NEW YORK—With concerns about quality control, environmental sustainability and cost top-of-mind, hotel owners have begun upgrading their on-site laundry facilities in significant numbers. They see a capital investment in state-of-the-art washers/extractors, dryers and ironers as a reasonable investment, given the return they expect to see from that new equipment.
According to the manufacturers who showed their latest products at last month’s International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) in New York, hotel owners and operators primarily care about quality control. Doing their properties’ laundry in-house allows them to make sure the bedding, towels and even difficult-to-clean restaurant linen is laundered to their satisfaction with an eye to extending the life of the items.
Vendors such as Pellerin Milnor Corp. and Maytag Commercial Laundry also acknowledged owners’ concerns about sustainability, particularly when it comes to energy and water conservation. Lastly, cost is always a factor, not only for the equipment but the upkeep and repairs—and, as a way of offsetting some of these costs, the savings that comes with more judicious use of energy and water.
Meanwhile, a manufacturer of laundry detergent, bleach and fabric softener like Procter & Gamble Professional, also at the show, addressed owners’ concerns about quality, sustainability and cost.
Pellerin Milnor featured a new 60-pound washer with a touch-control screen attached. Totally computerized, the washer has a built-in rinse aid feature between the last suds and the first rinse. The machine accelerates its revolutions and holds the drain shut momentarily, then sends the soiled water down the drain, eliminating a subsequent rinse cycle. “Consequently, we can save an average of .4 gallons per pound. A 60-pound machine, therefore, will save 24 gallons every cycle, and 70% of that is hot water,” explained John Rasimas Jr., Pellerin Milnor regional sales manager, citing both the environmental benefit and cost savings on energy and water.
“The load gets done faster because if you eliminate that rinse step, you finish in 40 rather than 50 minutes, so you’re seeing an increase in productivity,” he said. “As with everything else these days, cost savings are critical.”
A property typically has multiple, 60-pound machines, Rasimas added. “A 60-pound machine by itself could probably handle a 50-60 room property with the machines in use for an eight-hour shift,” he noted.
The same benefits are presently being built into Milnor’s larger washers, starting with 80-, 100- and 140-pound models. The improved machines are scheduled to be introduced in the first quarter of next year.
Maytag Commercial Laundry approaches the market from two directions. In addition to providing machines for hotels’ own on-site needs, it manufactures washers and dryers intended for guest use. Space for such facilities is usually limited, so Maytag introduced a stacked washer/dryer unit, giving hotels twice the capacity in the same amount of space typically reserved for a single washer. According to national sales manager Dick Ruel, the front-load pair can cut utility bills, including water, sewer and energy bills, by up to 60%, thereby lowering operating costs.
Extended-stay, mid-price, and economy brands typically offer guest laundries. It’s one of the amenities guests want, especially those traveling with children. But there may not be a lot of space available. “The stacked model provides a workable solution,” Ruel noted.
For a hotel’s own on-site laundry, Maytag displayed a new, high-efficiency, 75-pound dryer and a new 55-pound washer/extractor. The dryer features moisture-sensing technology and improved airflow for faster dry times. The washer has a smaller frame than usual, reducing installation costs.
In the weeks running up to the show, Procter & Gamble Professional launched Tide Special Conditions, a formula designed to handle higher iron and variation in the pH in the water, and Tide Color Safe bleach, a complement to Procter & Gamble’s existing Clorox bleach line.
As its name implies, the new bleach can be used when you have colors and still want to use an oxygenated bleach, but don’t want those colors to fade, explained Keith Johnson, marketing and business leader for North America. “It works well for hotels with F&B operations, where the linen can get badly stained,” Johnson noted, adding that Procter & Gamble Professional has also upgraded its stain release treatment.
“By using it before you use, say, a tablecloth for the first time, it helps to minimize stains before you even put it on a table,” he said.
The hospitality industry is a growing market for Procter & Gamble Professional, Johnson continued. “Hotels see that the products have less harm on the linen’s fibers than other laundry systems. As a result, the linen lasts longer, which translates into saving money,” he concluded.
