Having an efficient and well-designed on-premises laundry room is essential across many different industries, such as hospitality. When you build these rooms, buy equipment, and train staff, you need to give everything the proper attention it deserves to get the most significant number of benefits from these services. Read on to learn more about what to consider when designing an on-premises laundry room.

What Will the Layout Be?

There are several variables to consider while designing your laundry room layout. You must ensure that you have enough floor space to house all necessary equipment and allow for the volume of labor required to run everything effectively. The room must primarily accommodate a range of fixed and portable equipment and accessories, such as sorting tables, folding tables, laundry carts, clothes chutes, safety, and protective equipment, as well as chemical storage.

Flooring

The floor must be level, waterproof, and capable of draining all necessary polluted water to the drain, trapping it in the sewer. When possible, ceramic tiles or well-sealed concrete are your best options. Although other types of flooring, such as vinyl, can be used, they will not last as long before needing repairs or replacement. Ensure that the floor can also bear the weight of the equipment and raise the machines to help with loading and draining them.

Ventilation

Machines tend to generate a lot of heat and humidity during the washing and drying process. That’s why your on-premises laundry room needs to have proper ventilation so that you are drawing hot and humid air away as soon as it’s released. Having the right exhaust installed will take away a good part, while an extraction fan venting to the atmosphere will remove the rest. Make sure fresh air is flowing back into the room at every step.

Drainage

You will need to have the proper drainage systems to dispose of foul water after the washing process. Typically, you’ll be looking at installing a drain trough found underneath, behind, or between machines and have them built according to your location’s specific operational capacity. These troughs get made to withstand a complete dump of every device simultaneously, especially in a power outage. The draining systems will then empty directly into the plumbing, so you need to make sure your systems can effectively handle these additional loads.

Walls

To deal with excess moisture in the air from condensation, the walls should be either painted or plastic coated oil, and there should be no gaps or open places where lint can collect. Having lint buildup is a potential fire hazard that you need to be always on the lookout for. You should be able to install machines near walls without issue as well, such as oddly shaped enclosures or partitions.

Fire Protection

You must guarantee that your on-premises laundry room has several accessible exits in case of a fire, especially if your laundry room is in a basement. You also need to ensure that it complies with all OSHA safety regulations. Make sure the exits are well marked and easy to walk through to a safe area and that fire extinguishers are available throughout the space. You should install a fully automated sprinkler system that responds promptly to danger, as well as placing smoke detectors near tumble driers and where freshly dried linens are stored. You should fully train employees in fire safety protocols to know precisely what to do if a fire breaks out.

Location

Your location can play a big hand in deciding what equipment you will use. When starting construction from the ground up, you should aim for thick cement for your flooring. Furthermore, this flooring should rest on compacted earth and avoid building on top of existing structures to have the option of using hard-mount washer-extractors.

By mounting the washers on stable, concrete flooring, you will significantly reduce the number of vibration-control parts needed. Having fewer components generally means fewer parts that need to be supported and repaired, saving you money and downtime.

Soft-mount washer-extractors should be highly considered when operating inside an existing infrastructure or situating the laundry room on the upper floor of your building. These machines feature stabilizing components that carry minimal vibration down the floor, allowing them to be put almost anywhere without irritating neighbors, employees, or customers on all sides of the laundry room. Therefore, once you’ve determined your possible site, you can begin arranging for the equipment you’ll need.

What Will Training Look Like

The final design decisions you choose will largely determine parts of your training with employees. For example, different machines will have different ideal detergent mixes and wash settings. You will also want to make sure every staff member is using the space as efficiently as possible, whether it’s a system for loading and unloading carts or finding the best possible storage space that is easy to access.

You will also need to consider all the safety measures you will need to put in place that can affect your design and ensure all employees are well versed in proper practices. Create written processes and techniques for how to conduct laundry tasks, particularly laundry collecting and organizing. This will streamline the training process, prevent linens from being lost or damaged, and make everyone’s job a little easier.

Talk To the Experts

One of the best ways to start your on-premises laundry room design is to consult with laundry service representatives who are highly knowledgeable about what type of machines and layouts will work best with your industry needs. Your distributor will give you advice throughout the process to ensure that you have the best possible setup to run your laundry services efficiently. You’ll be able to make decisions on machines more confidently and trust that your linens, garments, and customer clothing is in safe hands.

Hopefully, this guide can help you when you’re looking for what to consider when designing an on-premises laundry room. The best place to start is working with trusted laundry equipment professionals like the experts at Yamamoto. Yamamoto is family-owned and managed in Hiroshima, Japan, and has produced laundry equipment for more than 70 years.

We can provide an industrial-strength washer and dryer that has all the benefits of a split system with half the size requirements. They are perfect when you are designing an on-premises laundry room and want to fit in more machines or have extra space available while still meeting your needs. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.

Hotels are all about the guests. Having on-premise laundry can add tremendously to your guests’ overall experience, but it can also be detrimental if you aren’t running these services efficiently. Here are some mistakes you may be making in your hotel’s laundry room.

Not Regularly Servicing Machines

Cleaning your laundry machines on a regular basis goes a long way. Wiping down their doors, sides, bases, and seals help prevent early wear and tear and keeps your attendants informed about the current state of the machines.

Some machines have small lint filters to prevent dust and debris from tarnishing electrical connections in the power cabinets. Those should be checked, cleaned, and, if necessary, replaced.

The most common service call among any commercial laundry brand stems from clogged valves. Drain valves and fill valves are two of the most frequently triggered mechanisms on laundry equipment. Over time, it’s common for foreign debris to build up and cause flow issues. Some machines, such as Yamamoto, have self-serviceable drain and fill valves to make it easy for attendants to care for their unit. Check with your nearest distributor to see if they carry a brand like that.

Not Using the Proper Cleaning Solutions

It’s essential to use the right amount of chemicals and soaps for your hotel’s on-premises laundry. When it comes to chemical products, workers should follow the proper guidelines outlined when using them. Connect with your industrial chemical and cleaning solution supplier to make sure you follow the correct formulas and appropriately mix everything at the right times. Not following these guidelines can lead to linen damage, product waste, or prevent linens from being adequately washed. Make sure your linens are cleaned constantly; if they aren’t, it will negatively affect the guest experience and even your bottom line.

Not Training Properly

Hotel housekeeping and maintenance staff turnover are typical, which can make training and onboarding difficult. Suppose your workers don’t understand how to operate or process industrial laundry machinery. In that case, they can cause harm to your equipment, increase the costs associated with linen replacement, and affect the laundry machines’ overall effectiveness, consistency, and reliability. Make sure your training is helping your workers become more educated and motivated. You and your staff should recognize problems before they turn into significant issues. Instead, thorough training and awareness can help prevent workplace accidents. The right equipment offers clear descriptions of programs, steps, and alarms to make operating the machine extremely simple.

Using Old and Outdated Machines

Utility and maintenance costs on older machines accumulate rapidly. Older machines can be very harsh on the linens and fabrics your guests will be using, leading to miserable experiences for them. If you find that you’re constantly repairing old and worn-down machines, consider replacing them with more modern ones.

When you need to repair or replace your hotel’s laundry machines, the professionals at Yamamoto are here to help. We have a wide selection of soft-mount washer-extractors, washer-dryer combo units, and other products that are the perfect fit for your laundry facility. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.

Running your own dry-cleaning business is no easy feat. There are many factors to consider. The dry- cleaning industry is constantly being challenged to innovate to cope with changing market conditions. Whether people are getting ready for an important job interview or a special occasion, dry cleaners have been part of the preparation for many years. As a dry cleaner, you get to participate in the background of the biggest moments of people’s lives.

Dry cleaning is full of competition, and efficiency is extremely important to the success of a dry-cleaning shop. Check out the top ways to improve efficiency in your dry-cleaning business.

Improve Customer Communications

Customer communication is one of the main pain points for people who leave a dry-cleaning business they were once loyal to. In this digital era there is increased pressure for all businesses, regardless of industry, to communicate more frequently. Here are a few ways you can improve your customer communication and how it can increase your business’ efficiency.

Send Text Reminders

Many people prefer to communicate through text message for their services. Many brands collect customer phone numbers so they can set up an automated system to notify customers when their service is complete.

For dry cleaning, business owners can set up different automated messages to send out, with customer permission, confirming when things are received, cleaned, and ready to be picked up.

Sending out text reminders improve efficiency by speeding up the dry-cleaning process from drop off to pick up. Your customers will know exactly when they can pick up their clothing, freeing up space much faster in your shop.

You can also send out texts when regulars have not brought clothes in recently, reminding them that you have availability and are ready to clean their clothes quickly and proficiently.

Invest in Automation

While nearly every industry is experiencing a rise in labor charges, many facing labor shortages after the pandemic there is no better time to invest in equipment that can virtually pay for itself.

For example, automatic baggers are known to have a high price tag but considering the machine won’t call in sick on a Monday, won’t require an expensive wage/benefits, saves on plastic material costs, accelerates finishing processes, and more, the machine comes with incredible value.

Like automatic baggers, Wet Cleaning comes with a wide range of savings that helps pay for the initial investment in just a short time. We will talk about that later.

Set Realistic Expectations

Another part of efficiency improvement is setting realistic expectations for your company. Analyze what volume your company can successfully handle and adjust its intake to match the ideal goal. As you build a larger customer base, it is important to understand which goals are within reach and which are too lofty. Failing to do this accurately is a recipe for disgruntle employees, poor performance, and the loss of customers.

Much of this is based on your equipment and the size of your shop. If your equipment is not in good working condition or outdated, it is difficult to ensure that your business is efficient. For example, you can’t expect a spotter to keep up if they don’t have the right chemicals to remove stains quickly.

When your intake is higher than your ability, your efficiency decreases because there is backup. Customers may become upset when their clothing takes longer to clean than expected. Create a plan for sustainable growth. One of the best ways to reach goals is to invest in new equipment for your dry-cleaning business.

Invest in the Right Equipment

The right equipment can make all the difference in the way a dry-cleaning business runs. The future of dry cleaning is wet cleaning—believe it or not. Investing in an automated wet cleaning machine for your business can help increase your overall efficiency. The right equipment can change the entire way you dry clean your customers’ clothing.

A Harmony Cleaning System increases efficiency and reduces costs to about one third of the cost of a traditional dry-cleaning system. This lowers your electrical usage and bill which also leads to a more sustainable business environment.

Here are a few benefits of the Harmony Cleaning System for your dry-cleaning business:

• Eco-friendly technology (No expensive licenses)
• A better clean (Majority of stains are water based)
• Lower cost to own (Wet cleaning machines are cheaper to buy AND cheaper to service)
• No hazardous waste (No waste fees)
• Easy to clean (Less sorting)
• Gas or steam to heat (Process loads without ever turning on the boiler)

There are countless benefits to investing in new equipment. It also provides an edge on the competition.

There are many opportunities to find ways to improve efficiency in your dry-cleaning business. Start by setting realistic goals for yourself and investing in your company’s processes. Your business is your passion and investing in the best equipment gives you an edge against the competition and shows customers your dedication to your craft. By investing in wet cleaning equipment, you get to enjoy the future of dry cleaning today. Wet cleaning is the latest and greatest, available to dry cleaners everywhere.

If you are ready to take your dry-cleaning business to the next level in both efficiency and customer satisfaction, contact Yamamoto today. We can help you find the best systems for your business and show you how our products can raise you above the competition.

If you’re in a facility that requires commercial laundry equipment, you know how critical it is to have your machines running at peak efficiency. Sometimes, however, machines can break down, or your business needs start to expand. Learn more about the signs you need to upgrade your commercial laundry equipment below.

Older Equipment

If your machines are old and outdated, it may be time to replace them, even if they are still working. Many distributors are willing to offer price breaks when they know they’re replacing working equipment. In some cases, they’ll refurbish the older models for a customer who can’t afford new equipment while you enjoy the recent upgrade. Also, as machines age, the chance of failures and pricey repairs progressively occur more frequently. You don’t want to be left in a place where you’re forced to perform an expensive repair because you didn’t plan to replace your equipment when the time came.

Repeat Service Calls

Faulty and defective laundry equipment can add up in cost between the constant repair fees and lost labor time while machines are out of commission. If you find that your on-premises laundry equipment is constantly breaking down and the costs to service them continues to rise, you might consider investing in newer commercial machines. The money you save on repairs will undoubtedly make better financial sense overall.

High Utility Costs

It could be time to upgrade your equipment if your utility expenses are higher than usual. New energy-efficient commercial washers and dryers can help decrease your laundry operation’s water, electricity, and gas use. Each month, a single new washer-extractor may save between hundreds and thousands of gallons of water. With newer machines using less water, electricity, and gas, you save money instantly, and it’s better for the environment, too.

Business Needs Are Expanding

One of the more positive reasons to upgrade your commercial laundry equipment is that your business is outgrowing your initial equipment investments. You may find yourself having a challenging time outpacing demand, whether it’s an increase in customers, linens, or other services. Adding newer machines will help increase your efficiency and ability to handle more considerable load demands.

Paying close attention to the signs you need to upgrade your commercial laundry equipment can help you and your business lower costs in the long run. Then, when you’re ready to upgrade your equipment, turn to Yamamoto, a trusted laundry equipment manufacturer that’s well-equipped to meet your needs. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.

When choosing whether to focus on wet or dry cleaning for your business, it’s essential to understand the difference between them. The primary method you use will depend on the services you provide and your cleaning demands. You will also need to ensure you have the right equipment in place. Read on to learn more about the difference between wet cleaning and dry cleaning.

What Is Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning is a misnomer because the operator still uses liquids in the process, just not water. Instead of water, dry cleaning uses a liquid solvent to clean clothing. This is because certain materials, such as wool, leather, and silk, can be damaged by raw water.

Although clothing does become wet in the process of dry cleaning, the liquid solvent used can be extracted so when the load finishes the garments can be pressed and finished to be ready for customer pick up. Detergents are commonly added to these solvents to help with soil removal, fresh scents, etc.

Because these solvents are generally considered hazardous, the solvent does not get drained and removed the way a typical washer does with dirtied water. The solvent is re-claimed via a filtering or still process in between wash baths. The contaminants that have been captured during the re-claim process are then disposed of separately at the expense of the operator. Regularly operators also must clean/replace filters used to re-claim their solvent as well as replace their solvent after extended use. The combination of re-claiming solvent, disposing of contaminants, and replacing solvent can have significant cost impact on a cleaning plant.

Once the “wash” step is complete via the dry-cleaning machine, the clothes are then pressed with specialist machinery. The cleaner uses steam to relax creases, improve pressing, and facilitate final cleaning by eliminating any leftover water-soluble chemicals and debris.

What Is Wet Cleaning

Rather than chemical solvents, wet cleaning employs water and biodegradable detergents that typically consist of rare plant oils that act to protect the core fibers of a garment from raw water. The combination of a small amount of water and the right additive safely cleans “dry-clean only” fabrics in a remarkably less expensive and environmentally safe manor.

Wet cleaning has several benefits over dry cleaning. For example, since the cleaning solution is water soluble and environmentally safe it can be drain through the plants water system. Unlike dry-cleaning solvents that require license and waste removal companies.

Also, since the operator uses new solution and new water each time, they don’t have the cost associated with servicing or replacing filters, utilities used to operate a still, and they are assured no cross contamination between loads.

The common assumption that prevents operators from stepping towards wet cleaning is that it can’t handle everything a dry-cleaning machine can. This debate continues to raise arguments in which both sides have solid points. But it always goes back and forth.

• “You can’t do EVERYTHING in a wet-cleaning machine…”
  • “You also can’t do EVERYTHING in a dry-cleaning machine…”
• “My load takes longer to finish after a wet-cleaning machine…”
  • “The cleaning cycle is much longer in a dry-cleaning machine…”

Here are some facts:

1. The cost of a dry-cleaning machine is significantly more expensive than a wet-cleaning machine.
2. The cost to operate a dry-cleaning machine is significantly more expensive than a wet-cleaning machine. (In many cases its over 60% more expensive)
3. Not all wet-cleaning additives are the same. Several do NOT have the chemistry to safely clean delicate fibers like 100% silk, wool, or rayon. But some, like Harmony Cleaning System CAN with proper programing.
4. Dry-cleaning machines are more effective at removing oil-based soils from garments.
5. BOTH cleaning processes require proper sorting and finishing.

Hopefully, this has helped break down the difference between wet and dry cleaning. Wet cleaning is a relatively newer process compared to dry cleaning. Still, it can have a significant impact on your laundry services. Yamamoto offers high-quality wet cleaning machines for dry cleaners and other commercial industries. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.

Many commercial laundry owners find themselves running into roadblocks when their machinery breaks down. In worst-case scenarios, work can come to a complete halt after a fire. We know how to properly maintain commercial laundry equipment so that you can mitigate downtime and keep costs low.

Frequent Inspections

The best way to keep all of your equipment in great shape is to always know what condition it’s in. A weekly spot check is an excellent way to keep an eye out for minor issues, which you can catch before they turn into something that could cause significant downtime.

“But what do I inspect?” you may ask. Here are the basics.

Filters

Lint and debris can clog up any machine. Contrary to common belief, the lint filter in the dryer is not the only filter in laundry equipment. The best commercial washers have filters where fans blow air into the inverter or input/output board. Check and clean these regularly to make sure clean and cool air continues to regulate the machine’s temperature and prevent early wear and tear.

Belts

The belts used to rotate the drum of a dryer or a washer at +300G extract are subject to extreme RPMs and resistance. Typically, they are classified as a “wear part” and not covered under long warranties, so as soon as you see fraying or splitting, you should contact your local dealer. Failure to do so in time could result in a belt snapping or being thrown within the cabinet of the machine. The force of a snapped or thrown belt could cause all sorts of interior damage.

Drain Valves

Not all drain valves are built the same, but they all eventually get debris stuck in them. With a Yamamoto drain valve, you simply remove the four wing nuts (no tools necessary) and dislodge the obstruction. The majority of service calls from a commercial laundry are caused by a clogged drain valve.

Fill Valves

Many would be surprised by the amount of debris flowing through their water and steam lines. After constant use of a machine for extended periods of time, that debris can build up and cause valves to stick open or closed. Even the smallest leaking valve could waste several gallons of water per day. If not corrected or noticed over time, that extra water use can make a significant impact on an operations’ utilities.

Read the Manual

Whenever you acquire a new machine, take time to read the manual. It sounds tedious, but having an intricate understanding of how your equipment works is essential to understanding what it needs to stay operational and at full capacity. The manual also helps you troubleshoot when something goes wrong, so you can avoid unnecessary service calls for simple repairs. Hold onto it.

When It’s Time To Replace

In some cases, especially with old equipment that manufacturers no longer make parts for, there won’t be anything you can do except replace your machines. Thankfully, Yamamoto North America has industrial-grade laundry equipment that’s perfect for your needs. We also manufacture nearly every part of the machine in-house, so no matter how old your machine is, we can always provide service. Take a look at our products and get your laundry business back up and running.

Keep your laundry running, and never forget how to properly maintain commercial laundry equipment. Your business will be more effective if you perform preventative maintenance on your machines.

Have you ever reserved a hotel room only to discover it was filthy on the inside? Maybe you went to take a shower and saw the towels were stained or smelled of mildew. If you have, that experience probably soured the rest of your trip experience.

That is a fitting example of why, for hotel owners and managers, ensuring that your guests feel a maximum level of comfort with the sanitation of your linens is crucial to keeping them happy and encouraging repeat business. Continue reading to learn more about the impact of clean hotel linens on guest satisfaction.

Why Guest Satisfaction Is So Important

Customer satisfaction measures how successfully you meet your customers’ requirements and expectations. The goal of every business is to satisfy their customers’ needs and demands while still being profitable. For hotels, focusing on guest satisfaction is crucial in remaining competitive and delivering the highest quality service imaginable.

People Remember Long After They’ve Left

The happiness of each guest doesn’t stop becoming important the moment they finish their transaction and services. Guests will remember their hotel experiences—both exceptional and horrible—for a long time. From the first impression to the last, you’re creating a memory of your hotel they’ll reference the next time they’re choosing a one or making recommendations to their friends and family.

Help Keep Guests Coming Back

Another reason guest satisfaction is so important is because it’s much more cost-effective to keep current and former customers rather than trying to attract new ones. When people are content, they will keep coming back repeatedly, and that tremendously raises your return on your first investments to get them through the door of your hotel. Focusing on doing everything possible to increase their sense of happiness once they’re inside—rather than working hard to get them there in the first place—can pay off in spades.

How Clean Linens Impact Satisfaction

Every hotel needs to put out fresh towels, tablecloths, sheets, and much more every day to keep guests happy. When people see soiled, stained, or otherwise contaminated linens, the overall guest experience is permanently lowered.

Linens in Rooms

You must be supplying clean, fresh towels and sheets for every room every day. No one wants to try and fall asleep in bed only to discover their pillow reeks and is covered with coffee stains, for instance. When people notice they are getting clean linens, they will appreciate the service your hotel is providing. This goes a long way toward giving a great hygiene impression of their rooms.

Guests Going Poolside

Any hotels that have pools know how essential it is to have a constant supply of towels. You need to have a great laundry team and laundry equipment that can keep up with the demands of your guests as they come to and from your pool and hot tub. The towels will keep them dry, and prevent slips and the formation of puddles inside the lobby and corridors. Everyone will appreciate being able to grab a towel when they need one, and they’ll be especially happy when those towels appear immaculate.

Dining Experience

At the very least, many hotels will offer complimentary breakfast to all their guests with either a spread such as donuts and coffee or a full breakfast buffet including eggs and bacon. The tables holding these food items can get messy quickly, and guests will notice stained and soiled tablecloths. Changing dirty tablecloths for clean ones will ensure people are satisfied with the care you take around hygiene and their food.

This attention to detail also applies to any hotel restaurants that may use tablecloths, reusable napkins, and more. The guest experience can hinge on having spotless linens that add to the atmosphere. Clean linens can comfort them, and reassure them that they’re in a sanitary environment.

Best Ways for Hotels To Provide Clean Linens

Maintaining a constant flow of clean hotel linens, including sheets, tablecloths, towels, and comforters is a big challenge for even small hotels due to the number of guests that arrive year in and year out. Issues such as food waste from room service meals, spilled coffee, daily towel usage, and room turnover make it challenging to keep up with the demands for clean linens. Luckily, as long as a hotel has the right game plan—including a well-trained staff, storage space, and proper equipment—they should be able to rise and meet this challenge head-on with minimal issues or even none at all.

Well-Trained Staff

Guest satisfaction is crucial to the hotel industry’s success. You need to have the right policies in place so every employee, regardless of their position, understands your expectations for hygiene and will immediately attend to any soiled linens they come across. Thus, ensuring every employee’s performance meets the highest quality standards is essential—from the cleaners who change the bedspreads and bring fresh towels to the laundry workers who wash the linens. Emphasis must be placed on the proper way to wash fabrics to ensure they come out spotless each time.

High-Quality Equipment

When you have the right industrial laundry equipment, you can ensure your linens come out clean and fresh after every wash. Having efficient laundry equipment means guests aren’t waiting for you to restock linens every day, and you don’t need to have as much storage space for extra linens. Superior washers and dryers will also be incredibly durable, requiring few repairs and interruptions in service so you can avoid expensive outsourcing.

The impact of clean linens on guest satisfaction cannot be overstated. People pay attention to every aspect of the hygiene standards your hotel supplies them, and inferior performance in these areas can cost you a lot of money overall. Any hotel manager or owner needs to make sure they’re investing time and energy into ensuring every guest comes away highly satisfied with the cleanliness of their linens.

When looking to give people the best laundry service possible, start with the right washer and dryers. Yamamoto offers high-quality large industrial grade washers and dryers that can meet all your cleaning demands for an affordable price. Yamamoto machines outperform mass-produced competitors in terms of cleanliness while running at a far higher efficiency. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.

Industrial washer and dryer combination units have a wide range of benefits for different industries, including hospitals, hotels, laundromats, and many more. A washer-dryer combination unit brings a commercial dryer and a heavy duty front-load washer/extractor into a single frame that has a similar square foot to a traditional soft-mount washer. Here are some of the many benefits of industrial washer and dryer combination units.

They Save Space

One of the most significant benefits of washer and dryer combo units is that they’re great space savers. Washer-dryer combos eliminate the need to devote an area to two separate machines. So, you can virtually double your laundry capacity. The combo unit is perfect if your business needs to save room or if you want to fit more equipment in the same space.

They Lower Utility Costs

Washer dryer combination units have grown rapidly in the dry-cleaning market because they work well as an alternative to dry-cleaning. Many times, we find that we can reduce the cost per load to a small fraction of what it costs operators in a traditional system. In regard to other on-premise settings, the industrial grade combo units come standard with the industries best programming abilities. So, each load can be customized to maximize efficiency by using less water, drying for shorter periods, and in many cases saving detergent costs.

They Lower Labor Costs

Most operators do not recognize how much time is wasted switching a load from the washer to a dryer. Say for example in a hotel that has two traditional sets of 55lb washers and compatible dryers. If both set’s run for a conservative 8 loads per day that would be 16 total loads. Typically, it takes a laundry attendant about 8-10 minutes to hear the wash cycle has finished, complete the task they are working on, and then go switch the load to a dryer and start the next step. With 16 loads/day multiplied by 8 minutes/load, that would be 128 minutes/day spent in just switching loads… Factor in a 5-day work week for 52 weeks (even though most OPL’s run every day) that 33,280 minutes or 554 labor hours… at a gross labor cost of $9.00/hour that $4,986 per year.

Most combination units are paid for in savings within the first few years!

After seeing all the benefits of industrial washer and dryer combination units, you may want to utilize one. Yamamoto offers superior industrial strength washer and dryer combination units for your business. Our units are completely customizable, made from highly durable parts, and provide a fast and efficient cleaning job. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our products.

Suppose you work in an industry with a moderate to heavy need for laundry demands, such as hospitality. In that case, it can be pricy and time-intensive to outsource laundry services constantly. It would help if you considered bringing your laundry services in-house to serve your laundry needs better. We have produced a guide on understanding the many benefits of on-premise laundry.

Clean on Your Schedule

One of the biggest hassles when working with third-party laundry operations is that you need to schedule services based on the other company’s availability or establish a consistent routine. Having your laundry services on-site allows you to fulfill the demands of your clients and your business on an as needed basis. The occupancy and turn rates of a hotel can change depending on the season. Investing in a laundry system that operates only when you need it to can save significant costs over just a short period.

Beyond just the typical bedding, towels, napkins, aprons, tablecloths, and more can be washed and repeatedly used during a single day with an in-house laundry process. You no longer have to collect and store piles of dirty laundry over prolonged periods and worry about getting them ready for transport.

Save Money

As mentioned above, cleaning on your own schedule can help cut costs during slower times and control costs when needs exceed your typical usage rates. Rather than being forced into rush pricing or volume surcharges due to emergency needs that occur during the year, an on-premise laundry allows you to alleviate that unneeded stress by handling your linens on-site.

Control the Clean

Controlling the clean can mean many things.

The first is the most obvious—“How well are your linens getting cleaned?” Off-site centralized laundry providers certainly have the biggest, strongest, and toughest machines to process loads. But in order to keep orders together for each client, the linens are often washed in bags to keep everything together. This restricts the movement of the fabrics and prevents the flow of washing solutions, sometimes resulting in an uneven clean.

Also, due to the large volume of products going through the plant, there is less time (if any) to inspect for stains or tarnishes that could potentially result in customer service issues. Investing in on-premise laundry enables your staff to inspect loads before and after wash/dry cycles to make sure each sheet, towel, or tablecloth meets your standards.

The second control requires a little more attention—“How long will linens last?”

If you’re using an off-site centralized laundry service, cleaning contracts can vary. Some clients own their linens and just pay for the laundering service, while others pay for an all-inclusive service that provides linens and cleaning services. By utilizing on-premise laundry and owning your linens, you have the control to program machines to be gentler, wash products as needed, and inspect items more closely. This allows you to track linen replacement times and, in many cases, extend the lifespan of your linens. Considering how an industrial centralized laundry processes loads, linens are exposed to much harsher agitations, chemicals, and temperatures, which can cause premature deterioration and shorter lifespans.

Using an on-site laundry operation, you will achieve the best washing results with suitable high-quality machines that meet your demands and utilize your favorite detergent and chemical products that are best for your company. Having your own staff trained to clean your linens ensures that you get the best possible results.

Examples of Businesses That Can Benefit from On-Premise Laundry

While many businesses benefit from on-site laundry, it can be a necessity for business growth and beyond in some industries.

Hospitality

Running a hotel, bed and breakfast, or Airbnb will mean you are cleaning many linens, sheets, towels, and more. The price of outsourcing laundry services for these items will quickly add up. Hospitality is also an industry with very rigid schedules, and outsourcing services means you are at the mercy of your vendor’s timetable instead of your own.

Healthcare

Hospitals and other medical facilities often follow specific cleaning needs to ensure the safety and well-being of healthcare workers, patients, and sanitation staff. The risk of contamination from laundry can prove extremely dangerous to people’s health, which is why these facilities have such exacting standards.  With on-site washing machines, employees can efficiently and effectively handle a high number of linens while making sure each item abides by their facility’s safety standards.

Athletic Facilities

Considering the large number of equipment that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis, athletic facilities such as gyms or training centers are perfect candidates for on-premise laundries. Colleges, professional teams, and even many high schools have jerseys, towels, and band uniforms that are best cleaned via customized programs in an on-premise setting.

Investing in commercial laundry equipment may seem like a daunting, significant investment, but the many benefits of on-premise laundry will quickly add up over time. When you need high-quality on-premise laundry equipment for your business, the professionals at Yamamoto are ready to meet your needs. We offer a wide variety of washing and drying units to match your cleaning requirements. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.

 

If you’ve recently heard of wet cleaning and want to learn more about it, look no further. We explain what it is and how it can benefit you.

Wet cleaning is a dry cleaning alternative that uses cleaning additives that treat water so that it can be used to clean delicate fabrics like wool, silk, rayon, and leather. The term wet cleaning describes the process of washing items that are typically “dry clean only” with out the use of hash cleaning chemicals/solvents associated with traditional dry cleaning processes.

Many people do not realize that dry cleaning itself is not a dry process. Instead of submerging a fabric in water, dry cleaners will use chemicals called “solvents”. These chemicals are not benign. As more information emerges about the effect of these chemicals on the environment, the clothes, and the people who dry clean, it becomes more apparent that wet cleaning is a logical solution. So join us as we dive into wet cleaning—learn what it is and why it is beneficial.

Why Are Many Dry Cleaners Offering Wet Cleaning Options?

Wet cleaning is revolutionizing the professional clothing care industry for several reasons. First and foremost many of the solvents used in traditional dry cleaning are getting more and more expensive to use. Due to safety regulations operators have seen higher disposal costs, heightened stilling requirements, and other costly operational changes just to use specific cleaning agents. Since wet cleaning additives are typically water soluble and derived of more mild cleaning agents they don’t require any expensive licensing or special care to use. In the case of Yamamoto’s Harmony Cleaning Additive the solution is comprised of plant based oils and minerals so it is environmentally friendly and save to handle concentrated amounts.

Secondly, with the worlds attention growing towards health and safety, and since nearly everything under the sun can be learned on the internet, patrons have discovered the “secrets of dry cleaning”. Since customers are educating themselves on how their clothes are being handled the general public is steering operators towards a safer cleaning alternative. This is another reason we see dry cleaners labeling themselves are “green cleaners” and other like terms.

The biggest reasons that not all cleaners have switched are easy. First, change is not easy for everyone. When owners/managers have been handling garments for a long time using a proven process it is extremely difficult to make them rethink how to process their loads. Secondly, the machines they’ve purchased to handle their cleaning are extremely expensive, most operators want to make sure they get every dollar out of each piece of equipment they own. Lastly, there have been several attempts to make wet cleaning the best cleaning option, but since the clothes are risk being exposed to raw water, the garment risks color loss, shrinkage, bubbling, and several other damaging effects. This makes operators worry they may ruin expensive garments if something is done incorrectly. That could force them to pay damage claims or even lose a customer… Because of that, companies are actively trying to eliminate any of the “risks” associated with wet cleaning.

What Does the Future of Industrial and Professional Dry Cleaning Look Like?

For the future of professional dry cleaning it clearly is steering towards 100% wet cleaning. With advancements like Yamamoto’s Harmony Cleaning System operators rest easy knowing they can process virtually everything in their Harmony unit without the risk of damaging a garment. Due to their exclusive programming abilities the garments are NEVER exposed to raw water and the additive is emulsified prior to introducing a soiled load. This pretty much guarantees a better finish than any other brand on the market.

New to parts of North America Yamamoto is rapidly expanding into the cleaning industry because of the superior performance. Learn more about the difference here at:

The Harmony Cleaning System