CoronaViruses like COVID-19 can survive on metal, glass and plastic surfaces for many days if not properly cleaned, so here are a few best practice recommendations.

1. Wipe down all shared and frequently touched surfaces including machine exteriors and folding tables with antibacterial wipes or a disinfectant spray like Lysol or with an antibacterial solution daily. A bleached-based solution is not recommended as it can affect and discolor clothing and other articles being cleaned.

2. Advise tenants to also wipe machines down after each use and it is advised that you provide access to wipes or a spray bottles and paper towels in laundry room.

3. Wearing a cloth-based mask or 2-ply garment secured over the nose and mouth when doing laundry is advisable as well as reminding tenants to not make contact with their eyes, nose or mouth while doing laundry.

4. Optimizing your machines with a contactless payment solution like ShinePay is advisable as this method minimizes touched shared services and using bills and coins which can facilitate the spread of germs. 

5. All wash loads are recommended to  be run at a temperature of 120 degrees or higher and for a longer duration (30mins+).

The above recommendations are clothing laundering best practices ONLY and should not be taken as medical advice or public health advice, or to replace advice provided by any medical professional or public health official. Any recommendations put forth by the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, or any other local, state, national, or international health body should take precedence. ShinePay, Inc. will not be liable for illness, disease, or any damages suffered through contact with those infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus or ill with COVID-19 who are also using these facilities. Please continue maintaining social distancing, washing your hands after using high-contact surfaces, and all other recommended practices while using these facilities and washing your clothes. Stay safe!

1. Locations that have historically been open 24/7 are recommended to restrict hours and to have an attendant present at all times to sanitize machines and enforce social distancing measures
2. It is recommended that Pickup and Delivery Services be conducted in the evening to prevent having to explain to customers why some people can fold and others can’t.
3. Limit the number of people in the store at one time.  A good measure is to allow in half the number of people when compared to the number of machines available. So if you have 230 machines, only allow in 10 people at one time and maintain one machine inactive between customers.
4. Only allow one person per machine (unless the others are children under age 10).
5. Offer hand-wipes or hand sanitizer and cloth masks to customers as they enter the store.
6. Post signage that encourages the practice of social distancing and instruct attendants to politely enforce those measures.
7. Block off folding areas and prohibit extended folding to decrease the time each customer spends in the location, “Wash, Dry, Go.”
8. Enable a contactless payment solution like ShinePay. This reduces the touch-points customers come in contact with. No cash or coin exchange machines, coins, and coin mech inputs. Same with touch screen interfaces on credit card readers or VTMs. Mobile payment systems where customers interact with their own smartphone vs a “common” touchpoint are the best way to reduce the transmission of the germs.
9. Reducing coin usage by attendants. Giving attendants an app to activate the laundry machines vs handfuls of Quarters highly reduces their chances of contracting or spreading the virus and reduces the need for future coin collection. 

Laundromat store owners should consider that while some of these tactics limit revenue, it is important to be mindful of the appearance to the community, and to be exemplary in our diligence toward preventing the spread of disease and viruses.

The above recommendations are clothing laundering best practices ONLY and should not be taken as medical advice or public health advice, or to replace advice provided by any medical professional or public health official. Any recommendations put forth by the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, or any other local, state, national, or international health body should take precedence. ShinePay, Inc. will not be liable for illness, disease, or any damages suffered through contact with those infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus or ill with COVID-19 who are also using these facilities. Please continue maintaining social distancing, washing your hands after using high-contact surfaces, and all other recommended practices while using these facilities and washing your clothes. Stay safe!