Picking the right commercial washer for your business can be hard. There are so many options to choose from, each of which are great for specific situations. Should you pick a hard or soft mount? Front or top loading? What sort of capacity do you need? When is spin speed important?
This article will give you a broad overview of the different pros and cons of each option, but we encourage you to get in touch with our commercial laundry experts to find a solution tailored to your needs! They have decades of experience.
What type of washer should I choose?
Before considering capacity or anything else, you should first think about what kind of washer you want. There are four main categories you need to consider:
- door opening,
- mount type, and
- payment capable (vended) vs no payment (non-vended)
- other special case-specific considerations (our laundry experts help you figure that out).
Which door opening is fairly straightforward. Our machines are either front-loading or top-loading, and this ultimately comes down to personal preference or the limitations of the space your machines will be placed in.
The mount type is more complex. You can choose from free-standing, soft-mount, or hard-mount. If you need a refresher on what each type means check out our article on the difference between hard mount and soft mount. Generally speaking, hard-mount washers are cheaper to buy than their soft-mount counterparts but are more complicated to install. The decision on which mount is a mix of factors, including the size of the machine needed (bigger machines are more likely to require hard-mounts), and if your site can actually handle a hard-mount machine.
If you need payment capable machines you should pick a payment compatible (vended) washer/dryer. We have options for coin/token, card payment or app payment.
Lastly, you should consider if there are special factors to take into account. For example:
- If infection/ hygiene control is a critical issue you might require a barrier washer. These machines ensure separation between clean and dirty laundry.
- If floorspace is an issue then stacked washer/ dryers can be a very efficient option.
How much capacity do I need?
All of our washer's capacities are listed inside their product brochures, however, kg's of washing can be a bit of an opaque measure. Each machine's capacity is based on how much DRY washing will fit in each cycle.
Capacity means more than just the weight of laundry, it also refers to the volume of each washer's drum. Smaller machines may struggle to fit larger items such as duvets, even if they are under the weight limit.
Your required capacity is also influenced by other factors, such as how many hours a day they can run, the required quality of cleanliness, and if they are personal garments or not.
This is something our laundry experts help figure out - what machines are required to achieve your required load/cycle throughput requirements.
Spin speed?
The spin speed is something you might not initially consider as important, but depending on what you are washing it can dramatically increase the efficiency of your whole laundry system. The mechanical action of your washing machine is essential for removing water from the garments post-wash, which results in much shorter drying times.
The general rule for this is that lighter garments need lower speeds (to avoid damage). Speeds of 100G are typically used for these. Heavier woollen or cotton garments are often spun at medium speeds around 200G. Lastly, for heavy fabrics such as towels and sheets, very high spin speeds of 400G are often used, as the higher spin speeds will result in MUCH faster drying times.
Any other features to think about?
You should consider the energy and water efficiency of each machine you purchase, if only because it may save you in utilities costs in the long run.
Additionally, programmable controls can be a huge benefit if you take the time to use them. They can help you with presets for specific types of fabrics, allowing you control over temperature, chemical dosage, and the time that each machine runs for.
Another factor you should consider is the post-purchase support. Commercial machines have a reputation for durability, and we pride ourselves on being the best. But it's important to have a plan B in case something happens, because even a Rolls Royce can have issues... Speed Queen washers have the longest commercial warranties in the industry and can be serviced in the most remote parts of Australia.
You should keep in mind that this list is just our general advice! We encourage you to get in touch with our experts to discuss anything you are confused about, or to get more detailed advice specific to your situation.
Still have questions? Get in touch with our experts to find out more!
