AEMA MAIN EXAMINATION SET 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔what is extraction: - ✔✔wash wheel spins at high speed, causing water to be
extracted from clothing
✔✔what do football reconditioners use extractors for (other than clothes)? - ✔✔-
shoulder pads
-shoes
-other items that are air dried
✔✔can you use an extractor for delicates? - ✔✔no
✔✔what is souring? - ✔✔neutralizes any residual alkalinity that may be present and
adds softeners, antibacterials and brighteners (acidic product)
✔✔when are fabric softeners added in the wash cycle? - ✔✔souring stage
✔✔what is the rinsing stage - ✔✔when water enters wash wheel with no detergents
present
✔✔is more than 1 rinse used? - ✔✔yes, most 50-100 lb washers have 3 rinses usually
✔✔what is the break cycle? - ✔✔also called the "wash" cycle when detergents are
added and most cleaning occurs
✔✔what is the flush cycle? - ✔✔rinses away soils before detergent is added, helps
prevent stains from setting and prepare garments for chemical exposure by bringing
them to the correct temperature.
✔✔when does flush cycle occur? - ✔✔usually first in washing cycle
✔✔where should you soak garments? - ✔✔controlled environment such as washing
machine
✔✔What is in a soak bath? - ✔✔water and a mild detergent with emulsifier
✔✔can you soak uniforms on the way home from a game? - ✔✔no
✔✔what is pre-wash? - ✔✔usually first cycle on fixed cycle washing machines, allows
water to remove loose granules that sit on fabric, and allows fabric to absorb water
(similar to flush)
✔✔how long is prewash? - ✔✔1-5 minutes (usually 3)
,✔✔what temperature will red dyes bleed at? - ✔✔95 degrees
✔✔what temperature will blues and greens bleed at? - ✔✔110 degrees
✔✔What are elements of cleaning efficiency? - ✔✔W.A.T.C.H. (Water, Action, Time,
Chemical, Heat)
✔✔What does WATCH stand for? - ✔✔-Water
-Action
-Temperature
-Chemical
-Heat
✔✔should you send uniforms to the dry cleaners? - ✔✔Only when absolutely necessary
(not recommended)
✔✔what temperature should uniforms be washed? - ✔✔cool to warm water
✔✔what is hard water? - ✔✔any water with a concentration of grains above 5 parts per
million
✔✔what is soft water? - ✔✔any water with a concentration of grains below 5 parts per
million
✔✔what type of water is harder to work with? - ✔✔Hard water
✔✔what does "action" mean in WATCH? - ✔✔agitation, pounding or dropping of
laundry in washing machine
✔✔how do you optimize mechanical action? - ✔✔use low water levels in 57 inch range
✔✔what temperature is best for medium-heavy spoiled garments? - ✔✔90-110 degrees
✔✔what temperature is best for lightly spoiled garments? - ✔✔80-90 degrees
✔✔what temperature is best for rinse and flush cycles? - ✔✔40-72 degrees
✔✔what is included in a color set formula? - ✔✔add 1 lb of salt to cold water wash
formula
✔✔Do detergents remove soil at any temperature? - ✔✔No, many only remove soil
once they reach a certain water temperature (these detergents shouldn't be used on
colored items)
, ✔✔what are the three criteria to determine how laundry is sorted - ✔✔-soil (type and
extent)
-fabric (type, weave and color)
- finishing process (drying process)
✔✔should you soak uniforms on the way home from a game? - ✔✔NEVER
✔✔what is the exchange system? - ✔✔patrons turn in something of value (ex. drivers
license or student ID), and get a towel or something else in exchange. Once towel is
returned, they get their valuable back.
✔✔when is exchange system most popular? - ✔✔when only towel service is offered
✔✔what is bag system? - ✔✔uses a mesh bag to gather, wash and issue laundry
✔✔pros of bag system - ✔✔-athletes are responsible for turning in laundry
-athlete number is clearly identifiable
-items remain together during cleaning process
✔✔cons of bag system - ✔✔-gear wads up and doesn't get clean or dry
- extend drying time by 100%
-stains are hard to notice until its too late
-metal pins on bags tend to be loud in washer and dryer
✔✔what is loop system? - ✔✔all dirty items are placed on canvas loop and turned in by
athlete.
✔✔pros of loop system - ✔✔-athletes responsible for their laundry loop
-loops are easily issued
-all advantages of bag system but not as loud in washer/dryer
✔✔cons of loop system - ✔✔loops can wear out overtime
✔✔what is the roll system? - ✔✔clothes are rolled inside a towel then issued
✔✔is the roll system effective? - ✔✔No, disadvantages far outweigh advantages
✔✔what laundry system is used most in athletic departments? - ✔✔combination of all
systems depending on what works best for specific laundry needs
✔✔what are laundry bins or hampers made of? - ✔✔canvas, vinyl or polyethylene
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔what is extraction: - ✔✔wash wheel spins at high speed, causing water to be
extracted from clothing
✔✔what do football reconditioners use extractors for (other than clothes)? - ✔✔-
shoulder pads
-shoes
-other items that are air dried
✔✔can you use an extractor for delicates? - ✔✔no
✔✔what is souring? - ✔✔neutralizes any residual alkalinity that may be present and
adds softeners, antibacterials and brighteners (acidic product)
✔✔when are fabric softeners added in the wash cycle? - ✔✔souring stage
✔✔what is the rinsing stage - ✔✔when water enters wash wheel with no detergents
present
✔✔is more than 1 rinse used? - ✔✔yes, most 50-100 lb washers have 3 rinses usually
✔✔what is the break cycle? - ✔✔also called the "wash" cycle when detergents are
added and most cleaning occurs
✔✔what is the flush cycle? - ✔✔rinses away soils before detergent is added, helps
prevent stains from setting and prepare garments for chemical exposure by bringing
them to the correct temperature.
✔✔when does flush cycle occur? - ✔✔usually first in washing cycle
✔✔where should you soak garments? - ✔✔controlled environment such as washing
machine
✔✔What is in a soak bath? - ✔✔water and a mild detergent with emulsifier
✔✔can you soak uniforms on the way home from a game? - ✔✔no
✔✔what is pre-wash? - ✔✔usually first cycle on fixed cycle washing machines, allows
water to remove loose granules that sit on fabric, and allows fabric to absorb water
(similar to flush)
✔✔how long is prewash? - ✔✔1-5 minutes (usually 3)
,✔✔what temperature will red dyes bleed at? - ✔✔95 degrees
✔✔what temperature will blues and greens bleed at? - ✔✔110 degrees
✔✔What are elements of cleaning efficiency? - ✔✔W.A.T.C.H. (Water, Action, Time,
Chemical, Heat)
✔✔What does WATCH stand for? - ✔✔-Water
-Action
-Temperature
-Chemical
-Heat
✔✔should you send uniforms to the dry cleaners? - ✔✔Only when absolutely necessary
(not recommended)
✔✔what temperature should uniforms be washed? - ✔✔cool to warm water
✔✔what is hard water? - ✔✔any water with a concentration of grains above 5 parts per
million
✔✔what is soft water? - ✔✔any water with a concentration of grains below 5 parts per
million
✔✔what type of water is harder to work with? - ✔✔Hard water
✔✔what does "action" mean in WATCH? - ✔✔agitation, pounding or dropping of
laundry in washing machine
✔✔how do you optimize mechanical action? - ✔✔use low water levels in 57 inch range
✔✔what temperature is best for medium-heavy spoiled garments? - ✔✔90-110 degrees
✔✔what temperature is best for lightly spoiled garments? - ✔✔80-90 degrees
✔✔what temperature is best for rinse and flush cycles? - ✔✔40-72 degrees
✔✔what is included in a color set formula? - ✔✔add 1 lb of salt to cold water wash
formula
✔✔Do detergents remove soil at any temperature? - ✔✔No, many only remove soil
once they reach a certain water temperature (these detergents shouldn't be used on
colored items)
, ✔✔what are the three criteria to determine how laundry is sorted - ✔✔-soil (type and
extent)
-fabric (type, weave and color)
- finishing process (drying process)
✔✔should you soak uniforms on the way home from a game? - ✔✔NEVER
✔✔what is the exchange system? - ✔✔patrons turn in something of value (ex. drivers
license or student ID), and get a towel or something else in exchange. Once towel is
returned, they get their valuable back.
✔✔when is exchange system most popular? - ✔✔when only towel service is offered
✔✔what is bag system? - ✔✔uses a mesh bag to gather, wash and issue laundry
✔✔pros of bag system - ✔✔-athletes are responsible for turning in laundry
-athlete number is clearly identifiable
-items remain together during cleaning process
✔✔cons of bag system - ✔✔-gear wads up and doesn't get clean or dry
- extend drying time by 100%
-stains are hard to notice until its too late
-metal pins on bags tend to be loud in washer and dryer
✔✔what is loop system? - ✔✔all dirty items are placed on canvas loop and turned in by
athlete.
✔✔pros of loop system - ✔✔-athletes responsible for their laundry loop
-loops are easily issued
-all advantages of bag system but not as loud in washer/dryer
✔✔cons of loop system - ✔✔loops can wear out overtime
✔✔what is the roll system? - ✔✔clothes are rolled inside a towel then issued
✔✔is the roll system effective? - ✔✔No, disadvantages far outweigh advantages
✔✔what laundry system is used most in athletic departments? - ✔✔combination of all
systems depending on what works best for specific laundry needs
✔✔what are laundry bins or hampers made of? - ✔✔canvas, vinyl or polyethylene
