provides a tunnel washer 11 having an inlet end portion 12 and an outlet end portion 13 in fig1 tunnel washer 11 provides a number of modules 14 25 the plurality of modules 14 25 can include modules which can be dual use modules in that the dual use modules function as both main wash and rinse modules the total number of modules 14 25 can be more or less than the number of modules shown in fig1 2 inlet end portion 12 can provide a hopper 26 that enables the intake of textiles or fabric articles to be washed such fabric articles textiles and goods to be washed can include clothing linens towels and the like an water extractor device 30 can be positioned next to the outlet end portion 13 of tunnel washer 11 flow lines are provided for adding water and or chemicals e g cleaning chemicals detergent etc to tunnel washer 11 when the fabric articles goods and or linens are initially transferred into modules 14 25 an interrupted counterflow for a part of the batch transfer time is used by using this interrupted counterflow for part e g between about fifty and ninety percent 50 90 preferably about seventy five percent 75 of the batch transfer time each module 14 25 performs as a separate batch batch transfer time can be defined as the time that the fabric articles linens remain in a module before transfer to the next successive module by halting counterflow when some of the modules are functioning as main wash modules this creates essentially a standing bath for the washing process and allows the cleaning chemicals to perform their function fully without any dilution from a counterflow of fluid within the.