A poorly run laundry room doesn’t just waste time — it can cost serious money. For busy facilities and growing service businesses, Laundry Room Management isn’t a side task — it’s central to daily operations. Whether you’re in charge of a shared building facility, hotel back-of-house, or commercial laundry route, mastering the essentials helps cut costs, reduce linen loss, and keep equipment running smoothly.
So, what does proper laundry management actually look like?
Below, we break down the 8 essential steps of laundry, from start to finish — with practical tips to improve efficiency at every stage.
1. Sort Before You Load
Efficient laundry starts with proper sorting. Separate by colour, fabric type, and soil level. Whites, colours, delicates, and heavy-duty items should never mix.
Tip: Don’t just rely on staff instincts — have clear signage or a sorting chart in place. This minimises dye transfer and ensures proper wash settings are always used.
2. Pre-Treat Stains Immediately
Stains left untreated will set, especially with heat. Always inspect garments and linens for food, oil, makeup or chemical spills before loading the machine.
Use a targeted stain remover and gently blot (never scrub) stains before they go through the wash. Consistent pre-treatment saves time and reduces rewash rates — a key part of smart Laundry Room Management.
3. Load Efficiently (But Don’t Overload)
Filling a washer to its manufacturer’s limit makes good sense — underloading wastes water and energy. But overloading is a fast-track to poor cleaning results and mechanical breakdowns.
For commercial setups: weigh loads where possible. Many professional machines allow for accurate load weight targeting.
4. Use the Right Detergent and Dose
More detergent doesn’t equal cleaner clothes — in fact, overuse leaves residue, stiffens fabrics, and harms equipment over time.
Use high-efficiency (HE) formulas for commercial machines and adjust dosage based on load size and soil levels. Many setups benefit from auto-dosing systems to ensure consistency.
For eco-conscious operations, consider biodegradable or phosphate-free solutions. The Australian Government’s product register helps identify compliant, environmentally safer options.
5. Select the Correct Cycle
Different materials need different care. A one-cycle-fits-all approach wears out linens faster and drives up costs.
- Cottons: Hot water, heavy-duty cycle.
- Delicates: Cold water, gentle cycle.
- Microfibres and synthetics: Warm water, short spin.
Train all users on your machine’s settings and purpose. Labelling or QR code-based cheat sheets can dramatically reduce user error.
6. Dry with Care
Excessive heat breaks down fibres and shortens linen lifespan. Use low to medium heat settings where possible, and never dry delicate items with heavy towels or robes.
Overdrying is another silent cost — it uses more electricity and reduces linen softness. Use moisture sensors or timers to ensure efficiency.
A clean lint filter isn’t just for fire safety — it also improves airflow and drying speed. Make daily checks part of your Laundry Room Management routine.
7. Fold, Inspect, and Rotate Stock
Once items are dry, fold promptly to reduce wrinkles and storage space. But don’t skip inspection — now is the time to catch tears, stains, or fading.
Implement a simple quality control system:
- Green tag = good
- Yellow = rewash
- Red = repair or retire
Rotate linens and uniforms using a FIFO (First In, First Out) system to prevent uneven wear.
8. Clean and Maintain Equipment Regularly
Even the best machines lose performance without upkeep. Build a simple maintenance checklist for daily, weekly, and monthly tasks:
- Wipe down gaskets and doors
- Check for leaks or drips
- Run a hot wash with machine cleaner weekly
- Clear out drains and filter traps
If you’re running a mobile or facility-based service, route-specific upkeep is a critical part of sustainable Laundry Room Management. Every breakdown avoided saves you hours of lost time and client disruption.
The Bottom Line: Good Laundry Room Management Is a System
Clean results don’t come from guesswork — they come from consistency. By breaking laundry down into clear, manageable steps and following them every time, even the busiest laundry environments can operate smoothly and cost-effectively.
If you’re overseeing multiple sites, a mobile laundry team, or shared facility services, take the time to review your full process — not just the wash cycle.
Looking to improve or standardise your laundry operations? Discover how Laundry Room Management can support efficient, route-based systems that scale with your needs.
→ Want more insights into route-based laundry solutions? Learn how proper Laundry Room Management transforms efficiency and reduces operating risks.
→ Explore practical frameworks and scalable solutions with Laundry Room Management that help facility managers, hotels, and laundromats stay ahead.