In the hospitality industry commercial washing machines are essential if hotels, hospitals and spas are to keep up with the high volumes of washing. However, their use isn’t limited to such big companies; it’s extremely common for large families and small businesses to make use of such equipment too. A lot of people think that the only difference between a standard household washing machine and an industrial one is the size however, when choosing a commercial machine there’s a lot more to take into account.
- When choosing a commercial washing machine you need to think about the size of the drum and the size of the load it can hold, the length of the cycles, it’s features and, probably most importantly, its price. These machines are general pretty expensive – especially if you buy one that’s high quality and going to last a while – so it’s a good idea to make sure they have a lengthy warranty so that you won’t find yourself shelling out for repairs for a few years.
- When you go shopping for an industrial washing machine it’s a good idea to think about exactly what you’ll be using it for so that a dealer can advise you on the best machine for your circumstances. Your personal circumstances are really important when choosing a commercial washing machine because it will dictate whether it should be coin operated, how big it can be and the demand that it will have to keep up with. Choosing a machine that doesn’t fulfil your needs will mean that it’s more likely to break quickly which means that in the long run you’ll end up spending a lot more.
The first thing you should think about is the type of washer, i.e. a front loading machine or a top loading machine. Top loaders generally use more energy and water as well as having a smaller drum but they’re more convenient if you’re limited on space so again the right washer for you really depends on your circumstances.
Whether you need an industrial washer essentially depends on what you’ll be using it for. If you run a hospitality business then the likelihood is that you will however, if you have a large family and a washing pile that you never see the bottom of then you might see a significant improvement with a large domestic machine. If you are constantly washing clothes but you only occasionally have to wash bulky items like quilts and pillows then it might be worth the occasional trip to the launderette. However, large domestic machines tend to have a maximum load of around 10 kgs so if you still don’t think that you’ll be able to tackle your mountain of washing then a commercial washer is certainly worth considering.
Finally, price will probably be the biggest obstacle as it’s important to try and get the most for your money. The quality of the machine is really important and extra features raise the value significantly hence it’s important to only pay for exactly what you need in order to get the most for your money. Although extra features look great they’re worth avoiding if you’ll rarely use them.
Jenna and Ian Smith own a hotel in Northern Ireland and use OPC Solutions – Commercial Laundry Equipment to supply their commercial washing machine, dryer and dishwasher.
Marty Huggins
