Wash Resources Categories: For Property Owners

Commercial Laundry Equipment You Can Trust

Renting commercial washers and dryers goes beyond acquiring reliable machines—it’s about the entire laundry experience, starting with the right equipment. Hiring a commercial laundry equipment company that offers integrated high-tech benefits can help resolve common issues in managing your machines.

Digital laundry rooms are designed to meet the needs of busy individuals, eliminating common pain points that might arise. Here’s how upgrading to a digital laundry room can elevate your laundry game.

Advantages for Property Owners: Streamlined Management

For property owners and managers, remote management tools are invaluable. Apps create a central hub for handling requests and reports, which can streamline day-to-day tasks. High-tech apps also make monitoring machine usage and performance easy without needing to check on them in person. Since 49% of people use apps more than 11 times a day, integrating app-based solutions is a smart choice for staying organized and addressing issues swiftly.

Apps can also support online portals, giving owners and managers on-demand access to crucial information. Apps keep records of all service activities with comprehensive service history features. Managers and owners can easily access and download past service reports, track maintenance schedules and review service performance, all within a simple digital interface. This allows flexibility in creating, submitting and receiving confirmation for service requests. Plus, smart diagnostics give managers a heads-up about machine problems before they get worse, so repairs can be done quickly.

Benefits for Residents: Hassle-Free Laundry Experiences

For residents, laundry apps mean a hassle-free experience with the convenience of digital payment. Modern machines offer residents mobile payment options, eliminating the need for residents to have cash on hand on laundry day. Plus, integrated payment systems provide a more secure way to pay for laundry services.

If a machine suddenly breaks, most modern laundry apps enable users to report problems and connect with property managers quickly. This handy in-app feature can save loads of time and money by identifying faulty machines for repair.

Real-time tracking allows users to monitor machine status, reducing wait times. In the long run, this means happier residents and fewer wet clothes left in the machine between washes.

These advancements illustrate just a few ways technology simplifies laundry room management, but the list goes on. Digital laundry rooms enhance overall efficiency and communication between managers and users, making them an essential upgrade for any modern living space.

Transform Your Laundry Experience for the Better

Whether you’re looking for commercial laundry machines for lease or seeking comprehensive laundry room management, WASH offers unmatched service and value. We provide modern solutions that not only meet but exceed the expectations of both residents and property managers. Our comprehensive laundry room management services go beyond just providing equipment. You can trust our depth of knowledge and expertise to transform your laundry experience for the better. Contact us today to discover how WASH can enhance your laundry room operations.

Grandma had the right idea. Many of us can recall opening the lid on a margarine tub at an older relative’s house, only to find leftover potato salad or the remnants of last night’s dinner. Empty cans and jars became receptacles for loose change, screws, and a host of knick-knacks. For generations, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” was a way of life well before that phrase ever saw the light of day.

Then the tides changed, and we started purchasing containers made specifically to store food and other items of our daily lives. All those empty tubs and cans and jars—along with millions of tons of other types of consumer goods—went straight into the trash, creating a waste storage nightmare. Disposal instead of reuse became a way of life.

Fortunately, recent years have seen a rise in the movement to protect our environment and become more responsible stewards of our planet’s natural resources by rethinking how we approach the lifecycle of the things we use in our daily lives. WASH is right in the middle of that movement with several sustainability initiatives aimed at that ideal. And it’s a worthwhile endeavor: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 2.1 million tons of major appliances, known as “white goods,” were being offloaded into landfills nationwide by 2018.

Made Like New Again
Remanufacturing is one of WASH’s key initiatives to extend the lives of laundry machines and reduce the unacceptable number of white goods going into our nation’s landfills annually. Each year, we recover thousands of washers and dryers that would otherwise be destined for the garbage dump and put them through our rigorous refurbishment process. In four of our facilities, located in the U.S. and Canada, our remanufacturing experts work their magic on machines to ensure they meet the highest quality standards.

The process starts with a thorough inspection by the trained eyes of our remanufacturing team. They examine dozens of parts that make up the water, mechanical and electrical systems of the machines, identify what needs to be fixed or replaced and make the necessary repairs. Then they add the finishing touches by cleaning the machines’ exteriors, removing scratches and blemishes, replace the appropriate parts of the machines and performing other cosmetic enhancements.

The process ends with a final, rigorous round of inspection and testing to make sure the machines look their best and run in tip-top condition. When the final box is checked off, we once again have machines that meet or exceed our WASH standards of performance—thanks to the masterful touch and technical expertise of our remanufacturing team. And just like every machine we offer, our certified remanufactured washers and dryers are backed by our WASH service guarantee.

Safeguarding Earth’s Resources
Remanufacturing doesn’t just help the environment by alleviating stress on our landfills, however. It also reduces our planet’s carbon load. Simply put, it takes less energy and other resources to remanufacture an existing machine than to build a new one.

Ready to learn more about what WASH is doing to make our planet a safer and healthier place to live? Read more about our sustainability efforts that go well beyond our commitment to remanufacturing. If you’re interested in how WASH can help you bring the latest in laundry technology to your residents, feel free to reach out to us!

Laundry rooms are a mainstay in many residential buildings. And while they’re a welcome amenity for residents, traditional laundry rooms can be a time-intensive hassle for facility owners and managers. Coins have to be collected on a regular basis. Machines break down and are left unreported. Thefts and vandalism mean both a loss of revenue and expensive repairs.

Fortunately, the wave of technological advances that are automating and simplifying home and business management has found its way into the multifamily laundry room. The new era of digital laundry rooms is revolutionizing the way people wash and dry their clothes — and the way properties manage their laundry facilities. Here are a few ways that is happening:

Cashless payment options: Convenience and flexibility for you and your residents
Today’s consumers want the convenience of cashless/digital payment options for — everything! Coins have all but disappeared from many people’s pockets, bags and wallets, and they can be hard to come by without making a special effort to collect them. For that reason and others, laundry rooms whose users have adopted mobile payment have shown significant increases in revenue.

And there’s a bonus for cashless payment facilities: As an owner or manager, cashless payment options enable you to easily increase or decrease pricing in any amount you choose, whenever you choose. You’re no longer constrained by the 25-cent increments of coin-operated machines. Plus, eliminating coin mechanisms also reduces service calls from coin jams, theft/vandalism and regular wear and tear.

Improved safety and security: Eliminating the risk and ‘ick factor’ of coins
If your facility has a coin-operated laundry, it’s almost certain you’ve dealt with theft — which usually comes with a side of vandalism and an expensive repair bill. Whether it’s laundry machines or coin changers, these repositories of quick cash are a huge temptation. Digital laundry rooms eliminate that temptation, helping you to retain all of the profits your facility is due.

Getting rid of coins also safeguards you and your laundry users in another way: by eliminating contact with coins that can transmit bacteria and viruses. In a post-pandemic world, that threat remains a real concern for a lot of people.

Real-time reports and analytics: Monitor and control from wherever you are
With traditional laundry facilities, owners or managers must physically visit the room to check on machines. Digital laundry technology enables you to keep eyes on your laundry facility whenever you want from wherever you are. You can easily monitor machine usage, performance and have up-to-date data at your fingertips for meetings and management decisions.

It gets even better when you use technology like the WASH-Connect App in your digital laundry room. Your residents can report issues with machines right in the app, giving you even more eyes on the status of your machines.

Take a Step Toward Better Laundry Room Management
Digital laundry rooms are a hot trend in property management because they offer increased convenience, efficiency and security for both tenants and property owners/managers. Upgrading is easier and more affordable than you may think!

Let WASH, a pioneer in multifamily laundry since 1947—with thousands of digital laundry rooms throughout the United States—be your guide. We’ll install your smart room technology and even take care of spreading the exciting news to your residents. Get started today!

Shopping. Banking. Dining. Dating. Transportation. Entertainment. The list goes on and on. Members of Gen Z — people born between 1997 and 2012, including most of today’s college students — live their lives connected to technology. And with 68.6 million Gen Z’ers in the United States alone, their influence is undeniable.

So it makes sense that today’s tech-savvy college students jump at the chance to use smartphone technology in the laundry room. It fits perfectly into the flow of their everyday lives, offering a familiar way to take care of an essential task. Enter the WASH-Connect app! With mobile payment and other attractive features, our proprietary laundry app enables college students to make washday a more pleasant and rewarding experience.

Quick and Convenient
Students are busy—and it’s a good bet that doing laundry isn’t on their list of fun things to do. The WASH-Connect app’s mobile payment option means no more messing around with coin changers or laundry card dispensers.

The convenience of WASH’s mobile payment has perks for you, too. users prefer to do laundry using mobile pay over other payment methods like coin or laundry card

An All-in-One Resource
The WASH-Connect App puts the full laundry experience at your students’ fingertips. No more hunting down a laundry room attendant or other building employee for help or information. And no more guessing about the proper way to use the machines—which can end up damaging laundry and/or the machines themselves. Through the app, users can:

• Monitor the laundry process—Easily identify available machines, check on how much time is left in the wash or dry cycle and get a push notification when the cycle is complete.
• Report breakdowns—Create and submit service requests then get confirmation. It also expedites the repair process, decreasing downtime and keeping the highest possible number of machines available for use whenever your students need them.
• Request Refunds—Request refunds and receive credits directly from the in-app wallet. An immediate and simple resolution makes for more satisfied customers today and fewer potential issues for you down the road.
• Expert Laundry Support—Get the help college students need to successfully navigate the world of laundry care. Today’s students may be tech wizards, but most of them need a hand in the clothes-cleaning department. In the WASH-Connect App, users will find a basket-load of tips, tutorials, articles and FAQs on a wide range of laundry topics, such as proper sorting strategies, reducing wrinkles, removing stains and dealing with laundry mishaps. It’s like having a laundry expert right in their pocket!
• Access the most current tech—We are always listening to feedback from our users and

Like laundry detergent and fabric softener, Gen Z and the WASH-Connect App make a perfect pair in the laundry room! Learn more about the full range of services WASH offers, including our mobile payment options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handling someone else’s packages is a lot of responsibility and can be overwhelming. And with an explosion in demand for online orders and more people working from home than ever, apartment buildings are receiving a record number of parcels. With 6.68 million packages delivered daily by FedEx alone, many apartment complexes can no longer rely on staff for parcel delivery and pick-up. Luckily, installing a smart package locker system is a simple solution that can make managing packages much easier. Here are three reasons to upgrade your apartment complex by installing Luxer One smart lockers, now available through WASH.

1. Smart Lockers Are the Modern Solution

Traditional mailboxes don’t meet the needs of today’s residents. With a smart locker system, you can accommodate more packages and streamline delivery. Smart lockers save apartment managers an average of four hours of staff time daily by eliminating the time required to deal with residents’ packages. Luxer One locker systems bring contemporary features, including:

• • A Luxer One mobile app that notifies residents of package delivery with a one-time access code to the package room;
  • 24/7 live phone and email support from the Luxer One team of experts for issues with delivery, security, missing items or the lockers themselves;
  • Photo capture and required signature for proof of all pick-ups;
  • Video camera surveillance.

2. Customization is King

As an apartment manager, you need a customizable storage solution tailored to the specific needs of your multifamily property. Luckily, customizing lockers to fit your building is simple with WASH and Luxer One.

• • Choose from a variety of locker sizes, door combinations, and colors. Brand your lockers with your property’s logo to create a seamless and cohesive look.
  • Convert an existing space into a secure locker solution that accommodates 100% of packages, regardless of size.
  • Use your existing storage room to provide a smart and secure overflow room.

Do residents get their groceries delivered weekly? Refrigerated units are available for storing perishable deliveries, so food can be kept fresh. Adjustable shelves within the refrigerators can accommodate deliveries of all heights, such as large and small bouquets of fresh flowers.

3. Amplify Resident Satisfaction with an In-Demand Amenity

Gone are the days of scheduling lives around deliveries. Residents want amenities that complement their busy lives. According to Apartments.com, 84% of survey respondents stated that secure, self-service, 24/7 package access was one of the best amenities an apartment building could offer. If you’re looking to amplify your residents’ satisfaction, you need to:

• • Offer a package locker system that meets their needs
  • Offer convenience, security and flexibility
  • Assure that both residents and apartment owners can rest easy knowing that packages are safe with best-in-business Luxer One smart lockers

Thanks to our partnership with Luxer One, we’ve added the nation’s top-rated package locker system to our best-in-class lineup of WASH services.  Multifamily facilities can now enjoy the advantages of automated package lockers and our state-of-the-art smart laundry rooms through a single point of contact.

Contact us today to discuss how your apartment complex can own the nation’s top-rated package locker system! wash.com/luxerone

How to Reduce Energy and Water Usage with Sustainable Laundry.

Small changes can make a significant impact in terms of overall energy usage and water consumption, especially in the laundry room. According to ENERGY STAR, the average household does almost 300 loads of laundry each year, consuming about 6,000 gallons of water.

If you are looking to run your property with a smaller carbon footprint and reduce water and energy costs, using a laundry management partner that focuses on sustainable operations is key. When washers and dryers equipped with resident-friendly controls and features, everyday laundry services can be simplified and made more efficient. Read on to discover how you can lower the carbon footprint for you and your residents.

Sustainable laundry starts with efficient equipment

Many modern laundry machines are designed with efficiency in mind, but even with modern advances, laundry equipment still draws significant electricity and water. A high-efficiency washing machine uses anywhere from 15 to 30 gallons of water per load, which is a decrease in the amount used by older models. This saving on water consumption is one of the greatest benefits of using eco-friendly washing machines.

Front-loading washers save water by using low water levels in the wash and rinse cycles. Before you purchase or lease machines for your multifamily laundry room, be sure to check that machines have earned the ENERGY STAR rating by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines. This means they are estimated to use approximately 35% less water and 35% less energy than standard models. By extracting more water in the spin cycle, these machines also save on the energy consumption later needed for drying.

Reducing carbon emissions with mobile systems

Laundry apps, like WASH-Connect, offer mobile systems that help users be more eco-friendly. The app offers a cash-free experience, giving users the option of mobile payments. It allows for efficient operation, with an option to receive push alerts to notify the resident when the machine has completed its cycle.

If the user has issues with a machine, the mobile system quickly offers suggestions and tips for fixing common problems and allows residents to request service directly from the app. This means fewer service tickets are necessary. No more fixing coin jams or checking in just to see if machines are broken, which translates to overall fewer technician vehicles on the road.

Energy saving tips and resources for residents

Here are some green laundry tips for residents to help save energy, maximize efficiency and reduce water usage one load at a time.

1. Cold water only – Avoid using hot water when not necessary. 90% of the energy used during washing is for heating up the water.
2. Remove lint – Remove lint build-up from the trap before you begin your drying cycle. Built up lint can cause restricted airflow and poor dryer performance.
3. Avoid bleach – Utilize alternative whiteners like oxygen-based bleaches or for a natural solution, try lemon juice.
4. Launder by weight – Keep heavy items like towels in their own wash load, separate from light-weight items. Separating items by weight when washing is the most energy efficient way to wash and dry items.
5. Reduce/reuse packaging – Typical laundry supplies are made of plastics and micro-plastics that end up in the ocean. Always recycle plastic containers so they can continue their journey.

Check out WASH’s library of resources for property owners and residents for useful information on eco-friendly laundry practices and guides. For more quick sustainability and energy-saving tips, visit our website.

These days, there’s no shortage of app-based experiences—everything from healthcare to ordering fast food is readily available through purpose-made apps. We engage with our smartphones every day, and their use is only increasing. The average American spends 88% of their smartphone screen time engaging with apps versus using their device’s web browser. It should come as no surprise, then, that there are apps for doing laundry, too. But not all laundry apps are created equally. Read on to discover the unique perks offered to users of the WASH-Connect laundry app!

The Cash-Free Experience
The most well-known and convenient feature of the WASH-Connect app is the ability to do your laundry without needing coins. Say goodbye to coin laundry machines and flipping couch cushions hunting for coins whenever you need clean clothes. Thanks to the WASH-Connect app, clean laundry is just a few swipes and taps away.

Remember jammed coin laundry machines? That’s a thing of the past! The cash-free aspect of the app isn’t the only perk. Unlike coin laundry machines, getting a refund is easier than ever before. Request a refund right through the app, and it’s handled quickly and easily. Machine downtime? The app can handle that too. Simply submit a request, and a mobile technician is automatically assigned to your location. You’ll even get updates on the issue, so you know it’s being handled. Can a coin laundry machine do that?

A Wealth of Utility
While we can’t overstate the convenience of mobile payment—seriously, it’s excellent—the usefulness of the WASH-Connect laundry app goes beyond the luxuries of effortless payment. Gone are the days of tracking your building’s busy laundry hours, timing your cycles, and uncertainty about machine availability. You can quickly check machine status from the app’s interface and even receive push alerts to notify you when your machine has completed its cycle. Through smart laundry, shared laundry has never been more seamless.

If you encounter an issue that doesn’t require a technician’s attention, the WASH-Connect laundry app offers assistance through accessible laundry resources and machine troubleshooting. From basic how-tos and tips to in-depth tutorials on stain removal and delicate material care, our rich collection of informational resources come together to offer in-app knowledgebase with educational material for the laundry newbie and the seasoned veteran and everywhere in between. Simply put, the WASH-Connect laundry app provides a helping hand whenever you need it.

Get Connected
Learn more about the benefits of the WASH-Connect mobile laundry app!

[LEARN MORE: https://www.wash.com/mobile]

Mobile payment is everywhere. You can now use your phone to pay for everything from groceries to gas. But, perhaps the most convenient form of mobile payment is for laundry. Thanks to mobile payment, gone are the days of coin laundry machines and collecting mountains of quarters just to do your wash. Mobile payment is a welcome change for apartment residents, especially given today’s coin shortage problems. In fact, research shows 85% of residents express interest in a cashless laundry system instead of old-fashioned coin laundry machines.

However, truly “smart” laundry goes beyond just mobile payment to include a variety of convenient technology, tools, and support. Let’s unpack the hamper and discover the benefits of smart laundry.

Variable Laundry Pricing
If you’ve ever done laundry in a laundromat or a multifamily common-area laundry room with coin laundry machines, you know that vend pricing is traditionally by the quarter. That means if pricing goes up, it increases by 25-cent increments. With smart laundry, price changes are made easily and in any amount. There can even be different pricing for peak and off-peak wash times.

Simplified Laundry Service
Machine out of order? No problem. With smart laundry, you can request service right from your mobile app. And, if repairs are needed, a technician will automatically be dispatched to your location. You can even get updates when the work is completed.

Quicker Laundry Refunds
With smart laundry, residents can handle refunds in the app, and they’ll quickly get a credit to their digital wallet. There’s no waiting for a claim to be filed or a check to be mailed like in the days of coin laundry machines because that just isn’t smart.

Laundry Monitoring & Alerts
One of apartment residents’ favorite smart laundry solutions is monitoring. With smart laundry, there are no more time-wasting treks down to the laundry room only to find all the machines full. You can use your phone to check remotely. How convenient is that? Plus, you can get alerts and notifications when your laundry is done, so you can go about your business and don’t have to be stuck in the laundry room waiting for your washer or dryer.

Machine Learning & Real-time Data
Smart laundry helps management reduce washer and dryer downtime as well. There are also analytics advantages to smart laundry where managers can access real-time data on laundry room operations including revenue, cycle tracking, usage and repair history. Thanks to these analytics, it’s easy to schedule predictive maintenance or replace machines before they have issues.

Quick Resources
Looking for tips on removing a stubborn stain? Need help with a dryer that isn’t drying? Smart laundry provides quick access to help and resources to make laundry easier with various tutorials, how-to guides and videos available online and in-app.

Plus, WASH offers top energy-efficient washers and dryers from manufacturers like Speed Queen with resident-friendly controls and features. So, if you’re looking to make a smart upgrade from old coin laundry machinest, WASH can help with the equipment and smart technology to make it a success. To learn more about WASH’s smart digital laundry solutions, visit wash.com/bundles and wash.com/mobile.

Creating the perfect apartment laundry room for your properties is a tricky balance. You have to have enough machines in good working order to handle the entire building’s laundry, at a price point that will keep your tenants happy–all without losing money maintaining it.

Whether you’re in charge of one building or a hundred, this guide will help you figure out the right laundry set-up for you and your tenants.

Factors to Consider
When creating your ideal laundry room for your apartment complex, you’ll want to consider the following:

• the size of the property
• how often you want to update the machines
• how much time and money you can devote to maintaining the machines
• how you want residents to pay for using the machines

A four-unit brownstone full of families is going to have different laundry needs than a 150-unit complex with a wide variety of tenants.

The volume and frequency of laundry in your property will help you determine if you need a dozen commercial washers or just a few high-efficiency front-loaders.

Regardless of the type of property, any common-area laundry facility should be clean, brightly lit, safe, and convenient. If it’s hard to use, people are more likely to do their laundry somewhere else.

Equipment: Should You Lease or Buy?
The first big decision you need to make about your laundry room is whether you buy or lease your laundromat equipment. If you buy washers, there’s a higher upfront cost than leasing machines, but no recurring fees.

However, if you own your equipment, then you become fully liable for the machines. You take on the responsibility for the upkeep as well as any damage the machines might do to residents’ clothes in case of a malfunction.

When you lease your equipment rather than buy dryers and washers, the lease usually comes with a service agreement. This helps keep the machines in good condition. If something does go wrong, the service agreement will have a provision for how to handle repairs and damages.

Another benefit of leasing is that it is easier to update your machines. When there are improvements in laundry tech, you can easily have the company you lease from swap out your machines without losing time or business.

Ultimately, buying your own equipment is right if you’re looking for a more hands-on role in your laundry room. Leasing will let you keep control of the big picture without having to worry about the smaller details.

Tech Specs: Cashless Machines and Apps
A major consideration for your laundry room is how you’re going to charge tenants. Coin-operated machines are now just one option. There are plenty of machines that operate via pre-loaded laundry cards, or even via an app.

Coin-operated machines are straightforward in their operation. However, they come with a variety of potential problems. Coin jams, vandalism, and inconvenience for tenants make this classic option troublesome.

Cashless machines solve these issues. When you use machines with a card reader, you avoid coin jams and a lot of vandalism. There is no coin collection compartment for anyone to try to open. The pitfall of using cards, however, is that losing them is like losing cash–which can be frustrating for tenants.

The best option for a modern laundry room, however, is an app-based payment system. If your tenants are agreeable to an app, then you avoid coin jams, lost cards, and other nuisances.

Laundry cards are a great way to split the difference between coins and an app if your residents aren’t all comfortable using an app. The technological know-how and access for your tenants is something you should consider when deciding how to collect your revenue.

Service Agreements
Even with the best equipment available, you’ll still need to make the occasional repair. Whether it’s a tenant’s laundry hack gone wrong or a broken part, eventually you’ll need to service your machines.

There are two different kinds of service you will need for your laundry equipment. The first is repairs, which you would need anytime a washer or dryer malfunctions or breaks.

The second is regular maintenance, which is when a serviceperson checks over your machines for regular wear and tear. This would give them an opportunity to replace worn out parts or make adjustments before a machine malfunctions.

A service agreement from the company where you lease or bought your machines could cover either type of service, or even both.

Repairs vs. Regular Maintenance
If you’re handy, or you have an on-site facilities staff that can handle minor repairs, you might need less hands-on maintenance. Like with any machine, there’s always the possibility of a malfunction with your laundry equipment.

When you have staff with the right knowledge and experience, they can keep an eye on your equipment and solve minor issues before they become major problems.

However, if you aren’t experienced with washer and dryer repair, regular service from a professional is in your best interest. Additionally, if you lease your machines, your agreement might prevent anyone other than a company service person from making repairs.

A full-service laundry company can be a convenient way to handle emergency repairs and regular maintenance. Consider a thorough service agreement for your laundry machines to keep your system functional, especially if you don’t have a large staff.

Get the Best Apartment Laundry Room Possible
Managing an apartment laundry room can be a full-time job. Between finding the right machines, keeping them in good working order, and making sure your tenants are satisfied with the experience, it’s enough to take up your entire day.

A laundry management service can take these worries off your plate—without taking your profits. Get a quote from WASH today to learn more about our lease programs, service options, and machine sales. We can help create the perfect laundry room for your property, your residents, and you.