As a yacht stew, laundry is something you do every day. Making a mistake can be very costly.
With crew uniforms alone you are responsible for hundreds of dollars’ worth of clothing, but add in guest laundry and the cost of a mistake could easily run into the thousands of dollars.
Here’s a rundown of tips:
The first step toward success is to sort properly. You don’t want red T-shirt bleeds onto a guest item.
Washing galley cloths with bath towels could lead to cross-contamination of bacteria. Even though the fabrics are similar, keep them separate to stay safe.
Wash engineers’ and deckies’ clothing separately to avoid chemical contamination with other items.
To be on the safe side, use warm or cool water except to sanitize.
Sort clothing by color, temperature, fabric weight, and type of soil.
Treat stains before washing. If stains remain after the cycle, do not dry them as this will set the spot.
Add a color-catcher sheet to each load to pick up any stray dye.
Hang owners’ clothing to dry.
Use the correct amount of detergent; too much can damage clothing and fade colors.
Learn the laundry symbols. Post a copy and follow the instructions.
Take care of equipment properly. Be nice to the engineer because you need them on your side!
Alene Keenan is a veteran chief stew, interior training instructor/consultant, and author of The Yacht Guru’s Bible: The Service Manual for Every Yacht.
Alene Keenan is a veteran chief stew, interior training instructor/consultant, and author of The Yacht Guru’s Bible: The Service Manual for Every Yacht.