How to Stay Organized on Laundry Day

Costs are inevitable in businesses. You encounter them in various operational areas, and properly managing them is critical to maintaining profitability. If yours involves a lot of commercial laundry machines, for instance, efficiency is critical, as money can go down the drain quickly if not.

We’ve seen this time and again in our laundry consultancy work for clients. And while it can be a recurring crisis, the solution is as simple as staying organized during laundry day. That’s because efficiency relies on keeping a clean system for carrying out tasks, especially as mundane tasks are often the ones that can easily be mismanaged.

Today, we’ll share with you some tried and tested advice we’ve offered to our clients to help them mitigate the costs from runaway laundry days.

How to Stay Organized on Laundry Day

Regardless of who you ask, people can agree that laundry day can easily go off the rails. This situation is particularly true when working with mountains of laundry.

To avoid losing track of tasks during laundry day, here are some practical tips to staying organized all throughout.

1. Create a laundry schedule that works for you.

A structured laundry schedule is essential for businesses that handle high volumes of laundry. Without an organized system, laundry can pile up quickly, leading to delays, inefficiencies, and even disruptions to operations.

Establishing a schedule that aligns with your business’s workflow ensures that laundry is processed efficiently and remains manageable.

• Assess the volume of laundry and your business needs. Understanding the daily and weekly laundry demands of your business is the foundation of an effective schedule. Healthcare and hospitality facilities, for example, have more frequent laundry cycles because of hygiene and guest turnover.
• Capacity of your equipment. Businesses with high-capacity commercial washers and dryers can handle larger loads at once, reducing the number of cycles needed per day. Smaller businesses may need to spread laundry loads throughout the week to prevent bottlenecks.
• Peak hours and staffing. Aligning laundry processing with staff availability ensures efficiency. For 24/7 businesses, scheduling non-peak hours for laundry can free up machines during high-demand periods.

Once you have an accurate picture of these elements, you can then begin to map out the frequency and workflow of your entire laundry day schedule. Will you do daily or weekly loads? And will you be washing linens based on category?

These may be small details to consider but they are critical to ensuring that you are not wasting time and resources because of repeat washes. Moreover, maximizing machine capacity helps prevent overloading, thus ensuring energy efficiency and extending equipment longevity.

2. Sort the fabrics you need to wash beforehand.

Another way of improving efficiency is by sorting laundry prior to starting the wash. Sorting allows you to group items that need to be washed a certain way to maintain their integrity, reducing the need to repair or replace them.

Pre-sorting also speeds up the process, helping cut down water and energy  usage. Some things to note in sorting are:

• Separate whites from darks. This way you prevent color bleeding and dulling whites over multiple washes.
• Keep delicates separate. Use mesh bags for items like lingerie, silk, and lace to prevent snags and stretching.
• Turn jeans and graphic clothing inside out. This minimizes fabric wear and preserves designs and color vibrancy.

3. Prepare all the supplies you need ahead of time.

Having everything ready eliminates unnecessary delays. Before starting, check detergent levels, fabric softener, dryer sheets, stain removers, and any specialty products needed. Keep them in an easily accessible location near the washing machine.

4. Use a carrying basket for detergent and supplies.

A designated basket or caddy for laundry supplies keeps everything in one place, making it easier to transport between machines if needed. This prevents spills and clutter while streamlining the process.

5. Create an ergonomic flow in your laundry space.

A well-organized setup reduces unnecessary movement, minimizes strain on employees, and improves overall productivity. By strategically placing laundry equipment, supplies, and workstations, businesses can streamline operations and create a more effective workflow.

Start by positioning laundry hampers near the washing machines to minimize the need for heavy lifting. In commercial settings, using wheeled laundry carts allows staff to transport large loads with minimal effort, reducing physical strain. For laundromats, clearly labeled sorting stations near the machines can help customers quickly separate their laundry before loading.

Keep frequently used supplies within easy reach to avoid unnecessary movement during each cycle. Install shelving or storage cabinets above or beside washers and dryers to hold detergent, fabric softeners, stain removers, and other essential products.

Lastly, designate a folding station near the dryers to create a seamless transition between washing, drying, and finishing. A sturdy counter or table provides a clean, flat surface for folding linens, uniforms, or towels immediately after they come out of the dryer, preventing wrinkles and speeding up the process.

7. Clear your space for folding.

Folding immediately after drying prevents wrinkles and clutter. Dedicate a clean, flat surface like a table or countertop for folding. This keeps clothes neat and makes it easier to put them away promptly.

8. Separate clothing by type before folding.

Grouping similar items speeds up the folding process and keeps storage organized.

• Stack shirts, pants, and undergarments separately.
• Match socks while folding to avoid losing pairs.
• Use dividers or bins for easier storage in drawers.

Final Thoughts

An organized laundry routine saves time and reduces frustration. Planning ahead, sorting efficiently, and creating a functional workspace can make laundry day less overwhelming. Small adjustments in routine and setup lead to long-term efficiency, keeping clothes in top condition while minimizing hassle.

For more tips on how to make laundry day go about more efficiently, make sure to reach out to ACE Laundry Equipment Inc. Let us help you optimize your washing our expert laundry room solutions.