Lessons from the Industry: 8 Common Mistakes Hotels Make with Laundry Machinery MaintenanceLessons from the Industry: 8 Common Mistakes Hotels Make with Laundry Machinery Maintenance

In the UK hospitality industry, efficient laundry operations are crucial for maintaining guest satisfaction. From fresh linens to spotless towels, the quality of a hotel’s laundry service directly impacts its reputation. However, many hotels unknowingly make critical mistakes in maintaining their hotel laundry equipment, leading to increased costs, reduced efficiency, and compromised service quality.

This article explores common pitfalls and provides actionable solutions to help hotels optimise their laundry operations.

Most Common Mistakes Hotels Make With Laundry Machinery

1. Lack of Proactive Maintenance Culture

A common oversight in hotel laundry operations is the lack of a proactive maintenance culture. Hotels often react to equipment failures rather than preventing them. To avoid this we recommend:

Regular Inspections: Schedule routine checks to identify potential issues before they escalate.
Preventive Maintenance: Implement a proactive maintenance schedule to extend equipment lifespan.

2. Overloading Machines

Overloading is a frequent mistake that damages equipment and compromises cleaning results. While industrial machines can handle large loads, exceeding their recommended capacity strains motors and bearings, causing premature breakdowns. Additionally:

Overloaded cycles lead to uneven detergent distribution, leaving fabrics partially cleaned.
Excessive tangling during overloaded washes increases fabric wear-and-tear.

To prevent these issues, hotels should train staff to follow manufacturer guidelines for load capacities. Modern machinery also has integrated weighing systems which will prevent overloading with the added benefit of then being able to regulate the detergent, water and energy consumption, making each load the most efficient and environmentally friendly possible.

3. Underloading Machines

Underloading machines is equally problematic, wasting water, electricity, and time while reducing operational efficiency. For example:

A half-empty washer uses the same amount of water and electricity as a fully loaded one.
Underloading decreases throughput, delaying essential laundry like bed linens and towels.

Hotels can address this by consolidating smaller loads, using smaller-capacity machines during low-demand periods or installing machines with integrated weighing which regulates the consumption to exacting standards of electricity, water and detergents.

4. Neglecting Routine Maintenance

Skipping regular maintenance is one of the costliest mistakes hotels make. Common issues include:

Lint Buildup: Accumulated lint reduces dryer efficiency and poses a fire hazard.
Detergent Dosing Issues: Faulty or uncalibrated dosing systems or damaged hoses cause inaccurate detergent delivery to the wash.
Worn-Out Parts: Ignoring minor wear-and-tear can escalate into major breakdowns.

Best practices include cleaning lint traps daily, inspecting dosing systems and hoses regularly, and scheduling professional servicing every six months.

5. Improper Chemical Use

Using incorrect detergents or overdosing chemicals can damage fabrics and machinery alike. Common problems include:

Residue buildup on machine components from excessive detergent use.
Harsh chemicals weakening fibres over time.

Hotels should work with chemical suppliers to ensure proper dosing and switch to eco-friendly methods such as wet cleaning and/or more environmentally friendly detergents compatible with their equipment. Efficient dosing systems which talk to the washer about the load weights also have proven to make substantial savings to the overall running costs – often allowing the savings to pay for the machine in a very short period of time compared to less advanced machinery.

6. Ignoring Early Warning Signs

Many costly repairs can be avoided by addressing minor issues early on. Warning signs include:

Unusual noises during operation.
Longer drying times or persistent odours.  Ignoring these signs often leads to machine failure at critical moments.

To stay proactive, hotels should monitor machine performance daily and keep a maintenance log to track recurring issues.

7. Inadequate Staff Training

Turnover in housekeeping departments often leads to gaps in training on proper equipment use.

Untrained staff may:

Overload or underload machines.
Use incorrect wash cycles for specific fabrics.
Fail to report early signs of wear or malfunction.

Hotels should provide clear operating manuals and schedule regular refresher courses for staff to ensure consistency in laundry operations.

8. Poor Choice of Original Equipment

Choosing the wrong laundry machinery at the outset can result in inefficiencies that are costly to fix later. Common mistakes include selecting machines with insufficient capacity or opting for outdated models that consume excessive energy and water. For example:

Incorrect Capacity: Machines that are too small for the hotel’s needs lead to bottlenecks, while oversized machines waste resources during smaller loads.
Energy Inefficiency: Older models often lack modern features that optimise resource use.

For example, washers from the Wavepoint Group Electrolux Claris Vibe range - such as the Electrolux Professional Line 6000 washing machines - are a valuable and essential asset to any laundry.

With up to 50% water savings, easy-to-use control systems for automatic savings and intelligent dosing, wide door opening for quick changeover and extremely fast processing times the cost savings and impacts on efficiency can be significant.

In summary, hotels should carefully assess their laundry needs before purchasing equipment. Selecting machines with appropriate capacity and energy-efficient features can save thousands in utility costs over time.

Specialist hotel laundry machinery suppliers like Wavepoint Group offer expert guidance on choosing the right equipment for specific hotel needs.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining laundry machinery may not always be top-of-mind for hotel managers, but avoiding these common mistakes can significantly improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance guest satisfaction. By investing in appropriate machinery from the outset and implementing best practices for maintenance and training, hotels can optimise their laundry operations while enhancing guest satisfaction and also increase revenue generation by offering additional services using the same washers and dryers such as “Wet Cleaning” – the environmentally friendly modern method replacing solvent based dry cleaning

Ready to improve your hotel’s laundry operations?

Wavepoint has been a trusted supplier for the hotel industry for over 30 years. Contact us today for expert advice on selecting energy-efficient equipment—and discover how optimised laundry practices can save your hotel money while boosting guest satisfaction.

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