Laundry mistakes can break the bank

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.