Maintenance Tips for your Laundry Equipment: Preparing for the busy periods.

It’s summer holiday season!

And if you own or run a hotel, this means increased demand on your laundry facilities. Towels, duvets, pillows, and blankets, there’s plenty of laundry to keep your washing machines and dryers busy. But how can you maintain your commercial washing machine so that it can cope under this load?

Here are some top tips to keep your commercial washing machine at the top of its game:

1. Start with the manual
There’s a reason your washing machine is always accompanied by one. Reading the manual will familiarise you with the machine so you know what to look out for when things need to be fixed. It’s a good idea to know how the machine operates so you can identify when problems arise.

2. Regularly check the hardware and belts
Whilst not needing to be checked daily, parts of your machine should be checked over several times a year. Belts should be checked for cracks, tears, or if they’re worn out. A worn-out belt will slow down the spin and leave laundry wet at the end of the cycle. Screens and filters should be checked every few weeks and all metal parts should be cleaned monthly or whenever needed. Your washing machine will last longer and provide better service with regular care.

3. Check the water inlet and outlet hoses
Have regular maintenance checks of the water inlet hose and filters and clear any blockages. Check the inlet and outlet hoses for any leaks, you don’t want to be wasting water and running up a much higher than usual water bill.

4. Clear exhaust ducts of your dryers
The build-up of lint and debris in the dryer’s exhaust ducts can become a serious fire hazard. Routinely check the ducts for clogs in order to keep fire risk to a minimum.

5. Clean the drums
A dirty drum is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Soap, dirt, and general grime can build up inside your machine, preventing it from cleaning effectively and causing it to give off bad odours.

Similarly, clean the gasket between door and drum to prevent dirt build-up that could stop your machine from sealing properly.

💡 You can view our guide on cleaning a commercial tumble dryer here

6. Leave the door open
Between washes, leave the door open to air out the drums and keep your machine odour free. This will also prevent the build-up of bacteria.

7. Keep an issue log
It is a good idea to keep note of any faults that occur, write down when it happened, what the cycle was, and what the error code was. This will be of great help to the engineering fixing your machine.

8. Know when you’re out of your depth and get professional help.
Not everything can be solved with a quick fix. Here at GA Commercial we have our own directly employed engineering team for repairs and servicing of your laundry equipment. We also make sure your machines undergo regular services at 6 to 12 monthly intervals.

⚙️ To find out more about GA Commercials repair service, click here.