How does a commercial laundry service work?

Step into the intricate world of commercial laundry services, where efficiently cleaning and managing extensive volumes of linens and textiles takes centre stage. Across various industries, from hospitality to healthcare and food and beverage, these operations rely on sophisticated processes and advanced technologies to consistently deliver clean, sanitised, and professionally pressed fabrics. From the initial intake to the final delivery, this blog unveils the carefully orchestrated stages that define commercial laundry, offering insights into the systematic methods that underpin this crucial service.

Freya Gutteridge

18th December 2023

Business & Insights

Commercial laundry services are intricate operations designed to efficiently clean and manage large volumes of linens, garments, and textiles for various industries. Understanding the inner workings of these services unveils the systematic processes and technologies involved in delivering clean, sanitised, and professionally pressed fabrics.

From intake to delivery, these services undergo a sequence of carefully orchestrated stages.

Intake and sorting

The process begins with the collection of soiled linens and garments from different clients with our carbon-neutral, electric vans and bikes. These items undergo a meticulous sorting phase, a crucial step in commercial laundry operations.

Sorting ensures that fabrics with similar washing requirements, such as colour, fabric type, and degree of soiling, are grouped together to prevent damage and optimise the cleaning process.

Pre-treatment and washing

Following sorting, the fabrics move into the pre-treatment phase. Here, stains and heavily soiled areas receive specialised attention before being loaded into industrial washing machines. These machines, significantly larger and more robust than household counterparts, use precise combinations of water and detergent to cleanse the fabrics thoroughly.

The temperature and duration of the washing cycle are tailored to the specific fabric types and soiling levels to ensure optimal cleanliness without compromising fabric integrity.

Drying and pressing

Once the washing cycle completes, the fabrics move to industrial dryers. These dryers utilise controlled temperatures and airflow to efficiently dry the textiles.

Post-drying, the items often undergo a pressing phase where large-scale pressing machines, irons, or steamers meticulously iron or steam fabrics to eliminate wrinkles and creases, presenting a crisp and professional finish.

Quality control and inspection

Quality control plays a pivotal role in ensuring the delivered fabrics meet stringent standards. Trained personnel thoroughly inspect each item, checking for cleanliness, stains, damage, or imperfections.

Any items that do not meet the prescribed quality criteria are reprocessed or treated accordingly to uphold the service's standards.

Packaging and delivery

The final stage involves the careful packaging and delivery of the laundered items back to the respective clients. Packaging methods are designed to maintain the cleanliness and integrity of the fabrics during transportation.

Each package is labelled and organised for convenient retrieval and distribution to the clients.

How we work at Oxwash

At Oxwash, our process is a little different – our strengthened linen processing system harnesses cutting-edge technology, streamlining and optimising our operation from start to finish.

Our upcoming tunnel finishing technology also provides us with a remarkable advantage in achieving the highest presentation standards. This innovative system utilises a combination of steam, heat, and specialised machinery to remove wrinkles, improve fabric texture, and create a professional finish, extending textile longevity – and ensuring that linens and garments leave our facility in pristine condition, ready for immediate use. And, with an advanced automated flow system, we eliminate the need for manual intervention at various stages, reducing human error and enhancing efficiency.

When it comes to rental linens and stock management, we do things a bit differently. Unlike others in our field, we've set up a special system for keeping track of our supplies. With an advanced business platform and upcoming RFID technology, we keep things clear and organised. This means we always know what's available and where it is, making sure our customers get exactly what they need, whenever they need it.

Unlike other laundry services, our operations boast a low environmental impact, thanks to our innovative use of electronic vehicles, and carbon-neutral laundry and wet cleaning facility. Find out more about our facilities here.

Commercial laundry – crucial for many industries

Commercial laundry services, though complex in their operational setup, rely on the seamless integration of specialised equipment, skilled personnel, and stringent quality control measures to ensure consistency and reliability in their services.

These services play a crucial role in various industries, including hospitality, healthcare, and food and beverage, ensuring the provision of clean and sanitised linens and garments essential for their operations.

Let's talk laundry

If you would like to discuss your commercial laundry needs – or want to know more about our specific processes, get in touch.

Related Articles

What Trends Are Affecting Commercial Laundry Operations?

Commercial laundry operations are undergoing a transformative period driven by trends such as increased automation for efficiency, a shift towards sustainable practices, and the adoption of digitalisation for optimised workflows. The industry is embracing outsourcing and managed services, customised solutions, and advanced textile technology to meet evolving customer expectations.

What is the difference between commercial and household laundry?

Both commercial and household laundry services aim to achieve textile cleanliness, but they differ significantly in terms of scale, equipment, and processes. Commercial laundries operate on a much larger scale and use specialised equipment. They prioritise efficiency, have advanced quality control measures, and take environmental factors into consideration. These commercial laundries play a significant role in many industries by providing customised processes, adhering to regulations, and offering cost-effective solutions.

What are the benefits of commercial laundry services?

In order to maintain the highest quality standards while reducing costs and streamlining operations, businesses of all sizes, including hotels, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and spas, can benefit from outsourcing their laundry needs to commercial laundry services. By doing so, they can efficiently manage the large volumes of laundry produced daily and improve overall efficiency and productivity, which is crucial in today's fast-paced world.

Transparency: A Key to Sustainable Change

Transparency around businesses’ sustainability is still more of a pleasant surprise than the norm. At Oxwash, we believe all stakeholders should know where we stand in our environmental and social efforts, and the best tool for this is a sustainability report.

Cutting Waste, Reducing Costs: The Advantages of Enhancing Linen Longevity in Commercial Settings

Discover how enhancing linen longevity in your business can lead to significant benefits and savings. Take our short survey to assess your current approach and receive our FREE Linen Longevity guide. The guide is full of practical tips and explores sustainable linen management solutions to boost your business's bottom line and reputation.