Abstract: In a laundering process which includes providing steam at high pressure, directly blowing the steam into fresh water in order to heat the water, and washing and rinsing laundry using the heated fresh water, the step of directly blowing is carried out by delivering at least part of the steam into the fresh water by directing that steam through the laundry which has been rinsed while subjecting the steam to a pressure reduction in a manner to cause the steam to extract rinse water from the laundry which has been rinsed, and conducting the steam and the extracted rinse water into the fresh water in order to heat the fresh water with accompanying condensation of the steam.

Abstract: In a laundering process which includes providing steam at high pressure, directly blowing the steam into fresh water in order to heat the water, and washing and rinsing laundry using the heated fresh water, the step of directly blowing is carried out by delivering at least part of the steam into the fresh water by directing that steam through the laundry which has been rinsed while subjecting the steam to a pressure reduction in a manner to cause the steam to extract rinse water from the laundry which has been rinsed, and conducting the steam and the extracted rinse water into the fresh water in order to heat the fresh water with accompanying condensation of the steam.