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Short answer: rewash rate is the share of washed linen that fails inspection and goes back for a second wash. Each rewash doubles the laundry cost of that piece and uses up one of the washes it can survive. A high rate says the linen, the wash process, or the way rooms use the linen needs to change.
Measure it
Rewash rate = pieces rejected after washing, divided by pieces washed.
Ask the laundry to count rejects by item and by reason for two weeks: stains, greying, tears, makeup, rust marks. The reasons matter more than the total.
What it costs: a worked example
The figures below are assumptions to show the method. Put in your own.
| Pieces washed per day | 1,200 |
|---|---|
| Rewash rate | 6 percent |
| Pieces rewashed per day | 72 |
| Laundry cost per piece | $0.40 |
| Extra laundry cost per day | $28.80 |
| Extra laundry cost per year | about $10,500 |
That is only the washing. Each of those pieces has also lost a wash from its life, so you replace linen sooner. And 72 pieces a day are in the laundry instead of the store, which is linen you had to buy to cover the gap.
What causes rewash
| Cause | Sign | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup and skincare | Brown and orange marks on face and hand towels | Dark makeup cloths in rooms |
| Guests using towels as cleaning cloths | Shoe polish, dirt | Shoe mitts and cleaning cloths provided |
| Stains set by heat | Marks that survive several washes | Sort and pre-treat before washing |
| Greying linen | A dull batch that never looks clean | Check dosing and water hardness |
| Linen not built for the wash | Loose pile, pulled threads, fraying hems | A better spec |
Where the spec comes in
Some linen hides nothing and forgives nothing. Choices that lower rewash:
- Cotton that takes a hot wash, so oils and lotions are removed instead of building up.
- A stable white, agreed against a reference, that does not yellow under normal bleaching.
- Secure loops and strong hems, so pieces are not rejected for pulls and fraying.
- The right weight for your laundry. A towel too heavy for the dryers comes out damp and smells, and gets washed again.
Linen that looks good for 200 washes costs less than linen that needs replacing at 80, even at a higher price. The sum is in cost per wash.
Housekeeping changes that help
- Makeup cloths and a card explaining them. See makeup stains on white towels.
- Separate bags for stained items, so they are treated and not baked in.
- Never use room linen to clean.
Talk to your laundry and your supplier together
The laundry knows why pieces fail. The supplier can change the product. A short call between the two before you reorder is worth more than a discount.
See how to extend the life of hotel towels and our care problems guide. If your rewash data points at the linen, send it with your enquiry.
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Written by
Dr Abin Babu
Founder & Chairman, Anabyn Global Ventures
Anabyn exports hotel and home linen from Kerala, India. These guides come from the questions buyers ask our desk. About the team
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