Things That Are Costing You Money in Your On-Premise Laundry Room

If you’re like most savvy business owners and managers, you’re always on the lookout for tips, tricks, and strategies that can help your business save money and be more efficient. For many businesses with on-premise laundry equipment — like hotels, restaurants, salons, and fitness centers — improved efficiency and cost-savings can start right in your laundry room. Below we’re sharing some of the most common mistakes we see in on-premise laundry rooms and how you can fix them to save time, energy, and money.

1. Overfilling or under-filling machines.

This is one of the most common mistakes that people make in on-premise laundry rooms. While you may think packing more linens in the machine will help cut down on time and additional loads, that’s not the case. By overfilling your washers and dryers, you’re putting additional strain on the machines and not allowing them to operate efficiently. Oftentimes, overfilled loads require extra cycles to get the large loads clean and dry anyway, so you’re really not saving time or money. In addition, you may risk damaging and wearing out your equipment, which can cost you even more in the long run. In a similar vein, under-filling your machines also causes problems. If you’re not filling your machines to capacity, you’re wasting time doing extra loads and causing your utility bills to go up in the process.

Remember, your commercial laundry equipment is designed for a certain capacity. The best size washers and dryers oftentimes depend on your industry and the design of your laundry room. A trusted commercial laundry distributor, like Coin-O-Matic, can help determine what machines would best meet your laundry needs. Having a laundry scale handy can also help make sure you’re filling your machines properly every time.  

2. Not using the correct amount of laundry soaps, detergents, and chemicals.

While this seems basic, many OPL employees don’t take the time to properly measure their soap or monitor usage. Detergents and soaps are a necessity but can be expensive and costs can quickly add up in a high-volume OPL facility. You’ll want to make sure you’re following usage recommendations to avoid wasting the products or causing damage to your machines and linens.

The kind of detergents and soaps you’re using can also make a big difference. There are multiple varieties of cleaners available, so be sure to do your homework. Some cleaners may cost more upfront but may cause less wear and tear on machines and fabrics, while others may be cheaper to purchase but have additional chemicals that require longer cycles or hotter water temperatures that can raise your costs.

3. Not keeping your on-premise laundry equipment clean and maintained.

It’s easy to let maintenance and cleanliness take a back seat to all the day-to-day responsibility of managing your laundry room. However, letting these tasks fall to wayside can cause some serious safety issues and increased expenses.

Machines that aren’t properly maintained tend to have more issues and pose an increased risk for leaks and fires. At a minimum, you’re dealing with machine downtime and costly repairs and replacement parts. In a worst-case scenario, you may be dealing with flooding, electrical issues, or legal issues due to an employee slipping or getting an electrical shock at work. With all that in mind, it’s best to perform routine maintenance.

Routine maintenance and inspection is the best way to prevent major, costly repairs. It’s a lot easier to fix or replace a part early on than after it becomes a serious issue. Regularly check for leaks in the hoses, clean out the lint screens, wipe down machines, document issues, etc. To help save you money, Coin-O-Matic offers free service training to teach customers about basic maintenance and repairs for Speed Queen equipment.

4. Using old, outdated equipment.

Laundry technology is progressing faster than ever before. If you’re new to the game or it has been a while since you looked to upgrade your equipment, you may be surprised at how new machines can save you money and improve the efficiency of your laundry operation.

The industrial Speed Queen machines we sell are designed to be more energy-efficient than older models, which can save you hundreds to thousands per year on utility costs. State-of-the-art Quantum Controls also give you more control over wash settings, like water levels and water temperatures, which can also have a significant impact on your heat and water usage.  

On top of that, added controls can help make sure you’re getting the best wash — with proper temperature, water levels, speed, and capacity — every time, which helps to reduce having to double wash something or extend your cycles, which saves time, money, and labor costs. The machines can also alert you to maintenance issues, like leaks, before they become major issues.

Partner with Coin-O-Matic

If it’s time for a laundry equipment upgrade or you need some insights on how to take your OPL facility to the next level, the laundry experts at Coin-O-Matic are here to help. Learn more about the various industries we serve and how Coin-O-Matic helps meet the laundry needs of on-premise facilities like yours!