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.

Commercial laundry equipment has unique designs to handle the rigorous cleaning demands that a business may have. Knowing how these specialized machines work can help you choose the best possible machines for your washing and drying needs. We’ve provided a guide below for understanding how laundry equipment works.

Differences Between Commercial and Domestic Laundry

When you are inexperienced with a business that demands laundry services, you may not fully grasp the distinction between what commercial equipment offers compared to the machines most people use in their homes and residential buildings. However, there is a considerable difference between the two, which makes commercial laundry so crucial for many industries.

Speed They Can Finish

Domestic cycles might last anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. In contrast, it typically takes around 30 minutes for a commercial washer to complete a cycle. That speed is precious for businesses that demand quick turnaround times.

Features Offered

Typically, home washers and dryers are pretty basic in terms of functionality since most people simply need to set it and forget it when it comes to their clothing. On the other hand, commercial equipment is quite robust, with features such as automated cleaning programs, various water level options, multi-weight loading, and much more. Additional features can include multiple chemical ports and steam injection, all geared to satisfy industrial demands.

Reliability After Extensive Cleaning

Domestic washing machines are lovely when you only need to use them a few times a week, but these machines can’t withstand the rigorous demands that most businesses have, which require the ability to wash and dry 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Commercial washing and drying machines feature high-durability components, which require considerably less maintenance and allow them to function for much more extended periods.

Handling Smaller vs. Larger Loads

Let’s say you have a family of four that washes their clothes twice a week. In that case, you probably only need to run a couple of loads at most each time, which is why most home machines typically handle between ten to fifteen pounds of clothing. Commercial laundry, however, can take significantly larger loads at once, which comes in handy when you need to clean linens for hundreds of rooms in a hotel or hospital.

Commercial Laundry Equipment

Laundry machines used by businesses must withstand regular use and handle vast volumes of clothes and linens. They must keep up with huge loads and rapid turnover while guaranteeing that everything adheres to the highest cleanliness standards that their customers and staff expect. Here are a few examples of commercial machines that can help organizations achieve their cleaning goals.

Soft-Mount Washer-Extractor Machines

A washer-extractor fills up with water, cleans the garments, and then removes the water using G-force extraction by quickly rotating the drum. This process can help you save money on utilities as it takes considerably less energy to spin out water in the washer than it does to evaporate it in the dryer.

Soft mount washers are also gaining popularity since they are simple to install, and you don’t need a steel or concrete floor to bolt them down. The soft-mount washers get built with a body that houses heavy-duty shocks and springs and isolates the drum from the frame. These components absorb a substantial amount of vibration, allowing you the ability to place them on upper floors of buildings and other locations where hard-mount washers would typically be too loud.

Yamamoto Difference

In contrast to standard washers manufactured in bulk with many plastic components, every Yamamoto machine is handcrafted piece by piece with almost no plastic parts. These soft-mount washer-extractors require minimal maintenance and will run at peak efficiency for many years. They also include many features that allow for versatility, customization, and multifunctional usage to meet the demands of any business.

Industrial-Strength Washer-Dryer Combo Units

Combo units can do everything that a separate washer and dryer can do, all inside one convenient machine. You place soiled garments and linens inside the machine and start the wash cycle. Once the wash cycle has ended, the condenser dryer kicks in.

Condenser dryers extract moisture from wet clothing by passing warm, dry air through them, then cooling the humid air through a heat exchanger. That excess moisture is then pushed down the drain or stored inside of a tank. The now dry air gets reheated, and the process continues until the fabric is thoroughly dried.

Yamamoto Difference

You can always count on Yamamoto machines being hand-built with durable parts that keep them running at top performance for a very long time. We utilize eco-friendly and green technology that uses less water and electricity, takes less time to finish loads, and cleans more thoroughly than conventional laundry machines.

Wet Cleaning

Wet cleaning involves placing your clothing in a uniquely engineered, computer-controlled machine with water and detergent. Clothing can be agitated very softly or made to dry at a specific temperature, giving you total control over the process. The most significant benefit is that you do not need to use chemical solvents, making the entire process better for the environment while still effectively removing grime, stains, and odors.

Yamamoto Difference

Yamamoto has used over 70 years of laundry experience to develop the Harmony Cleaning System, which is the most complete, automated wet cleaning system for dry cleaners on the market. The system is technologically advanced while remaining user-friendly, creating unique cycles with dry-to-dry and multi-weight loading choices. From start to finish, processing a load takes half the time of many other systems, consumes fewer utilities, and is both safe for the operator and the environment.

Commercial Laundry Maintenance Tips

While industrial laundry equipment is exceptionally durable and dependable, specific basic care measures can help decrease repair and replacement concerns even more. With these tips, you can help keep all your machines in proper working order.

• Read the owner’s manual. These manuals include tips like which detergents to use, when to do maintenance, and how to operate the machine.
• Clean the machines regularly to keep them looking nice and to avoid lint and other dirt from getting inside and causing damage. Additionally, regular cleanings keep residual soaps and detergents from corrupting and harming the equipment.
• Check for and clean buildup from around the seals of your washers regularly to ensure that your equipment always has a water-tight seal to avoid leakage.
• Examine the belts from the motor to the drum for fraying and splitting and replace them as necessary.
• Check the input and output hoses regularly for silt buildup and small leaks that may require replacement.
• The water filter intake screens should be cleaned or replaced regularly. Tiny particles can accumulate on these screens over time, preventing adequate water flow into the unit.

We hope this guide has helped you understand how laundry equipment works. Yamamoto offers the highest quality soft mount commercial washers and other reliable commercial laundry equipment made from durable parts. Our products offer superior performance and price-point over our competitors. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

You need to know that the machines you’re using are reliable when it’s time to buy new commercial laundry equipment for your business. There are several factors to explore and the way they relate to your company’s needs can help you make the right choice. Read on to discover different considerations when buying new commercial laundry equipment.

Quality

Above all, you must be confident that the machines you choose will give the best possible cleaning without breaking down. You will undoubtedly need far less maintenance and repairs and have more washes per machine when you choose commercial washing machines that are made to last and from a reputable manufacturer. Yamamoto is committed to producing outstanding commercial washing equipment by processing and assembling parts piece by piece to ensure that our products are of the highest quality.

Size and Capacity

The size and capacity you choose will depend on your cleaning demands and the space you have available. Specific industries may require high-capacity equipment that’s capable of handling vast volumes of sheets and linens, as may be the case in the medical field. At the same time, some businesses, such as gyms or spas, might benefit more from compact machines that can handle smaller loads more frequently. You also may need to choose a smaller machine when you know the larger ones simply wouldn’t fit in the areas you have available.

Eco-Friendly Design

Your business will be more profitable and successful when you can minimize your water and power bills. Machines that employ eco-friendly green technology consume much less water and energy, decreasing your utility expenses. You’ll also be helping reduce your environmental effect, which is always a benefit.

Multi-Functionality

Modern, sophisticated controls and technology can help your laundry business save money and run more efficiently. Think about issues you’ve had in the past, such as long wait times, difficult-to-use controls, or time-consuming upkeep. You should look for machines with many functions, such as Yamamoto’s industrial laundry equipment, with features like multi-weight loading, dry-to-dry cycle options, 100 formula capacity, and more to get you started on the right foot.

While examining these considerations when buying new commercial laundry equipment, it’s undeniable that Yamamoto is your best choice for the highest-quality machines available. Yamamoto’s commitment to advancing our technology and engineering capabilities enables us to provide our clients with remarkable benefits. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions about our products.

You need to make sure you’re emphasizing excellent service and do everything possible to have customers walk away satisfied when you own a dry-cleaning business. The industrial landscape is constantly evolving, and your organization must be ready to adapt as well. Read on to learn how to boost customer experience at your dry-cleaning business.

Connect With Customers

People relate to each other across many different channels, including various digital and social media platforms. You can provide your company with many opportunities to engage with clients via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To build an active social media following, you can share photos of freshly pressed clothing, give tips, offer discounts, and much more.

Make Sure Marketing Matches Service

If a dry cleaner advertises a two-day turnaround or is open 24 hours a day, but customers still face extended delays in service or walk up and find the business closed, they will become extremely frustrated. You must ensure that the manner in which you market your company corresponds to the services you provide. When you tell customers that you’ll have their clothes ready in two days, be sure it’s to stick to that timeline.

Have a Trusted Staff with Dedicated Roles

When you’re juggling several tasks, it can be challenging to provide the best possible customer service. For example, suppose you’re maintaining equipment, ordering new stock, and chatting with clients on top of your many other management responsibilities. In that case, you won’t have time to devote your attention to the individuals that come in. You should have a reliable team that’s capable of handling critical responsibilities, with one person focusing on generating excellent customer experiences.

Change Up Scheduling

Changing your counter service schedules will help you deliver outstanding customer service and boost your revenue. One approach to accomplish this is to schedule your strongest and most personable staff during the busiest periods of the day, such as afternoons. Customers that arrive in the afternoon are usually more relaxed and informal, allowing workers to socialize more and make them feel special.

When you’re looking to boost customer experience at your dry-cleaning business, the best piece of advice is to experiment and see what works and what doesn’t. Because each circumstance is unique, you will be the only one who knows what fits.

Having the right equipment available is also an enormous advantage regarding turnaround times and quality service. Yamamoto offers the highest-quality wet cleaning equipment on the market, designed to save time, effort, and space. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.

Every business is looking for the best ways to save money and increase productivity. For many different industries, doing everything to ensure their on-premises laundry is running as efficiently as possible can have enormous benefits for the bottom line. Read on to find practical ways to improve your on-premises laundry room.

Track Your Soap

Keep track of the amount of soap you’re using. Always measure for every load. Most on-premises laundries find they use too much or too little detergent. Failing to measure correctly can reduce machine efficiency, lead to damaged linens, and cost you more when you end up replacing linens and buying additional soap.

Upgrade Your Machines

Swapping out older, unreliable machines with newer, energy-efficient ones can offer many advantages. Energy-efficient devices use much less water than their older counterparts which can bring significant savings on energy costs. They also use more reliable parts, which means less frequent breakdowns and lower repair bills.

Set Down Detailed Procedures

Set up protocols for laundry collection, sorting, and stain removal that your staff can follow effortlessly. The procedures should keep contaminated clothing apart from the rest of the laundry, allow stains to be cleaned promptly, and enhance the room’s order and flow.

Improve Training

Meet with your laundry distributor, who will be able to fully explain the benefits and features of each machine, as well as the best detergents and soaps you should use. Ensure you thoroughly train each employee on the proper practices and procedures they should know. Follow up with them now and then. Having every employee on the same page about your expectations for cleaning will ensure consistent quality every time.

Watch the Scale

Always use a laundry scale to ensure you fill washers and dryers to the proper capacity. This tool will help prevent you from losing time and money if you over or underfill machines. It’s also helpful for keeping track of how much laundry you do on the regular, and you can use them to set goals to enhance profitability.

By using these practical ways to improve your on-premises laundry room, you’ll discover you can wash and dry clothes and linens more effectively and reduce the need for repairs.

When you’re looking to add or replace commercial laundry equipment, Yamamoto offers high-quality machines such as our industrial washer extractor which are crafted piece by piece with virtually no plastic components. 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 programming.
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.