Whether you run a family B&B in Cork or oversee the day-to-day management of a thriving hotel in the heart of Dublin, one thing’s for sure: the equipment you use in your commercial laundry matters – and in a big way.
Tasked with processing hundreds – if not thousands – of guest linens, towels, and flatwork every day, laundry rooms are often the busiest functions within a hotel. So, much like you would in a professional kitchen, you need commercial appliances you can rely on to keep pace with demand and ensure consistent results wash after wash, cycle after cycle.
With that in mind, why not join us as we take a closer look at the critical commercial laundry equipment favoured by hoteliers across the Emerald Isle.
What should hoteliers consider when equipping a professional laundry?
Kitting out your laundry room isn’t simply a case of cherry-picking washers, dryers, and ironers and praying that they fit the bill. On the contrary, you’ll need to think carefully about your individual requirements to ensure you invest in the appropriate laundry equipment for your business.
Here are some things you’ll need to consider when pulling together your wishlist of commercial laundry equipment…
Available size
Before you even begin thinking about features and functions, you need to cover the basics – like how much size you have to play with, for example. If space is at a premium in your professional laundry, an appliance’s total footprint will need to take priority. Start your search with compact and stackable commercial laundry appliances that are designed to maximise space in even the smallest laundry rooms.
Capacity
Typically, the capacity of commercial laundry equipment is graded in kilograms, so you can easily select washers and dryers of an appropriate size by their weight. Naturally, the higher the capacity, the better suited an appliance will be to a large-scale, high-demand laundry space.
Peak-demand periods
Consider this: while your existing laundry equipment may be able to cope with demand during the off-season, how do you predict things will fare when you reach peak demand?
It’s easy to assume that a single washer and dryer will suffice in small on-site laundry rooms. But when the holiday season rolls around, things can quickly get out of hand if you lack the capacity to tackle that growing pile of used guest linens, towels, and flatwork.
Guest laundry
Both boutique B&Bs and inner-city hotels often offer guest-access laundry facilities, so if this is something you’re keen to replicate on your premises, you’ll need to invest in the appropriate equipment as a priority.
A popular choice for accommodation providers offering guest laundry services is coin-op commercial laundry equipment. As the name suggests, these specialist professional washers and dryers work on a pay-as-you-go coin-operated basis, so you can generate revenue while providing useful additional services for your guests.
Features and functionality
The latest commercial laundry appliances are packed with advanced features designed to aid efficiency and make day-to-day operation simpler. Of course, machines featuring all the “bells and whistles”, as it were, will set you back more, but it could be a worthwhile investment if the added functionality brings tangible benefits to your day-to-day laundry processes.
Specific laundry requirements
Of course, not every hotel will have the same laundry requirements as the establishment down the street. A small, family-run B&B in the country may only need to launder towels and bed linens, while a large-scale city hotel may need to handle lots more – including staff uniforms and lots more besides.
Then, there are alternative accommodation providers, be it spa hotels or golf resorts. These establishments will have yet more specialist laundry requirements, bringing into sharp relief just how important it is to consider your exact laundry needs.
Recommended hotel laundry appliances from Reliance
By now you should have a reasonable idea of the kind of equipment that you need in your commercial laundry setup. But what specific options are available? And which appliances do the team here at Reliance recommend?
Washing machines
A reliable, efficient and easy-to-use washing machine is at the heart of any professional laundry suite. There are myriad options available to suit a range of hospitality and accommodation providers, including barrier washers that maximise safety and hygiene.
At Reliance, we provide a choice selection of market-leading commercial washers, with various sizes and capacities available.
Tumble dryers
Tumble dryers remain an integral part of the hotel laundry room, offering expedited drying to help maintain efficient laundry cycle times. Commercial tumble dryers are typically much more powerful and energy efficient than their domestic counterparts, ensuring optimal energy consumption and running costs without compromising on performance.
Ironers
Finishing is a vital part of the laundry cycle in hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses. With those all-important guest ratings and reviews on the line, it’s often the finer details that make all the difference – so a fast and efficient commercial ironer is an essential piece of kit for keeping up appearances.
Commercial ironers offer a speedy way to remove creases and crinkles from linens, bedding and flatwork guaranteeing exceptional results from the first press.
We hope this guide has provided some useful food for thought on how to improve your on-site laundry suite. If you’re looking to overhaul your hotel laundry equipment, Reliance is here to help. Simply contact our experts across Ireland on 1800 93 8866 and we will be happy to help.