The management of all laundry tasks at a facility is included in hotel laundry management. The delivery, cleaning, and collecting of laundry are all under the control of laundry management. The distribution of bed linens and towels, the removal of soiled laundry from guest rooms and facilities, and the washing and disinfecting of laundry items before to redistribution are all included in this. It’s a continuous cycle that requires the appropriate setting, tools, personnel, and preparation.
Hotel Laundry In-House vs Outsourcing
Hotels can use in-house laundry operations or outsource laundry tasks, however doing laundry on site is typically less expensive. Laundry outsourcing is mostly limited to high-volume hotels in major cities. Only 20% of hotels, however, outsource their laundry services.
Laundry transportation is finished more rapidly with in-house operations because the laundry is already there. Additionally, it guarantees that supplies such as linens and other items are accessible in an emergency. Additionally, processing guest laundry goods in-house decreases the possibility of those products being stolen or lost.
However, there are certain drawbacks to doing laundry in-house. Operating and keeping laundry equipment in good condition can be very expensive. Additionally, you’ll need enough room for all the equipment, and your property will need workers that are technically skilled to operate the laundry machines.
Therefore, while outsourcing allows hotels to save money on people and equipment, it can also force them to sacrifice hygiene standards and prevent them from having access to linens in an emergency. Plus, when the laundry leaves the hotel, the chance of misplaced or stolen items increases.
Common Types of Hotel Laundry & Equipment
Hotel laundry can be classified according to where it originated and the type of material used. Bed Linens and Terry Cloth are the two most common materials used in guest rooms. Linens and uniforms are provided by Food and Beverage.
Guest room linens, facility uniforms and towels, curtains and decorative textiles, and other hotel products are typically laundered at hotels. However, some hotels provide laundry services for guest things as well, so guests can have their garments washed and pressed while staying.
Typically, if a hotel has on-site laundry services, the following items are present:
A washing machine with stainless steel barrels and a huge capacity.
A hydro-extractor that clothes will be placed in after washing to remove 50 to 70 percent of any excess water and reduce drying times.
A large capacity dryer
Pressing equipment to press or iron bed sheets or drapes, for example.
Common problems with Hotel Laundry Management
When it comes to hotel laundry operations, one of the most serious challenges is a lack of equipment. Using the incorrect machines for washing and drying linens might result in inadequately cleaned products, long drying times, and unproductive operations. For example, a lack of an appropriate hydro extractor or g-force dryer to extract additional water from linens can result in significantly longer dry times, causing significant inconvenience to guests and staff.
The lack of a proper dryer is also a problem. Even if your clothing are washed properly and excess water is removed, if your dryer isn’t regularly serviced or lacks the requisite capacity, it will cause problems like as sluggish drying periods and damaged linens.
Remember that Machines Are Powered by People
Once you have opulent linens and high-tech machines in place, there is only one more crucial element to consider: a well-trained staff. Preparing staff to excel at hotel laundry is one of the most efficient uses of time and money. Preparation can be divided into two categories, OPL setup and staff training, and includes the following activities:
Having sufficient gloves on hand.
Assuring that employees are aware of how to position bins to prevent overextension when moving laundry heaps into and out of the chute and machines.
Selecting appliances with user-friendly controls, thereby reducing time on training and daily operations.
How to Supervise Hotel Laundry Personnel
When managing hotel laundry employees, it is essential to assign jobs and tasks immediately. Take the time during your team’s onboarding and training to clearly communicate your expectations. In addition, you will need to organise safety training for everyone who will be handling machines or potentially hazardous cleaning chemicals.
You will need individuals who can handle loading and unloading machines, sorting laundry items, and transporting linens and towels to the appropriate drop-offs for housekeeping and cleaning staff to distribute to guests.
How to Manage Hotel Laundry Inventory
Hotel laundry inventory includes more than just the number of sheets and towels on hand at the property. You’ll also need to log and track supplies like soap, fabric softener, carts, and machines, as well as anything else your team uses to complete operations. Checklists and logs can be used to ensure that you and your team adequately track stock and usage of these items in order to keep everything needed on hand.
Maintain optimal par level
Anyone who works in a hotel laundry service would tell you that keeping a decent par level is the most critical component in making everyone’s life simpler. The best way to avoid shortages and maintain your investment in high-quality sheets, linens, and towels is to always have an adequate supply on hand.
As a result, it’s critical to conduct regular inventories, even more frequently during peak seasons, and to be ready for emergencies and the unexpected. Having optimal par levels will significantly reduce stress on your linens, staff, and guests, and you will be able to maximise the life of all hotel sheets and towels by allowing them to recover between uses.
Long-term, the laundry department is one of the most challenging and costly aspects of hotel facilities management, which is why many firms outsource the process to laundry design and planning experts. However, if you follow these and other practical guidelines, you can keep your hotel laundry running efficiently even on busy days!