Eco Friendly Laundromat Tips!

It is more important than ever before to reduce water usage, but how will this affect your laundromat?

Are you trying to reduce costs at your laundromat?  Do you want your apartment building to be more “green”?  Elite Business Investments cares about natural resource conservation and offers high-efficiency machines designed to help reduce water usage.

Did you know that typically residents of apartments with in-unit laundry facilities use more than three times as much water for laundry than residents in apartments using on premise common-area laundry facilities.  This is huge news for property owners who are considering in-unit laundry.

Here are a few Green Laundry tips to share with your customers or to try at home.

Use Cold Water

Washing with cold water is the easiest way to save natural resources. First, warm water needs to be heated and heat requires energy. Roughly 75 percent of the energy required to do a load of laundry goes into heating the water. Using cold water saves energy, putting less pressure on electricity grids. It can also save you some money. Heat can break down dyes in the clothes and cause shrinkage. Thus, by washing clothes in cold water, colors last longer and clothes retain their size and shape.

Use Energy Efficient Equipment

On average, a new ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer uses 280 kWh of electricity and can save you about $45 a year on your utility bills compared to a standard model. A full-sized ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer uses 13 gallons of water per load, compared to the 23 gallons used by a standard machine. That’s a savings of more than 3,000 gallons of water, per year!

Full Loads

Wash your laundry in full loads, but don’t overload!  Overloading can cause damage to your garments, leave your clothes dirty, and cause damage to the machine.  It’s not uncommon for socks, underwear or other small garments to get sucked down inside the washing machine’s drainage line, preventing the water from draining.  When washing machines are run beyond their normal load capacity, zippers, buttons and other embellished accessories can latch on to nearby garments, causing permanent damage to the fabric.

Use Natural Detergent and Non Chlorine Beach

If you drop your laundry off (or have it picked up) for service, ask the cleaner to use green detergents.  They are more effective because plant-based ingredients work harder than chemical concoctions. They are better for your skin. Your clothing touches your skin all day, and if you are using harsh cleansers in the washing machine, the residue left behind is also in contact with your skin.  They are more affordable. Organic detergent is usually sold in bulk, saving you more money per ounce of cleaning solution. Concentrated forms are even more cost effective as they allow you to dilute the detergent to the level you need, instead of relying on a manufacturer’s formula.  They are septic-safe, water-supply friendly, and  improve air quality.  The ingredients of any cleaning product make their way into the air when used, and this includes sprays, detergents, and dish soaps. The natural ingredients of organic detergent are safer to breathe during use, making for a safer home environment for your family, pets, and yourself.

Clean Your Lint Filter

The lint causes your dryer’s motor to work harder. This occurs because lint blocks the air circulation so that the motor cannot cool efficiently. As a result, the motor must run longer and harder, like an overheated car engine.  Secondly, since the motor is working slower, it takes longer to dry your clothes. Finally, since the dryer must run longer, you are using up more energy. This translates into a more expensive electric or gas bill.  Not to mention it is also a fire hazard!

Use a Laundromat

Commercial washers and dryers tend to be more efficient than domestic versions, so taking your bundle to the neighborhood laundromat may use less energy.

laundromat coin laundry

 We’re here to help!

Call us at (818) 787-8881 or email us at info@elite-biz.com for more information.