List of laundry topics

This is a list of laundry topics. Laundry is the washing of clothing and linens (e.g. sheets and towels).^[1] Laundry processes are often done in a business, room or area in a home or apartment building, reserved for that purpose; this is referred to as a laundry room. The material that is being washed, or has been laundered, is also generally referred to as laundry.

Laundry topics

Chemicals

Laundry detergent powder

Biological detergent – laundry detergent that contains enzymes harvested from micro-organisms such as bacteria adapted to live in hot springs.^[2] The description is commonly used in the United Kingdom.
Bleach
Fabric softener
Laundry detergent

Washing

A modern dry cleaning machine with touchscreen and SPS control, manufacturer EazyClean, type EC124, photo taken prior to installation

Combo washer dryer
Dry cleaning
Posser or washing dolly, a tool for agitating the wet fabric
Washboard and washing paddle, also known under many other names
Wash copper, a portable or built-in boiler
Washing machine
Wet cleaning, a retronym meaning "not dry cleaning"

Drying

Modern hanging clothes horse with pulley system

Airing cupboard
Clothes dryer
Clothes horse or drying rack or many other names
Clothes line
Drying cabinet
Hills Hoist
Kitchen maid (pulley airer)
Mangle (machine)
Sheila Maid
Winter Dyke

Finishing

Box mangle
Fluff and Fold^{[broken anchor]}, a service provided by commercial laundrettes
Ironing
Tunnel finisher

Industrial

Industrial laundry
- Tunnel washer

Industrial laundry sorting
The unloading side of a dryer in an industrial laundry which dries the linen
A feeder where linen is placed and which takes the linen to the ironer and folder

Concepts

Engraving of Scotswomen singing a waulking song while waulking or fulling cloth, c. 1770.

Some of these relate more to textile manufacturing than laundry, but there is overlap in how wet cloth is processed.

Color fastness, the degree to which a textile retains its color without fading or bleeding
Fulling – a step in making woollen cloth - cleaning the fleece to eliminate oils, dirt, and other impurities, and making it thicker.
Posting, trampling or treading wet clothing
Shrinkage
Stain

Organizations

Dry Cleaning and Laundry International
Dry Cleaning Institute of Australia
Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance
Laundry and Dry Cleaning International Union
Laundry Workers Industrial Union
Magdalene asylum
Project Laundry List – a New Hampshire group that encourages the outdoor drying of clothes
Worshipful Company of Launderers – a livery company in the City of London that promotes the profession of the launderers by awarding scholarships to laundry students.

Companies

5àsec - a French franchise network
Washio (company) - defunct laundry delivery service
SudShare - an American app-based laundry cleaning and delivery company

Culture

Dadeumi, the traditional Korean practice of rhythmically beating cloth, associated with the hardships of a woman's life
Dhobiwallah, or dhobi, the washermen in South Central Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc.), and their caste group, historically associated with washing clothes^[3]
Fullo, the Latin word for a person washing laundry
Washerwoman or laundress
Housekeeping
Laundry symbols

Accessories

A collection of irons

Law

Places

Baths and wash houses in Britain, public places that included facilities for washing the body as well as clothes
Dhobi ghat, any open-air washing-place in southern central Asia
Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat, a well-known open air laundry in Mumbai, India.^[4]
Laundry room, in a private dwelling
Lavoir, a public open-air wash-house in a village
Self-service laundry, also known as a coin wash, laundromat, washeteria, laundrette
Tvättstuga, a shared laundry room in a hall of residence or block of flats
Utility room, in a private dwelling that includes laundry functions