I own a laundry business that has been in my family for 40 years. Although it does well, someone is building a new self-service laundry just a mile and a half away from my store. I’ve been considering offering free dry. What do you think about this strategy?
I think it’s a bad idea. When you go with a free dry policy, you’re essentially giving away 25 percent of your gross profits. And, because some customers will tend to abuse this policy, your utility costs very well may increase.
Some laundry owners who offer free dry will attempt to increase the vend prices on their washers, but this is not enough to make up the difference. This all boils down to “Business 101” – don’t give away what you’re trying to sell.
Also, what happens if your new competitor decides to offer free dry? If both of you are at free dry, you’re back to Square One… and both of you end up losing.
How can I keep my wash-dry-fold customers’ clothes from “pilling?”
Pilling generally occurs in the drying cycle, not the wash cycle. Therefore, I would suggest you dry at a mid-temperature of about 150 to 155 degrees, rather than at a higher temperature. Depending on the particular fibers of the garments, this should decrease a good portion of your pilling problem.
In addition, pilling occurs from abrasion, so be sure not to over-dry the items. In other words, after the clothes are dry, get them out of the dryer quickly. The longer they tumble in the dryer, the more pilling that will occur.
Be mindful of the time and temperature of your drying cycles, and you’ll likely prevent most of the pilling you’ve been experiencing.
My water and sewer costs are going through the roof. In addition to purchasing new, more energy-efficient equipment, what are some other actions I can take to better conserve water?
One of the biggest water wasters in a self-service laundry can be a malfunctioning dump valve. So, be sure to inspect your dump valve on a regular basis to assure that it’s opening and closing properly.
Also, check your pressure switches – these can sometimes go a little haywire and begin wasting water. When checking these switches, be sure the small tube that’s connected to the switch is clear and clean.
Beyond those two common trouble-shooting procedures, you also might consider adjusting the water levels on some of your washer cycles. Of course, this is something to be very careful with, because some of the cycles require high water levels. If you decide to make adjustments, be sure the changes are made to the correct cycles. For example, your rinses should be at the highest water levels available, while your pre-wash and wash cycles should be at either low levels or mid-level.
Above all, check with your equipment manufacturer on how to properly set your water levels. And, after you set them, be sure to physically inspect each cycle to see how much water is actually being used during each one.
I handle the laundry for a small hotel, and lately I’ve been having problems removing ink stains. What would you recommend I do to remove them?
I would suggest you try using one of two products on these stubborn stains – either Laundry Wetspo or Laundry TarGo. Both of these products will remove most inks, as well as lipstick and other grease or oil stains. Most distributors carry these products. Of course, be sure to follow the usage instructions on the bottle.
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