Laundry speed up processes. Care home laundries differ in several
ways, be it size, equipment, or available budget. The reality, however, is that staff working in any environment are likely facing the same challenges.
Cost concerns
Unsurprisingly, cost is the number one concern for care home laundry managers, and this has only become clearer following the pandemic. In recent years, rising OpEx (operating expenses) costs have forced many to reassess their priorities, especially when it comes to upgrading equipment and diversifying operations. The global energy crisis, driven by disrupted supply chains, reduced investment, and escalating conflict in different parts of the world has led to the cost of wholesale gas and electricity rising to levels never seen previously. As a result, laundry professionals working in the care sector have reached a crossroads. How exactly is it possible to run an efficient laundry operation without cutting corners? Given the escalating costs of equipment and prime materials, such as detergents and softeners, it is becoming increasingly difficult to run an efficient laundry operation without making certain efficiencies elsewhere. This could involve overloading machines and avoiding the task of correctly servicing machinery, such as washers or dryers. The former may result in contaminated laundry being mistakenly mixed with uncontaminated laundry, causing bacteria and viruses to spread like wildfire. Even if this scenario is avoided and a washer is
It is difficult to run an efficient laundry operation without making efficiencies elsewhere
overloaded with uncontaminated laundry, the machine may be unable to clean the garments to the optimal hygiene standards expected. Laundry operations can be streamlined without these risks and, paired with the emergence of automation and the implementation of AI, this process may become even easier in the coming years.
Training dilemma Another major pain point facing laundry professionals is not knowing how to truly maximise the potential of their equipment. This can often be attributed to a lack of awareness around new, efficient ways of working, especially for those who have been working in the industry for decades. Whether a machine is 10 years old or 10 months old, it is crucial to be clued up on the smart features that will accompany it. One of the most common phrases we hear when conducting on-site training is “I didn’t know you could do that.” Given the unprecedented innovation of the latest equipment – such as automatic savings and dosing systems – it is understandable that operators may not even have the time to learn how to maximise the potential of their equipment.
Doing so could bring a whole host of long- term benefits, such as shorter wash cycles, reduced energy consumption, and the peace of mind that strict hygiene protocols are being correctly and consistently adhered to. Reverting to the idea of ‘cutting corners’, the likelihood is that operators may not even know that they are doing so, owing to insufficient training on the equipment that keeps their laundry operation moving. Misusing or overloading machines can lead to more frequent breakdowns,
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com March 2025
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