Different finishes for flat linen: decatized, pre-washed or ready-to-use
When your laundry is cared for by an industrial laundry, the choice of quality textile items is crucial to ensure durability, appearance and efficiency of use. Although in most cases our customers seem satisfied with our standard offer, some require specific finishes such as 'decatized', 'pre-washed' and 'ready to use.
In this post, we outline these three types of finish to help you decide which one best suits your needs.
1. What is decati?
The 'decati' finish refers to a heat treatment applied to the fabric, usually using steam. This process is used to stabilise the fibres of the fabric and eliminate tensions created during weaving (or knitting). It is o en used for cotton or other natural fabrics. This treatment also gives the fabric a more finished appearance and prevents subsequent deformation.
Objective:
- Stabilise the fabric, which is essential for items such as sheets and duvet covers.
- Improve its look, feel and suppleness.
Applications :
- Recommended for large laundries: linen used in high turnover environments such as hotels and hospitals.
- Items requiring greater resistance to washing and wear.
In concrete terms, once the weaving process has been completed, the fabric is flambéed more thoroughly (eliminating the fibres on the surface of the fabric), desized on the roll more thoroughly (between 18 and 24 hours), double bleached & finished without the addition of conventional chemical agents.
2. What is pre-washed?
Prewashed linen has been washed for the first time before being marketed or used for garments. This initial wash reduces or eliminates any impurities, dust, residual chemicals or odours that may be present on the fabric a er it has been manufactured. It also helps to stabilise the fabric's dimensions by minimising shrinkage in subsequent washes.
Objective:
- Make the fabric cleaner and safer for immediate use,
- Significantly reduce shrinkage during future washes,
- Eliminate chemical and production residues,
- Reduce the risk of discolouration.
Applications :
- Recommended for small laundries with high seasonal turnover: linen intended for rapid use a er receipt,
- Items likely to be washed frequently from the outset.
3. What is Ready to Use?
Ready-to-use" linen is treated so that it can be used immediately without the need for washing or further treatment. It generally undergoes processes that ensure its appearance, so ness and functionality as soon as it is received.
Objective:
- Allows direct use without additional preparation,
- For optimum appearance and so ness from the very first use,
- Reduce the time needed before commissioning.
Applications :
- Recommended for laundries that need to prepare "bed linen kits": camping linen, or high quality linen where presentation and texture are essential,
- Special events or situations where linen must be used immediately.
Particular attention needs to be paid to managing the residual moisture in the washed linen (control of dryers or calenders, choice of micro-perforated plastic packaging, etc.). This involves extra labour costs and additional management of packaging waste.
Choosing the right finish for your flat linen depends on a number of factors, including frequency of use, durability requirements and the need for pre-treatment. By understanding the differences between standard, decatized, pre-washed and ready-to-use qualities, you can make informed decisions to ensure that your linen will meet the needs of your establishment while offering the best value for money (bed linen such as a sheet or undersheet adapted to your mattresses; but also table linen such as a napkin or tablecloth: round tablecloth in particular).
Do you have any questions about linen finishing or would you like to discuss your specific requirements with an expert? Contact the ALM teams for personalised advice on the best finish for your specific needs.
