With inflating utility costs, how can you save money on your OPL?

We are all acutely aware of the recent hikes in utility costs, and consumers, healthcare environments, hotels and businesses are all trying to find ways to cut back on the running costs of their laundry operations. Here are some key points to consider when analysing your laundry process:

1.     Ensure that your staff receive the relevant user training.

User training can significantly increase the overall productivity and efficiency of your OPL. It is important to have documented processes and procedures. Aside from being important from a health and safety perspective, this will reduce waste and enable a simple, more sustainable process that can save you money.  Forbes professional offers user  training upon installation and can help advise clients as to best practice as well as how to fully optimise your chosen laundry machines.

2.     Consider using auto-dosing equipment.

Aside from costing more due to increased purchases, using too much detergent can damage laundry machines as well as wearing fabrics so that they need replacing more frequently.  By using an auto-dosing system you know that you are always using the correct amount of detergent for the specific load requirements which helps to optimise efficiency and control the costs.

3.     Select your detergent carefully

Depending on your requirements, it may be that you could save money by choosing a detergent that can clean effectively even in lower temperatures. Some detergents enable reduced water consumption and others are more gentle on linens, helping to lengthen their lifespan. Be aware that switching your detergent can be better for the environment as well as your bottom line.

4.     Use the highest possible spin speed.

The higher the spin speed that you use, the dryer your washing will be at the end of the cycle. This reduces the drying time, enabling a more efficient process and reducing running costs.

5.     Use suitable washing machines and fill them appropriately.

When looking to reduce electrical usage, it is obviously important not to underfill machines in an endeavour to minimise loads as much as possible. However, whilst endeavouring to reduce cycles, be mindful of not overloading machines as that will reduce efficiency and potentially lead to you running extra cycles anyway. Forbes’ advisors can help you choose the right specification and drum size for your specific requirements.  Generally, washing machines should be filled to around 85% to enable efficient chemical dispersal and a thorough wash.

6.     Run a regular maintenance wash.

Maintenance cycles are vital for removing bacteria, scale, grease, dirt and odour from your washing machines.  We recommend that you run machines through regular maintenance washes to ensure that they are operating at optimum efficiency. Our advisors can advise as to how regular these should be, which will depend upon your expected machine usage.

6.     Ensure that your drying is as efficient as possible.

Whilst looking to minimise cycles, overloading dryers will lead to more creasing and poorer results, requiring longer drying times. It is important to clean lint regularly as that will enable the load to dry more quickly, saving money. Ensure that users know that opening the door mid cycle reduces efficiency and results in longer, more costly drying cycles.

7.     Keep in-line with the latest technological advances.

When did you last upgrade your laundry equipment? Laundry technology is forever evolving and improving to give way to increased user and energy efficiency. If you haven’t upgraded your machines for a while, re-evaluating your OPL could save a considerable amount of money, time and energy.

If you would like to find out more about how to optimise your laundry operation, our experts offer complimentary site surveys and can review your processes to see where improvements can be made. Contact us on 0345 070 2335 to discuss further.