When it’s piling up on you, nothing seems more mundane than laundry day.

Yet as much as a routine as it may be for most of us, this seemingly innocuous everyday task actually has some far reaching implications.

The uncomfortable truth is that our desire for fresh clean clothes is actually a bit of an environmental burden.

Even though washing machines and dryers have made laundry a painless affair, doing your laundry still isn’t free. And it won’t be any time soon.

The reason why is simple enough: doing laundry consumes important resources, like electricity, water, and laundry detergent.

In the process, all of our modern laundry equipment produces some pollution. Greenhouse gasses are released to generate the electricity necessary to operate these devices, devices which also produce wastewater as a byproduct.

What’s more, waste in the form of detergent packets, fabric softener sheets, and dozens of other laundry products -- as well as discarded washers and dryers -- often end up damaging the environment in the form of litter.

Fortunately, for the eco-conscious citizens of the Earth who love a clean shirt, there is a new laundry philosophy to help minimize the impact of our addiction to clean clothes.

What Is Green Laundry?

Green laundry is a new movement of environmentally conscious laundry practices designed to make washing your clothes a much greener and more sustainable process.

Using a few simple techniques and an approach to laundry which emphasizes the importance of your environmental impact over the expediency of your laundry day.

Done right, a good green laundry plan can save you money and reduce your carbon emissions while still maintaining the standard of cleanliness you expect from a good laundry day.

Let’s take a look at a few simple green laundry tips which you can implement right away to do your part for the environment.

Wear Your Clothes More Than Once

How dirty are those clothes, really? The truth is that many of us wash our clothes way more than necessary.

We’re not encouraging you to go full caveman mode here. If your clothes are dirty, sweaty, soiled, or smelly, get them off!

However, if you find yourself throwing clothes into the wash simply because you wore them once for a few minutes, you might want to reconsider. 

If an item can be worn with no visual or olfactory indications that it’s dirty, why not give it another spin? It will cut down on your laundry!

Use Energy Efficient Washers And Dryers

Ever taken a close look at how much energy and water your washer and dryer are using?

No? Well, it could save you some money!

Modern washing machines and dryers are designed to maximize energy efficiency. Selecting the right model can mean saving big bucks when it comes time to pay your electricity bill, especially if you’re using an old and outdated machine.

What’s more, your washer and dryer may even have some energy efficient setting you can engage. Check your owner’s manual to find out the most efficient way to operate your equipment.

Hang Or Line Dry Your Clothes

The dryer is a hungry beast. It sucks up a ton of electricity as it tumbles your laundry and heats up all those clothes.

The average dryer consumes more electricity than the average washer, making drying your clothes one of the most expensives parts of laundry day. 

However, this is an expense you can avoid entirely.

While sometimes the dryer is an absolute must, with a little bit of planning you can hang your clothes out to dry and skip the energy hungry dryer entirely.

What’s greener than using the sun? Hang your clothes outside on a sunny day and you’ll find them drying in no time flat.

Skip The Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning has a pretty reputation when it comes to environmental affairs. Chemicals used in the dry cleaning process have been shown to be harmful to the environment and dry cleaners shown to be a major source of pollution.

Although modern dry cleaning operations have taken many steps to curtail this, dry cleaning remains a major source of environmental pollution.

To help minimize your environmental impact, skip the dry cleaner if at all possible.

Some delicate items can be carefully hand washed instead of dry cleaned.

If you absolutely must go to a dry cleaner, seek out one that uses environmentally friendly practices. Inquire about the type of solvents they use and their process for waste disposal.

Green Laundry FAQs

1. Which laundry detergents are environmentally friendly?

There are a wide variety of detergents on the market today which are environmentally friendly. To find the best, consult the ingredients list on the product label and perform your own research on the ingredients listed.

2. Can I make my own eco-friendly laundry detergent?

Yes. There are a variety of recipes available which allow you to make your own eco-friendly laundry detergent at home utilizing ingredients such as castile soap, lye soap, or Borax.

3. Is fabric softener bad for the environment?

Fabric softener can often contain a cocktail of chemicals, many of which can be toxic to the environment and even people. What’s more, fabric softener can even damage your clothing in the long run, by locking in smells and stains which build up over time.

It’s a simple fact that as long as there are people, there will be clothes that need washing.

This inevitable fact has led many people into a steady income by simply helping everyday people accomplish this everyday chore.

While it might seem simple on the surface, there is a lot that goes into running a successful laundry business. It can be quite a cut throat environment competing for those precious laundry coins, so you’ll need a solid laundry business plan before you go making any big moves.

Everyone starting a laundry business will face unique challenges based on their circumstances and location. Although we can’t account for everything, we do have some general advice for any up and coming or would-be laundry business owners.

Get Experience In The Industry (Or Hire Someone Who Has)

The simple truth is that if you have never worked in the laundry business yourself, there is no way you have a complete handle on all of the details.

Even the processes which sound simplest on paper can be confounding to someone with a lack of practical experience. In order to run a laundry business efficiently and effectively, it is best to have firsthand experience guiding your decision making for every facet of your business.

The best way to get this experience is to put in the hours working in the laundry business, allowing you to build experience with the industry.

As ideal as this approach may be, we recognize that this is not an option for everyone. So if you don’t have the time to work in the industry before starting your own laundry business, it’s best to hire someone who has a lot of experience in the industry to serve as a manager or close adviser.

Write Up Your Laundromat Business Plan

At the core of your business should be a well rounded and comprehensive business plan.

While the approach to business plans can vary widely from company to company, there are three core components to any good business plan:

1. Business Goals: An outline of why your business exists and what it seeks to accomplish.
2. Methods: Explain in precise detail the methods your business will employ to meet the Business Goals outlined in #1.
3. Schedule: Carefully define the timeframe in which the Business Goals must be achieved.

As you plan, get as deep into the details as possible! Consider important details such as how many machines you can fit per square foot, the maximum hourly earnings of the machines, the average hourly earnings, and other data which can be used for projections of revenue.

Pick A Location While Visualizing Your Customers And Competition

When it comes to a laundromat, location is everything! Since people have to haul their heavy loads of laundry to you, the ideal location is one which takes minimal work for them to reach.

Keep in mind the nature of the area you plan to do business in. Look at the surrounding businesses and buildings to get an idea of who your clientele might be. If you’re near a hotel, expect travelers. If your neighbor is an apartment complex, expect regular residents. And so on.

Never forget what your customers want to see in a laundromat, and never stop striving to find out what scares your competitors to see in a laundromat.

Acquire The Necessary Permits And Licenses

It’s important to keep your business above board. That’s why getting a variety of permits and licenses to operate a laundromat is a necessary step for everyone hoping to break into the laundry business.

The exact permits and licenses you’ll need to get into business will vary based on your local laws. Consult your local statutes and authorities for up to date information. In some cases, it may be advisable to seek legal counsel to expedite this process.

Get The Equipment That Will Best Service Your Customers

In a modern laundromat, the equipment is the star of the show.

Your customer’s interaction is primarily with your equipment. For completely self-service laundromats with no attendant, your customer’s interaction is entirely with the machinery.

This means that your equipment needs to work -- and it needs to work well. It needs to be intuitive and convenient to use, while getting the job done well every single time.

This might include catering to your audience -- like adding extra large washers for urban areas with huge families. Or installing modern approaches to simplify payments by using apps and smart phones -- techniques which can save your business money as well.

Starting A Laundry Business FAQs

1. How much do I charge per load of laundry?

Make your prices competitive to the local market. In the United States, the average price to wash a load of laundry is around $2.

2. How much do I need to start a laundry business?

The cost of starting a laundromat will vary based on factors such as geography, size of location, type of equipment utilized, staff employed, and a variety of other factors. The cost to build or buy a laundromat in the United States is around $200,000 to $500,000, on average.

3. How much does a laundromat make in a day?

Earnings will vary widely from one laundromat to another. A laundromat’s earnings are determined by how many customers wash their clothes and the total number of machines available. Because space is the limiting factor for the number of machines, larger laundromats have a higher earning potential.

The truth is that most of us don’t put too much thought into how we use our washing machine.

Modern washing machines have made it dead simple to do your laundry. You really don’t need to know anything to operate it.

Sure, it has plenty of settings, but it seems like all of them work -- more or less.

While this cowboy approach to laundry might do it for some, it’s definitely not the optimal way to get things done.

Armed with just a basic knowledge of what the buttons and dials on your washing machine actually do, you can get some impressive results.

You can get your clothes cleaner while subjecting them to less wear and tear. You can save money by cutting back on water and electricity usage. And you can even help prevent your clothes from getting ruined in the wash.

Understanding Washing Machine Cycles

One of the most crucial choices available on your washing machine’s control panel is the type of cycle.

The type of cycle you choose has a huge impact on how your clothes are washed. Different cycles have different routines and intensities which they use to get your clothes clean.

For example, the “Delicate” cycle uses little spinning and lots of soaking to prevent damage to delicate items. A setting like “Heavy Duty,” on the other hand, will send the machine into a high intensity agitation and spin to get durable items like denim or towels as clean as possible.

Selecting the right cycle is quite simple once you know what they do. It’s an easy step you can take that will help get your laundry cleaner while maximizing the efficiency of every load you wash.

Let’s take a look at the most common cycles and what they do.

Delicates Cycle

The delicate cycle is the most gentle washing cycle. It’s designed to prevent damage to laundry items which can be easily ripped or torn, such as lingerie, silk, and lace.

To do this, the delicates cycle soaks the clothes in water while using minimal agitation and spin.

While this gentle soak is great for delicate items which aren’t too dirty, it doesn’t cut the mustard when it comes to getting a real clean. If you put a load of jeans on the delicates cycle, you’ll be wasting a load!

Normal Or Regular Cycle

In some washing machines, the normal or regular cycle is often the one with the most intense agitation and spin for rinsing.

This cycle is good for cotton and blended fabrics. It can be harsh on clothes as it involves some serious action during the wash and rinse part of the cycle.

Rapid Or Speed Wash Cycle

If you need some clothes cleaned in a jiffy, the speed wash cycle might be able to help you out.

This setting just cuts down on the time in the wash cycle and employs a very intense spin cycle to help minimize drying time.

It’s not suited for large loads or items that are particularly soiled or dirty. But if you find yourself without a clean shirt before that important date, it could be your savior.

Bulky Or Heavy Cycle

Dealing with some serious volume such as comforters and blankets? Or have a load full of beach towels and blue jeans?

The bulky or heavy cycles are designed to tackle these big loads. These cycles usually feature a long wash cycle with a deep soak combined with some intensive agitation and a capped off with a high speed spin cycle to eliminate as much moisture as possible.

Water Temperature

Your cycle selection controls many things, but it doesn’t dictate the water temperature you use in your wash.

To get the best results, you need to combine the different washing machine cycles with the right water temperature.

Once again, this is quite simple once you know some basics. Here are the ground rules:

• Cold Water: If in doubt, go for cold. The best choice for dark colors or delicate fabrics, as well as the most energy efficient choice.
• Warm Water: Suited for loads of permanent press or synthetic fabrics. Useful for removing stains.
• Hot Water: Best reserved for white cotton items. Ideal for stain removal.

Different Washing Machine Cycles FAQ

1. What kind of clothes should not be put in a washing machine?

Locate the laundry symbols on the tag of your clothing item. Do not put any item which indicates Hand Wash or Dry Clean Only into the washing machine. Look for the laundry symbols which indicate that it is washing machine safe, along with symbols indicating the manufacturer’s recommendation for washing cycle and water temperature.

2. What temperature kills bacteria in a washing machine?

Eliminating all bacteria would require water at boiling point. While some bacteria can be eliminated at lower temperatures starting around 160 degrees Fahrenheit, few washing machines sold in the United States operate at these temperatures.

3. Why do clothes say wash separately?

Clothes labeled “Wash Separately” are often too delicate to be washed with other items, or include a dye which is not color-fast and will bleed its color onto any other items in the wash.

The backbone of any laundry business is their fleet of washing machines.

Without the right washing machines, you’ll quickly find that your laundry business isn’t much of a business at all. As lucrative as a well run laundromat can be, if you’re equipped with suboptimal washing machines your entire laundry business can turn into a money sink.

Unreliable washers mean lots of downtime and maintenance expenses. Ineffective washing machines leave customers unhappy with the state of their clothes. Inefficient washing machines waste time and money, running up your overhead expenses for water and electricity.

These are just a few of the veritable laundry list of things to consider when picking out the best washing machines for your laundry business.

Don’t just think of them as plain old washing machines. Think of them as the star of the show.

What Are Some Top Rated Washing Machine Brands?

In your quest for the best washing machines for your laundry business, you’re likely to come across a few brands which just keep popping up in your research.

The top brands have a substantial presence in the laundry industry and can be found in laundry businesses across the globe.

These brands have been battle tested by laundry businesses far and wide. They are popular for a good reason and worth looking at for anyone shopping for commercial washing machines.

Here are some of the top commercial washing machine brands you should research for your laundry business:

• Dexter
• Speed Queen
• Wascomat
• Huebsch
• Electrolux
• Maytag
• Kenmore
• Whirlpool
• LG
• Bosch
• Blomberg

Different Types Of Commercial Washing Machines To Consider

A huge part of the success of your laundry business is picking out the right washing machines. Not only are they the workhorse behind your business, they will also determine the physical layout and flow of your business.

Optimizing the number and positioning of machines in your laundromat is key to maximizing your income potential.

Take some time to carefully picture your space and consider the following questions:

• Top Loading or Horizontal Loading: The orientation of the mouth of the washing machine’s drum will determine how people use your laundromat and how much space is available. Typically, configurations with horizontal loaders make the best use of space for businesses with a high volume of washers -- however, horizontal loaders are significantly more expensive than top loaders. But if space is not a concern, top loaders can do just fine.
• Drum Size: The drum size determines how large of a load the washing machine can handle. Consider your clientele. If your laundromat attracts a lot of people with huge loads of laundry, it may be more efficient to invest in larger washers. If you primarily cater to people like travelers or students with few clothes, it is likely best to stick with many small washers.
• Washing Machine Settings: Many commercial washing machines limit the options available to the user when it comes to setting cycle type, temperature, or other settings. Consider what controls are available to your customers so they can treat their clothes right.

Cost Of Different Washing Machines

The cost of a commercial washing machine can vary widely based on the size, brand, and model.

On average, the cost of a commercial top loading washer is around $500 - $1,000.

Horizontal loaders can be much more pricier, ranging anywhere from $1,000 as high as $20,000.

It’s never been easier to pay for your laundry. Want to dramatically simplify laundry day? Step into the future with mobile payments.

Coin Operated Versus Cards Or Mobile Apps For Your Laundry Business

Coin operated laundry is the classic approach for laundromats. While it certainly works, we’re not too far from a future where old coin op machines are little more than antiquities.

As fewer and fewer people carry cash, getting change isn’t as easy as it used to be. These days our wallets and purses are increasingly free of bills and change, and there is less and less need for businesses to set up all of the infrastructure necessary to make change.

Instead, we can skip this old archaic process entirely.

Modern laundromats are rapidly adopting innovative payments systems like laundry pay apps which allow customers to pay using their credit or debit card directly from an app on their phone.

No need to fuss with change ever again!

Best Laundry Business Commercial Washing Machines FAQs

1. What other equipment might I need for my laundry business?

Other equipment which can be useful to have includes vending machines to sell detergent and fabric softener. If you have a coin operated laundry, it’s a good idea to consider getting an ATM and a change machine.

2. How do you use a commercial washing machine?

You can wash your clothes in a commercial washer just like you would with any other washing machine. The only difference is usually a payment step required before the cycle starts.

3. How long does a commercial laundry machine take?

Wash times will vary between different commercial washing machines. Most washing machines take somewhere between 30 and 40 minutes to complete a load.