Pralnica

Pralnica is a facility for washing and finishing textiles, commonly used to mean a laundry. In Slovenian-speaking regions the term covers both self-service laundries, where customers operate coin- or card-operated washing and drying machines, and professional laundries that handle textiles for households, hotels, hospitals and other institutions. The goal is to clean, dry and sometimes finish garments and household textiles with a standardized process.

Typical services include washing, drying, ironing or pressing, folding and packaging. Some pralnice specialize in dry cleaning, stain removal and customer requests for delicate fabrics. Industrial or commercial pralnice process large volumes and may offer pickup and delivery, inventory control, and quality assurance.

Process and equipment vary by service level. Self-service laundries provide machines of different load sizes, temperature controls and wash programs. Commercial facilities use industrial washing machines and tumble dryers, with automated sorting, garment care labels, and finishing lines. Environmental considerations include water and energy use, detergent management and wastewater treatment. In some contexts, pralnica services may also address linen and textile rental needs for institutions.

History and regulation: The concept emerged with mechanization of domestic washing in the 19th and 20th centuries and expanded with industrial laundry technology. Modern pralnice operate under local health, safety and environmental regulations and may hold certifications for hygiene standards in places such as hospitals and hotels. The term remains a general label for facilities dedicated to cleaning, finishing and delivering textiles ready for use.