An on-premise laundry (OPL) operation has many moving parts requiring attention. From employees to equipment to linens, each facet entails careful monitoring in order to maximize productivity, protect your investment and get the best results. Let any area slide, and you could be losing efficiency and costing your operation money, while ultimately providing less than stellar hospitality to guests or patients. Below are several actions you can take now to improve performance and results in your on-premise laundry.

Train for Proper Linen Handling

Since the biggest expense for any OPL is labor (at up to 46% of the total cost) it’s important that all employees are trained in proper and efficient linen handling and collection. Simple actions, like avoiding using soiled linens as cleaning cloths, or “grounding” linens by placing them on the floor, are a couple simple ways to extend the life of sheets and towels.

Sort Before Washing

Linen replacement is the second biggest on-premise laundry cost after labor, averaging about 22% for a typical hotel OPL, for example. Attempting to salvage or "reclaim" stained linens before discarding will save you money. Many laundry facilities use a colored bin system to separate soiled linens into categories such as light, medium and heavy. Heavily soiled or otherwise stained linens can then be assessed by quality control to see if they can be reclaimed. Nassco offers training in best laundry practices to ensure staff understand correct actions and cost-saving procedures.

Give Stains Immediate Attention

Treat spots and stains as soon as possible after discovery with the proper products. Encourage employees to check for stains during collection and, if possible, to spot treat using a multipurpose stain remover. Once a stain's origin has been determined, specific chemicals can be used to treat. Grease and oil stains can be prevented with a special stain fighter while rust and tannin based stains like coffee, tea and cola can be treated with something like Tide Rust/Stain Remover.

Regularly Measure Productivity

Washers and dryers that are regularly serviced to catch or avoid potential problems will save time and money in your laundry operation. Ensuring that equipment is in proper working order is important. For example, drains that are stuck open or leaking will cause inefficient rinsing and can leave stains and chemical residue on fabrics. Nassco will establish initial customized wash formulas for your operation, then regularly assess results to identify any potential areas of improvement, including information on new products that can improve results. For example, switching to a cold water system like Tide Coldwater Laundry System has helped hotels save as much as 8% of their total OPL budget by reducing energy, water, and linen replacement!

Service providers like Nassco will test for the proper pH, Iron, Chlorine and water hardness levels to ensure chemistry and wash formulas are working to get linens as clean as possible. Our Advanced Service Reporting can even give you cost per load breakdowns for each individual machine, shift and operator.

Create Good Chemistry

With so many detergent options available, it's important to make an informed decision for your laundry operation. Alkaline detergents are affordable and highly effective cleaners, although their high pH levels may mean extra rinse cycles or the use of an additional acid rinse. Linens washed with neutral pH detergents require fewer rinses, and the noncorrosive formula helps fabrics stay stronger, brighter and softer for longer. Since less water and fewer cleaning products are used, neutral pH products offer a more environmentally friendly choice, and their phosphate free properties allow for regulatory wastewater compliance.

A Solid Choice

If you're looking for a space-saving yet economical option, you may want to consider a solid laundry system. In this application, detergents, destainers and fabric softeners are formulated and individually packaged for use in a solid dispensing system. Pre-packaging means the product takes up less space while also eliminating waste from accidental spills or overuse. Solids are a safer choice for employees, with DfE (Design for the Environment) approved solid detergents also available.

Leave a Little Room

Nassco experts recommend loading machines at 80—85% capacity. Any more, and you run the risk of not having enough water or chemistry in the machine to handle soil removal; any less, and your energy and chemical costs per load will be out of line, as well as contribute to linen wear and tear.

Avoid Repeats

Aim to keep rewash rates below 5%. Make sure wash time and temperature are set correctly so linens come clean the first time. Using high quality reclaim products helps your OPL avoid additional washes and save on fabric wear and tear. If linens do need to be rewashed, consider a specially formulated stain removal product that removes chemical deposits. Evaluate linen inventory and keep at appropriate levels so that tablecloths, napkins and other heavily used items are kept in a rotation that gives fibers a break, allowing them to remain like new for longer.

Don't let inadequate staff training, machine neglect or improper chemical use stain your laundry operation. Let Nassco's OPL Service Department develop a custom program for your on-premise laundry that will improve results immediately. Email us or call 800.729.6726.