stock rotation?
- LIFO — last in, first out
- FIFO — first in, first out (Correct answer)
- Random selection to distribute wear evenly
- Heaviest items stored on top shelves
Correct answer: FIFO — first in, first out
FIFO (first in, first out) ensures older linens are used first, distributing wear evenly and extending overall linen life.
Question 7: A housekeeping manager notices that terry cloth towels are becoming stiff and rough after laundering. The most likely corrective action is to:
- Increase wash cycle temperature
- Reduce the amount of fabric softener used
- Add a fabric softener or lower the dryer temperature (Correct answer)
- Switch to a stronger alkaline detergent
Correct answer: Add a fabric softener or lower the dryer temperature
Stiff towels often result from inadequate softener or excessive dryer heat; adding fabric softener and adjusting dryer temperature improves softness.
CEH Laundry and Linen Management 2
What water temperature is generally recommended for washing heavily soiled cotton bed linens in a commercial laundry?