How to calculate your care home laundry needs
In the UK, there are close to 16,700 care homes with some housing just one single resident, while the average care home has 60 beds. But, we know that no matter the size or type of home you have, finding the right laundry solution is essential to the ongoing operation of your care home. WASHCO is here with a guide on what the different types of laundry capacity look like, how to calculate the right laundry capacity and which machines are right for your home.
The different types of laundry capacity
Each laundry equipment offers various features, such as smart technology, heat input options, and so much more, but there is one key difference that you’ll need to consider. As care homes cater to larger resident sizes than the average household, it’s important to choose the right size and combination of machines. This refers to the number of kilograms that the drum can hold, for example 1kg of laundry would be equal to one shirt and one pair of jeans, or alternatively, two bath towels.
For care homes, commercial washing machine capacities can range from 6kg up to a massive 60kg for a single machine. Similarly, commercial tumble dryers are even bigger, with our range at WASHCO offering capacities up to 90kg. As a result, it’s crucial to find the right solution for your home as you may have a setup that is too small for your laundry needs.
Are you struggling to figure out the right laundry capacity for your care or nursing home? Don’t worry, we know it can be difficult to work out so we’ve created a handy calculator that is the ideal guide. Just fill in what type of home you have (care, nursing, etc.) and how many residents there are, to get a calculation of what you may need. However, we’d always recommend speaking to one of our experts to ensure you have all the information you need before making your decision.
The importance of the right capacity laundry equipment
From operations to environmental impact, having the wrong equipment can severely affect the efficiency of your laundry operation. Read on to discover why it’s so important to invest in the right machine capacity for your care or nursing home.
Machine performance
On, average commercial washing machines and dryers last 10-15 years, with some lasting longer if well maintained. Miele Professional machines, for example, can last up to 20 years and have been tested to run up to 35,000 cycles. This was tested by running the 95 degrees celsius programme for 10,000 hours and closing the door 60,000 times.
If you’ve had your laundry equipment for a long time, it’s a good idea to check whether it is still suitable for your needs or if performance efficiency is being lost due to its age.
Environmental impact
Using equipment that is energy efficient with the capacity that suits your needs will reduce the number of washes, saving both water usage and electricity. The two biggest impacts, however, include making sure machines aren’t being under or overloaded and checking whether machines have automatic weighting systems which allow the water to be adjusted based on the weight of the laundry.
At WASHCO, we’re committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility with our accreditation of the internationally recognised standard ISO 14001. While on our journey to Net Zero, we are also helping our customers reach their own goals at the same time. By providing data analysis features with their smart laundry equipment, the team are now able to prove exactly what resources are being used, while having complete visibility via the cloud whenever they need it.
Effective and efficient operations
Streamlining processes is also key to the efficiency of your laundry room operation. Speak to your staff to understand the current challenges and how machine improvements can improve efficiency. WASHCO can also support by reviewing your operations and looking at the whole process to see where improvements can be made.
Running costs
Every year, a typical care home spends over £50,000 on energy. Having the right equipment will allow you to maximise your loads and reduce the outgoing costs of water, heat, and power usage.
How many machines to choose for a laundry room
With variations in care home type and the volume of residents, the number of laundry machines you will need can differ hugely from home to home. At WASHCO, we can advise on a case-by-case basis, providing an in-depth review of your laundry room’s space and how many machines may be required for your home based on your current and future needs.
Before enlisting professional services, we recommend taking a look at the care home calculator. It’s a great indicator of the capacity you will require and can also help in giving you an initial idea on the number / range of machines you will need as part of your laundry room setup.
Choosing the right capacity
Make sure your care or nursing home laundry has the right capacity with our simple calculator below.
Care Home Calculator
Contact WASHCO to get a quote
As specialists in commercial laundry equipment, our team at WASHCO can help you find the right solution for your care or nursing home. We’ll help you choose from a wide range of commercial washers, dryers and ironers across a range of budgets.
Get in touch with us today to get a quote on your laundry needs.