12 Laundry room terms you need to know 

When you’re getting into on-premises laundry (OPL)—whether for a hotel, healthcare facility, spa, or senior living community—it helps to speak the language. Here are key terms to know so conversations with vendors, staff, and maintenance teams actually make sense. 

1. On-Premises Laundry (OPL) 

• Laundry that’s washed, dried, and finished on-site instead of sent to an outside commercial laundry. OPL gives you more control over quality, turnaround time, and inventory. NOTE: Don’t forget the “s” on the end…it’s “on-premises” and not “on-premise” a premise is an idea, premises a location. 

2. Washer-Extractor 

• The commercial version of a washing machine. 

• Washer: Cleans the linens. 

• Extractor: Spins at high speed to remove more water, shortening dry times and saving energy. Back in the day, these were two different machines. 

3. G-Force 

• A measure of how fast a washer-extractor spins compared to gravity. 

• Higher G-force = more water removed = shorter dryer cycles. 

• Typical commercial machines range from 200–400+ G-Force. Generally, 350-400 G-Force is the sweet spot for removing a high percentage of moisture, with linens going directly to the finisher or with minimal conditioning necessary…above 400, you start to see diminishing returns.  

4. Hardmount vs. Softmount 

• Hardmount: Bolted to a concrete floor to dissipate G-Forces; less expensive but needs a strong foundation. 

• Softmount: Has shock absorbers and springs to dissipate forces and can be installed on upper floors. 

5. Programmable Controls 

• Digital controls on washers that let you create and store custom “formulas” for different items (towels, sheets, patient gowns, kitchen rags). You can set: 

• Water levels and temps 

• Chemical injection points 

• Cycle times and spin speeds 

• Steps (additional washes, rinses, etc.) 

Specific cycles based on not only the items washed, but soil level, help the laundry deliver quality results and extend linen life. 

6. Chemical Injection 

• Automatic dosing of detergent, bleach, softener, and neutralizers into the washer. The washer sends a signal to a chemical pump, which then adds the prescribed amount. 

• Usually programmed by chemical company representative 

• Reduces waste and human error 

• Improves consistency and fabric life 

7. Tunnel Washer (Batch Washer) 

• A continuous washing system used in high-volume operations. Linens move through a large horizontal drum in sections, with different stages (wash, rinse, bleach, etc.) happening in sequence. Imagine a corkscrew turning and sending loads into various chambers for wash steps. 

8. Flatwork Ironer (finisher) 

• A heated roller machine used to dry and press flat items like sheets and tablecloths in one pass. Often paired with: 

• Feeders (to automatically feed linens in) 

• Folders (to automatically fold finished pieces) 

9. Linen vs. Terry 

• Linen: Flat items—sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, napkins. 

• Terry: Towels and bathrobes with looped fabric. 
  Each usually needs different wash formulas and finishing processes (longer dry times) 

10. Par Levels 

• PAR- Per Available Room 

• The number of “complete changes” of linens you own. 

• Example: A hotel might aim for 3–5 pars of sheets and towels. 
  Enough par means you can handle peak usage, repairs, and unexpected delays. 

11. Load Factor & Capacity 

• Rated capacity: What the manufacturer says the machine holds (often in pounds or kilograms). 

• Practical load factor: What you should actually load to avoid poor cleaning and excessive wear—often 80–90% of rated capacity. 

12. Preventive Maintenance (PM) 

• Scheduled servicing of equipment—lubrication, belt checks, cleaning lint screens, inspecting seals and hoses—to prevent breakdowns and extend equipment life. 

Learning these core terms makes it much easier to evaluate equipment, compare quotes, and train staff. Once you understand the language of OPL, you’re better positioned to build a laundry operation that’s efficient, consistent, and cost-effective.