Commercial laundry equipment is built to stand up to the wear and tear of whatever your coin laundry or on-premise facility can throw at it. However, all that heavy use takes its toll. That’s why consistent preventative maintenance is easiest way to extend the life of your commercial laundry equipment, decrease machine downtime, and avoid costly repairs and replacements. To help keep your commercial washers and dryers operating at top efficiency, consider adding these tasks to the regular routine for your laundry business.

1. Read the instruction manual/guide.

While you may think you know what you’re doing, consulting your owner’s manual is an important first step when it comes to laundry equipment maintenance. With advancements like state-of-the-art Quantum controls from Speed Queen and Galaxy controls from Huebsch, today’s commercial washers and dryers are more technologically advanced than ever before. That means they contain specialized electronics and parts that may require additional training or instruction. The manual will also include any specific cleaning product requirements, utility specifications, and maybe even a maintenance schedule for you to follow. Make sure you and all your employees are familiar with all the ins and outs of the machines before attempting any routine maintenance tasks.  

2. Clean the exterior of your laundry equipment.

Cleaning the outsides of all your washers, dryers, and other commercial laundry equipment should be part of your daily to do list. Without regular cleanings, lint, dust, and other debris can quickly make its way into the machine and cause serious damage. Spilled soaps and detergents can also cause damage and corrode the outside of the machine if left for too long. Wiping down the machines and giving them a once over on a daily basis is an easy step that can save you tons in the long run. As an added bonus, having clean and nice-looking washers and dryers can help attract and retain customers at your laundromat.

3. Clean lint traps after each load.

Lint traps that are not cleaned out regularly can cause overheating, fires, and other major issues for your laundry business. You should be posting signs reminding customers to clean out lint traps in between loads and monitoring them yourself as frequently as possible. At the beginning and end of the day, you should take the time to fully inspect and clean lint traps and look for any major issues.

4. Leave equipment doors open when not in use.

When patrons aren’t using the washers and dryers in the laundromat or on-premise facility, be sure the doors are open. This allows dryers to cool down in between uses so they can dry fabrics properly, and lets air circulate to the interior of the washing machines to prevent things like mildew, mold, and foul odors. Leaving the doors open between uses can also help prevent bigger issues such as leaks, rusting, water damage to electronic parts, and overheating.

5. Check all seals and hoses regularly.  

Be sure you’re checking inlet and outlet hoses and the seals around the doors of your washers and dryers on a regular basis. With heavy use, hoses can get clogged with sediment and seals around the door can be damaged, cracked, or loosened, which leaves your machines susceptible to major leaks. Inspecting and changing seals and hoses regularly can help prevent major water damage and an increase in your utility bills.

These five simple maintenance tasks can help keep your machines running at top efficiency and allow you to catch signs of any larger issues – like leaks and electronic failure – early on. If you have any questions about installations, service, and ongoing preventative maintenance for your commercial laundry equipment, the team of commercial laundry equipment experts at Pittsburgh Laundry Systems is always standing by. Feel free to contact us or browse our online resources.