Preparing Your Laundry and Equipment For Winter

Published: 09-10-2024

Now that the weather is starting to drop colder, it’s important to remember we’re not the only ones affected by it, your appliances are too.

Not only are the inner workings affected by the cold but also your machine is likely to be under greater strain from winter-associated washing circumstances such as thicker clothes, heavier sheets, and bigger loads due to multiple layers being worn.

Washing Machines 

This will primarily depend upon where your machine is located. If your machines are located against an outside-facing wall that is poorly insulated, such as a garage or basement, the transfer of cold temperatures could cause the water in your machine to freeze. This could then lead to parts of your machines cracking, including the water intake valve and the pumps that drain the water.

To combat this, you could disconnect the water lines from the wall and only connect them when you need to use it. If this isn’t a viable option for your business, consider wrapping the washer’s hoses with pipe insulation to protect them from the cold.

Tumble Dryers

Similar to washing machines, where your dryer is located can have the biggest affect upon it. Many manufacturers recommend not exposing your dryer to temperatures below 5ºC. This means keeping them in garages or basements is not ideal unless they’re well insulated.

Vented dryers use hot air to dry your clothes, however it is crucial that the hot air is properly vented out of the room to prevent the hot air condensing on the cold walls and causing mould issues. 

Winter Washing Top Tips 

Now we’ve covered taking care of your machines in the colder weather, what are some laundry tips and best practices for the winter months?

Add an Extra Spin Cycle to Get Rid of Excess Moisture: For winter laundry consisting of heavier clothes, larger jackets, sheets, and towels, another spin cycle can help get rid of the excess moisture retained from the wash cycle to help them dry faster.

Stick To Cold Water: Whilst wearing more layers will lead to more washing, sticking to washing with cold water will help save you money on your bills, and make these extra washes easier on the wallet.

Run a Dehumidifier: Drying clothes indoors increases the amount of moisture in the air and can lead to issues like damp and mould. A dehumidifier will absorb the condensation caused by damp clothes and blow dry air back out.

Optimise Energy Efficiency: Run full loads rather than partial ones to maximise the efficiency of your washing machine, and regularly clean the lint trap in your dryer to ensure optimum performance. These tips should make a significant impact on your energy consumption, especially when coupled with off-peak scheduling.

 

Looking to upgrade your laundry set up this winter? See what GA Commercial can do for you and browse our range of commercial washing machines here or get in contact and speak to our team of experts:

Email: sales@gacommercial.co.uk
Phone: 01922 915 677