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Managing a hotel laundry operation efficiently is no easy task. But, it’s an important one – laundry plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality and cleanliness of your hotel, directly affecting guest satisfaction and overall operational costs.
In this guide, we’ll be providing helpful insight into how to run your operations efficiently to save money, why you should encourage environmental stewardship and the importance of upgrades and servicing.
Understand your laundry needs
Hotels undertake a massive amount of laundry on a daily basis: everything from towels, bed linen, personal laundry services of guests and laundry from on-site restaurants – all of these require a service. In fact, every year, a hotel with 100 rooms goes through a whopping 180,000kg of laundry.
So, if there are inefficiencies in the system, the costs associated with hotel laundry can quickly mount up: water bills, energy costs, labour expenses, maintenance costs and replacement to name a few. Every hotel will have these outgoing expenses, that’s why knowing the needs of your laundry is essential for cost saving.
Our Top Tips for Saving Money
With the high volume of laundry that hotels turn over daily, running a smooth process can significantly impact overall operational costs. By implementing effective strategies and best practices, you can ensure your laundry reduces expenses and maintains the high standards your guests expect.
Here are our top tips to help your hotel laundry run as cost-effectively as possible:
Make sure your washing machines are full on every cycle
It’s always important to make sure your washing machines are not underfilled, as this will waste energy and water costs.
The 1-hand rule is a great guide to follow – just make sure a hand’s width gap is left at the top of the drum (equal to filling roughly ¾ of the drum). If you underfill your machines it can also result in an unpleasant, loud banging noise on the spin cycle. Intelligent machines can weigh the load automatically to make sure it’s not under/overfilled and dispense the right amount of detergent accordingly.
Clean your lint filters regularly
It’s easy to forget, but the build-up from your dryer’s lint filter should be removed regularly. When not cleaned, the air can’t circulate properly which causes your dryer to work harder and each load will take longer to dry, ultimately increasing your energy usage, reducing the machine’s lifespan and becoming a fire risk.
Reduce detergent waste with auto-dosing
Auto-dosing detergents is a great way to save money, whilst maintaining the best performance. It ensures that the right levels of detergents and chemicals are used, reducing waste going down the drain.
Knowing what detergents and chemicals you need for your laundry can be confusing. Check out our handy guide for some advice here.
Invest in commercial machines
If you are running a smaller hotel operation or an AirBnb, a domestic machine can cost less initially. However, they are likely to need replacing sooner which can be more expensive in the long run. The warranty is also at risk of being void if used in a commercial setting. Domestic machines are not designed for frequent, commercial use which can lead to more breakdowns and consequently increase your costs.
Find out what sets commercial laundry equipment apart from domestic machines here.
If you outsource your laundry, consider an in-house towel laundry
You may not have the space to put in a full on-premise laundry if you outsource everything or most things except towels and robes. However, it could be more cost-effective for you to install a small in-house laundry. Specific items such as towels can be easily washed and tumbled in-house, allowing you to react quickly and manage quality. You can also launder your own uniforms and mop heads, helping with infection control.
Encourage guests to reuse their towels
Did you know? 75% of the environmental impacts that hotels face can be directly linked to the excessive consumption of resources.
Before you think about purchasing more machines to cope with demand, take a look at how much laundry you’re currently undertaking. And more importantly, can you find a way to reduce it? By investing in sustainability initiatives, you’ll be able to educate guests on their resource usage and foster environmental stewardship.
Do this by engaging your guests with signage that encourages reducing consumption. For example, the reuse of towels and bedding or implementing a rule whereby used towels that are hanging up will be reused while those left on the floor are to be replaced. This results in fewer loads of laundry, meaning less water consumption, reducing unnecessary operational costs.
By demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, you not only enhance guest satisfaction but also attract eco-conscious clientele and can increase your brand’s reputation within the hospitality industry.
Update older laundry equipment
How old is your laundry equipment? A well-maintained commercial dryer can last up to 15 years before its useful life has run its course, while a commercial washing machine generally lasts up to 12 years. If your equipment is nearing or beyond its typical lifespan, upgrading can be a worthwhile investment.
From improved efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced performance to better customer satisfaction, there are a number of reasons why you’ll want to upgrade with rental options available for most machines.
Modern machines often have shorter wash cycles, allowing you to complete more loads in less time. With improved cleaning capabilities, newer equipment ensures better stain removal and fabric care. Smart technology integration with digital systems allows for remote monitoring and management, streamlining your laundry operations. Newer machines are also designed to be more energy efficient so you’ll see the benefits of saving on both water and energy bills.
Cleanliness should always be at the forefront – by investing in these upgrades you can be sure that your guests are receiving the quality of laundry they deserve. If you’re thinking about updating your equipment, we’ve created this handy buyer’s guide to hotel laundry to help you take the first steps.
Ensure laundry equipment is regularly serviced
Breakdowns can be a real source of pain – whether it’s one machine down or several, it can have a huge resounding impact on the efficiency of your hotel laundry operations. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that all of your laundry equipment is regularly serviced with access to call outs whenever you need it.
A well-maintained machine can also extend its lifespan – being able to spot potential issues sooner rather than later means your machines can be repaired before they become costly, unnecessary replacements. Plus, it keeps your downtime to a minimum, helping you save time and money from operational losses.
WASHCO can provide the solutions
If you need efficient, reliable laundry equipment which doesn’t distract from the day-to-day running of your business then we’re here to help. At WASHCO, we can offer you a wide variety of laundry equipment, including washing machines, dryers and ironers from top brands like Miele, Primus and Speed Queen.
From fully comprehensive packages to annual maintenance checks or fixed cost options, we can continue to support you in the day-to-day. With flexible financing arrangements, we make it easy for you to find the right solution from commercial laundry experts who know their stuff – discover how WASHCO overhauled a historic laundry system at The Savoy Hotel.
Get in touch with us today or take a look at our free hotel resources.