A Commercial Laundry Equipment Buying Guide for Hospitality and Hotels

Are you thinking about updating your hotel laundry equipment? Understanding the machinery you need can be daunting with so many features, sizes and speeds. 

We’ve created this buyer’s guide to help you understand the best solutions for your laundry room.

Do you need an on-premise laundry?

Before investing in laundry equipment, it is important to understand the right solution for your business. Options include using an external laundry provider, choosing to manage some items in-house (e.g., towels and robes), or managing everything in-house.

Advantages of an on-premise laundry: 

• Direct control over both the quality and control of costs. 
• You can minimise linen damage through the management of wash chemicals and detergents. 
• You can control the process and react quickly to any fluctuations in requirements. 
• The ability to handle guests clothing in-house, which can be an additional source of revenue.

Advantages of linen hire or contracting laundry out:

It allows all resources, including management and staff, to focus on the core business:

• Valuable space isn’t taken up by a laundry.
• You avoid the capital equipment cost of purchasing laundry equipment.

Advantages of mixing an on-premise laundry and contracting out:

• Items such as towels and robes can be easily washed and tumbled in-house, allowing you to react quickly and manage quality.
• A small laundry also gives you the ability to launder your uniforms and mop heads.
• Items such as bed and table linen are best contracted out, saving you space, capital investment and providing flexibility where needed.
  

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as every operation is different. Depending on your needs, you may use an outside service for select items while laundering other items in-house. We always recommend you seek guidance to help you make the right choice. Most reputable companies will offer a free consultation.

Hospitality Laundry Machine Type

The variety and features vary with hospitality laundry machines, and depending on your needs, they have different purposes and running costs. Here is our breakdown of the standard laundry machines available:

Front Loader

As the most recognisable machine type, there are many good reasons why these are so popular. Offering a larger drum capacity, water efficiency, and excellent cleaning results, they also save space, especially for smaller laundry rooms, by opening at the front and leaving space above for other necessary equipment.

Stack combo

For a two-in-one solution, the stack combo of washer/dryer is perfect. Having both your cleaning and drying solutions in one unit is perfect for space-saving, operational efficiency, and a more affordable combination, however, this option is limited in terms of capacity due to weight restrictions.

What size commercial machine do you need?

Do you know the KG of your current washing machine? Do you know the KG you need? 

6 – 11kg

• Ideal for smaller hotels, B&Bs and spas that operate an in-house towel laundry.
• Includes the ever-popular Miele Little Giants range, which features inbuilt thermal disinfection programmes.
• Perfect for small spaces where your equipment needs to work hard.

12 – 28kg

• Robust and reliable, utilising the latest technology with a user-friendly, touchscreen interface.
• Includes the Primus FX washing machine range and DX dryer range.
• DX range includes energy-saving features such as residual moisture.

Smart Laundry Equipment

• WASHCONNECT, fully visible, connected machine.
• Washers available up to 60 kg. Dryers up to 24 kg.
• 360-degree visibility of your laundry and resource planning.

Washing machine speeds – what do you need?

Speed is an essential factor when considering a suitable commercial washing machine. It can cut down drying times, create efficiencies necessary for hotels and hospitality and ensure your laundry is washed to a high standard.

It’s important to know the speed of the machine you’re considering.  The higher the washing machine speed, the more water is extracted from the linen, resulting in a shorter drying time in the dryer or on the line.

For hotels and spas that wash heavy fabrics such as bed linen, robes, and towels, a high-speed washing machine is a must-buy. Not only will it help save time, but its lifespan will also be far longer than that of a lower-speed machine that needs to work harder.

Cycle length of commercial laundry machines for the hospitality industry

To run an efficient laundry, your commercial machinery needs to work with your timings for a quick and efficient turnaround without compromising the quality of the cleaning.

Understanding the cycle length of your washing machines and tumble dryers is key to having whiter-than-white linens, and ensuring your rooms, tables, and clientele have everything they need for a pleasant experience.

These are the standard cycle times for most commercial washing machines: 

These cycle times are guidelines only. With programmable machines, you can create bespoke programmes to suit your business-specific needs and delight your customers.

Laundry machine features:

Commercial laundry machines have several features that drastically improve their use and increase efficiencies within any laundry room. 

Auto-dosing

This incredibly useful feature accurately dispenses detergents every wash. This reduces wastage, prevents leftover residue in fabrics, and ensures that all compliances are met.

Temperature Control

Autonomy of your laundry equipment gives you control and reassurance that it’s working as you need it to. When considering your washing or drying equipment, check the options for temperature control, taking into account the fabrics you’re commonly cleaning and the compliances you need to adhere to cleaning standards.

Delayed Start

Nothing should stop you and your teams from maintaining an efficient laundry room operation. The delayed start feature on washing machines is useful to set prior to work hours so laundry is ready to go in the dryer and prevents staff from waiting for cycles to finish at the start of the day.

Electricity consumption

Businesses may be looking for machine options that help improve their Corporate and Social Responsibilities. 

Water Regulations Approval Scheme

WRAS (Water Regulations Approval Scheme) accreditation ensures that plumbing products comply with the UK’s water supply regulations, helping to prevent contamination and promote efficient water use.

For washing machines, WRAS 5 accreditation specifically refers to the highest level of backflow prevention, known as Fluid Category 5. This means the washing machine has built-in measures to prevent any potential contamination of the water supply from hazardous substances https://www.wrasapprovals.co.uk/

Installation considerations

The below is a very broad guide on the services required within your laundry; however, it is highly dependent on your site and the machines which are chosen. Therefore, reputable suppliers typically install machines once they have carried out a site survey.

Washing machine service requirements 

Water 

Extremely variable based on the capacity of the machine you select. Ideally, a cold and hot water feed with good water pressure within 1m of the rear of the machine.

Drainage

Requirements are dependent on whether you have a drain pump or gravity drain machine, however, the drainage must always fall away from the machine. 

Power

Most machines within a certain environment require a dedicated hard-wired power supply, i.e., a three-phase power source.

Dryer service requirements

Power / Heating Source

Dryers can be heated by gas or electricity and that will affect the services they require.

Exhaust ducting

Any vented dryer must exhaust via ducting. With a gas-heated dryer, the design and make-up of this ducting are governed by Gas Safe regulations, which must be adhered to. There must also be

a source of make-up air, e.g., a grill in an external wall.

Water/Drainage

Modern heat pump dryers require both a cold water source and drainage (model dependent).

Service and Maintenance Packages

Maintenance and repair are key components to consider when buying your equipment. 

Call out/ ad-hoc

This model means you only pay for service or repairs when needed. It could save you money, depending on the reliability of your machines, but you’ll have to manage servicing your equipment at the right time. It can be more difficult to manage cash flow as you don’t know what your monthly costs will be.

Service contract

A service contract can be for repair only or repair and service/ maintenance. Doublecheck when you buy a new machine what the warranty includes. This is to ensure that you’ve got the cover you need. For example, warranties often don’t cover you for servicing such as gas checks.

Service checklist

WASHING MACHINES

• Inspect and clean water inlet filters.
• Inspect and clean drain pump.
• Drum alignment check.
• Check for bearing or motor noise.
• Foot brackets secure/tight.
• Fill hoses visibly sound/no leaks.
• Inspect and clean door seal/glass, check for signs of wear, perishing or leak.
• Door locking operational.
• Cycle and start buttons operational.
• Inspect and adjust drive belts.
• Inspect all electrical components.
• Note condition of machine.
• Test insulation resistance.
• Test earth continuity.
• Test earth loop impedance.
• Inspect MCB/fuse/RCBO/RCD.
• Replace any defective parts.

Dryers

• Drum condition and displacement check.
• Check for bearing or motor noise.
• Check rollers.
• Inspect and load test heaters.
• Inspect main drive motor.
• Inspect fan motor.
• Inspect and clean vent hose and vent outlet.
• Door switch and lint screen access panel switches operational.
• Clean lint filter.
• Vaccum out lint from cabinet and filters
• Cycle and start buttons operational.
• Inspect all electrical components.
• Note condition of machine.
• Test insulation resistance.
• Test earth continuity.
• Test earth loop impedance.
• Inspect MCB/fuse/RCBO/RCD.

Rent Commercial Laundry Machinery

Did you know you don’t have to purchase your commercial laundry machinery? Rental is an option and can open up  huge savings and benefits, including:

• No upfront cost.
• Your monthly cost includes equipment, service and repair.
• Ensures your equipment is up to date and meets current legislation/guidelines.
• Predictable monthly expenses making budgeting easier.
• You may be able to rent equipment which offers more value than your capital budget would allow.
• Spread costs over a longer period.
• The business can usually deduct the full cost of rentals from taxable income.
• The rental company carries the risk if it breaks down and will replace it with a new machine if it can’t be repaired.
• If you need to update or replace the equipment, you can make a small adjustment to your regular payment.

WASHCO can help with all your laundry room needs

WASHCO can advise which machines are best suited to your needs based on capacity, cycle length, features, and size. Contact the team today to discuss your needs, or download our PDF for more information.

Download the hospitality buyer’s guide