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Category: How To Use Your Laundry Room Equipment

Optimizing Laundry Ops in Small Spaces

Posted on by FMB Laundry

Effectively managing a laundry room, especially in small or multi-family spaces, requires a blend of strategic equipment selection, space planning, and efficient operations. FMB Laundry, Inc., a locally owned company serving the Eastern and Southeastern U.S., offers insights into making the most of limited laundry space. This article explores practical tips and strategies for optimizing laundry room operations in compact environments, from multi-family buildings to on-premise facilities.

Choosing the Right Equipment for Small Spaces

Energy-Efficient Appliances

Investing in high-efficiency washers and dryers can save space and lower operating costs. Machines with energy-saving features, such as Speed Queen washers and dryers provided by FMB Laundry, consume less water and power, reducing both environmental impact and utility costs over time. These models are designed for heavy use, promising reliability and low maintenance requirements, which is crucial for smaller spaces where machines may be continuously in use.

Compact and Stackable Units

Compact, stackable units are a practical choice for maximizing laundry room functionality within a confined space. They allow facilities to double up on equipment without increasing the room’s footprint, meeting high-demand laundry needs without compromising accessibility or performance. These units are particularly suited for multi-family residences, hotels, and other shared laundry spaces where space is at a premium.

Designing an Efficient Laundry Layout

Streamlined Workflow

Efficient layout planning is key to maximizing the utility of a small laundry room. Placing washers and dryers in a sequential line or a compact U-shape minimizes movement between machines, allowing users to load, unload, and transfer laundry with ease. It’s also beneficial to position folding tables, laundry bins, and detergent dispensers nearby to streamline the entire laundry process.

Incorporating Smart Storage Solutions

Utilizing vertical storage, such as wall-mounted shelves, can free up valuable floor space while providing convenient access to detergents, fabric softeners, and maintenance tools. FMB Laundry can assist in designing and installing these storage solutions, creating a well-organized room that supports a seamless laundry experience even in small spaces. For added convenience, consider integrating hampers or bins that tuck under counters or tables.

Leveraging Technology for Better Management

Mobile Payment Systems

Mobile payment options, like FMB’s Clothesline Mobile® app, simplify the payment process for users while also reducing the need for bulky coin-operated systems. This streamlined, digital solution not only saves space but also enhances user satisfaction by providing secure, convenient payment methods, cycle monitoring, and end-of-cycle alerts.

Real-Time Monitoring and Maintenance

Advanced monitoring systems like FMB’s Clothesline QuickView® allow property managers to oversee machine usage and maintenance needs remotely. This proactive approach enables managers to quickly address any service issues, reducing downtime and ensuring continuous operation—a critical factor for high-demand laundry spaces.

Creating a Comfortable User Environment

Ventilation and Lighting

Proper ventilation is essential in a small laundry room to prevent heat buildup, improve air quality, and maintain machine efficiency. Additionally, adequate lighting enhances visibility, making the space feel larger and more inviting. Energy-efficient LED lights are a smart choice, as they last longer and consume less power, aligning with the sustainability goals many property managers aim to meet.

User-Friendly Design Features

To create a welcoming environment, consider features like easy-to-clean flooring, ergonomic folding tables, and strategically placed benches. While these additions may seem simple, they contribute significantly to the overall user experience, fostering satisfaction and loyalty among residents or guests.

Why Choose FMB Laundry?

For over 35 years, FMB Laundry has specialized in outfitting and managing laundry spaces for multi-family housing and on-premise facilities, delivering high-quality equipment and dedicated support tailored to meet the needs of properties of all sizes. FMB’s team understands the unique challenges of small spaces and offers comprehensive solutions—from compact machines to advanced tech integrations and custom layout designs—that make managing a laundry room easier and more efficient.

By choosing FMB Laundry, property managers and facility operators benefit from a reliable, customer-centered partner who prioritizes prompt service and durable, efficient equipment. Ready to optimize your laundry space? Contact FMB Laundry today to learn how our solutions can enhance your laundry room’s efficiency and user experience.

The Art of Linen Care: Pro Tips for Maintaining Hotel-Quality Sheets

Posted on by FMB Laundry

For commercial property and facility managers, maintaining the quality of linens is crucial for ensuring guest satisfaction and prolonging the life of your investment. High-quality sheets can transform a guest’s experience, making them feel pampered and valued. Here are some professional tips to keep your hotel linens in pristine condition.

1. Choose the Right Detergent

Using the correct detergent is the first step in linen care. Opt for a high-quality, commercial-grade detergent that effectively removes stains without damaging the fabric. Avoid products with bleach, which can weaken fibers and cause yellowing over time. For optimal results, choose a detergent that is suitable for the type of water in your area (hard or soft).

2. Maintain Proper Water Temperature

Washing linens at the right temperature is essential. Hot water is effective for sanitizing and removing tough stains but can damage delicate fabrics and cause shrinkage. A temperature of around 140°F is recommended for white sheets to ensure cleanliness without compromising the material. For colored linens, use warm water to prevent fading.

3. Implement a Regular Washing Schedule

Consistency is key to keeping linens fresh and hygienic. Establish a regular washing schedule that aligns with the occupancy rate and guest turnover. High-frequency use requires more frequent laundering to maintain cleanliness and appearance. Ensure that linens are rotated to avoid overuse of a single set, which can lead to premature wear and tear.

4. Use Fabric Softeners Sparingly

While fabric softeners can make sheets feel luxurious, overuse can leave residues that attract dirt and diminish the absorbency of the fabric. Use fabric softeners sparingly and choose products specifically designed for commercial use. Alternatively, consider using white vinegar as a natural fabric softener that helps maintain the integrity of the linens.

5. Dry Linens Properly

Proper drying techniques are just as important as washing. Overdrying can weaken fibers and cause shrinkage, while underdrying can leave linens damp and prone to mildew. Use a commercial dryer with moisture sensors to ensure linens are dried to the right level. Remove sheets promptly to avoid wrinkles and folding marks.

6. Inspect and Repair Regularly

Regular inspection of linens helps identify early signs of wear and tear. Look for thinning areas, small tears, and frayed edges. Promptly repair any damage to extend the lifespan of the sheets. Keeping a log of each linen set’s usage and condition can help track when replacements are needed.

7. Store Linens Correctly

Proper storage is crucial to maintain the quality of linens. Store linens in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area to prevent moisture buildup and mildew. Use shelving that allows air circulation and avoid overpacking to reduce pressure on the fabrics. It’s also beneficial to keep linens covered to protect them from dust and dirt.

8. Train Your Staff

Ensuring that your housekeeping staff is well-trained in linen care practices is vital. Provide regular training sessions to keep them updated on the best practices for washing, drying, and storing linens. Empowering your staff with the right knowledge will lead to better maintenance and longer-lasting linens.

Contact FMB Laundry Today!

Maintaining hotel-quality sheets requires attention to detail and a commitment to best practices. By following these tips, you can ensure your linens remain fresh, clean, and inviting for your guests. For professional assistance and top-tier commercial laundry solutions, contact FMB Laundry today. Our expert team is ready to help you achieve the highest standards in laundry care. Visit our website or call us to learn more about our services and how we can support your property’s laundry needs.

Removing Holiday Meal Stains

Posted on by FMB Laundry

Removing Holiday Meal Stains

The Holidays are a time of family feasts and get-togethers with friends and loved ones. You may visit old hometown haunts or see cousins you only talk to annually. Regardless of your itinerary, be sure to include plans for removing holiday meal stains so that you don’t finish dinner looking like a soiled tablecloth.  After all, you can only pack so many outfits in a carry-on.

Removing Red Wine Stains

Wine is a necessary part of any holiday meal, particularly if certain aunts and uncles are invited.

  • Blot
  • Rinse with cool water
  • Cover with salt
  • Brush off salt
  • Soak with water
  • Blot
  • Wash in machine

Removing Gravy Stains

The only thing that will help the dry turkey is gravy, but sometimes that gravy boat can be slippery.

  • Remove as much as possible without pressing into fabric
  • Douse with white spirit or protein solvent
  • Blot
  • Rinse with cold water
  • Massage in dish soap before washing
  • Wash in machine with bio-detergent

Removing Cranberry Sauce Stains

There is an interesting debate amongst households and generations about cranberry sauce in the shape of a can and homemade cranberry sauce. Despite homemade cranberry sauce being far more delicious, the canned jellied sauce holds nostalgic value. Which cranberry do you stan?

  • Remove as much as possible without pressing into fabric
  • Douse with white vinegar
  • Massage into fabric
  • Mix dish soap and borax
  • Massage into fabric
  • Rinse with cool water
  • Repeat as necessary

FMB Laundry provides laundry equipment services to on-premise laundry rooms. We focus on multi-family, hospitality, medical, and campus properties. With expert technicians ready to solve any problem and state-of-the-art technology that includes a mobile app for residents with real-time alerts and intelligent card payments, you’ll appreciate the difference in how we do business.

For more information about laundry room equipment or to learn about a free quote for all major brands, contact FMB Laundry by calling 410-324-3654 or email us to learn how we can help you set up your on-premise laundry services today!

Make Doing Laundry Stress-Free

Posted on by FMB Laundry

Laundry room etiquette can be a new concept or unclear for some people that use a communal laundry room. The most basic rule in the laundry room is to treat others with respect. There are some dos and don’ts of laundry room etiquette that will save you from having to deal with any bother or headaches while doing laundry in your building!

Be Timely

First and foremost, do not leave your items in the washer/dryer for an extended period of time. This is rude to other residents and may result in your garments being removed and tossed aside before you return.

Instead, try and do laundry when you have the time to complete a load in both the washer and dryer. While it may take some effort to find the time, it is preferable to having your clothes become dirty as a result of being thrown away or accumulating mold as a result of being left in the washer for too long. With the Clothesline Mobile app, you will receive alerts when your laundry is done, making timeliness much easier to accomplish.

Be Patient

If a unit has been in use for a while, be patient. If a machine has been stopped for more than an hour and is still occupied, stack the clothing neatly or remove the garments inside and place them in a plastic grocery bag. Place them beside the machine in case they were placed there by a resident.

Be Prepared

It is important to be prepared when doing your laundry in a shared space. Be sure to have your SmartCard with you with enough money on it to do your laundry. Double-check that you have detergent before you head to the laundry room. If you get there and realize you forgot detergent, going back to grab it not only wastes time, but you might lose out on an available machine.

By using some common courtesy, you can make doing laundry in your building a stress-free experience. For more tips on creating a stress-free laundry environment, contact FMB Laundry today!

We Trust Speed Queen and So Should You

Posted on by FMB Laundry

When you look around, you’ll notice a lot of different types of washers and dryers. They come in various colors, multiple sizes, varying ways they function, and a variety of other differentiating features. At FMB Laundry, we stand by the Speed Queen brand and so should you.

Manufactured in the United States

By supporting a company that manufactures products in the United States, we’re supporting everyone in the country. Not only does it boost the economy to use Speed Queen machines, it makes servicing the machines easier too. If the machine does break down, it’s easier and quicker for us to get the parts we need.

Expected To Last 25 years

Sure there are a lot of machines with flashy features and modern designs, but they don’t often last as long as the Speed Queen. The Speed Queen washers and dryers are expected to last at least 25 years, offering 10,400 wash cycles before they wear out. This is why Speed Queen is great for college dorms, apartment buildings, and other areas where the machines may experience heavy, consistent use.

Capacity To Handle Large, Heavy Loads

Speed Queen doesn’t have the largest drum out of competing washers on the market, but they are large enough for horse blankets, King size comforters, and other big items such as those. If your load contains dense blankets or towels that you worry might become an unbalanced mass, don’t worry about it. The sturdy structure allows you to get all your biggest, heaviest loads done without a problem.

Contact Us

At FMB Laundry, we are focused on the laundry needs of multi-family units, medical buildings, college campuses, and more, and we trust Speed Queen with all of them. Call 410-324-3654 or email us today to learn more!

What Your Tenants Expect From an Onsite Laundry

Posted on by FMB Laundry

As the manager of an apartment building or residential facility, you know the importance of onsite laundry amenities. You understand that the way they are managed can make or break rentals. It’s important to learn what tenants value most in a laundry room and how to meet those needs.

Safety Tops the List

You can build a sparkling laundry area with luxury machines that always work, but no one will come if it seems unsafe. Some basic concepts that make tenants feel secure include:

  • Central location with people around
  • Excellent lighting
  • Accessibility for tenants only
  • Security camera

Laundry users want to know other people are coming and going to help deter negative behavior. They want assurance the laundry room is locked and used only by residents. They want to come and go in safety and spend as little time in the laundry area as possible.

Cleanliness Is Paramount

Keeping the laundry room clean has always been important, but it is more vital than ever in the current environment. This means spending time and resources to monitor the area, empty waste containers, clean up spills immediately, and wipe down machines. Whether you outsource custodial services, use an employee, or pitch in yourself, floors need daily mopping, and surfaces require frequent wiping.

Communication is essential. Provide a well-publicized way for residents to report laundry room concerns and follow up on the complaints immediately with a friendly, competent process.

Superior Equipment and Technology Pay Dividends

On-premise laundry rooms have the advantage of convenience, but there is still plenty of competition. If you want residents to use the laundry room, provide up-to-date equipment that performs well. New machines featuring smart technology, such as the Clothesline Mobile Payment App, combine convenience with safety. Tenants can use smartphones for no-contact payment and check from their apartments when a machine becomes available or their laundry is complete. These technologies can also make your laundry room a large selling point for those looking to live in your building.

For suggestions on improving safety practices and implementing technology-driven laundry equipment, contact FMB Laundry by calling 410-324-3654 or sending an email to talk with our specialists. Make sure your onsite laundry room exceeds your tenants’ highest expectations.

Beneficial Technology-Driven Solutions With FMB Laundry

Posted on by FMB Laundry

FMB Laundry has implemented technology-driven solutions to make getting the laundry done more convenient for users. Whether you run a multi-family unit, manage a college campus property, or manage the laundry at a medical facility, these technology-driven solutions will make life easier for everyone.

SmartCards

A SmartCard can be purchased through a Value Transfer Machine in your laundry facility. Customers who wish to do their laundry there can put a monetary value on the card and use it until the amount runs out. It can then be reloaded using cash, EBT cards, NFC devices, credit cards, or a debit card. Using a SmartCard eliminates the need for users to carry coins, which makes doing the laundry more of a convenience for everyone involved.

The SmartCard system is easy to set up and easy to use. With software created specifically for these machines, you are able to determine a vend price, cycle times, and even set up specials you wish to implement. The software allows you to perform audits, reports, and other accounting functions.

Clothesline Mobile App

Available on Android and iPhone, the clothesline mobile app gives your customers a convenient way to take care of the wash. They can look for an open machine, check on the status of specific washers and dryers, get a machine started again, and keep track of their transactions. This allows users the ability to get other things done while their laundry is going.

When the wash or dry cycle is complete, the smartphone receives an alert that lets the user know it’s time to change the wash. They can then head to the laundry room, get the laundry switched, then use the app to pay for service and set the machine settings.

As you can see, FMB Laundry is making it easier and more convenient for your tenants to get their laundry done. With SmartCards and Clothesline Mobile, everyone benefits with improved technology systems. Contact FMB Laundry today by calling 410-324-3654 or sending us an email to learn more or to request service.

Maintenance Advice To Keep Your Laundry Running

Posted on by FMB Laundry

As a manager, it’s important to ensure everything in the building runs smoothly. Whether you provide a laundry area for apartment or dorm tenants, make washers and dryers available for hotel guests, or furnish laundry equipment for employees, it is vital to keep the machines in peak condition. There’s no better way to accomplish this than staying on top of regular maintenance tasks. Some items may seem minor, but they go a long way toward avoiding downtime and extending appliance life.

Eliminate Lint

Theoretically, each person cleans the lint trap after using a dryer. It’s a 10-second job. In reality, however, few individuals actually remove the lint because they aren’t sure how or don’t think it’s their job. Make sure you remove all lint from each dryer at least once a day and thoroughly vacuum the compartment every week. The dryer will run better, and you cut the risk of fire.

Stop Leaks

Another daily task involves checking hose and valve connections on the back of each washer. With vibrations from washing and spinning, connections loosen and dripping begins to occur, so inspect and tighten daily. Also, examine the hoses periodically for cracks and deterioration.

Test Doors

Seepage often occurs around the doors of front-loading washers, so test each door lock at the end of the day to make sure it’s working. After verifying the mechanism is operational, leave the washer door open to dry out the interior. Nobody wants to use a washer that smells funky.

Wipe Glass

Nobody wants to use dirty machines, either, so wipe down the appliances and make the glass sparkle. Don’t forget to clean between the glass and the door.

Clean Tumblers

Call a service technician to complete a comprehensive cleaning of the dryer tumblers once a year. These experts know how to clean the tumbler without damaging the sensor or interior surface.

If you need assistance keeping laundry equipment in tip-top shape, contact the professionals at FMB Laundry by calling 410-324-3654 or sending us an email. We can give you maintenance advice and answer any other questions you have about updating laundry appliances.

Win Over Residents with Your On-Site Laundry

Posted on by FMB Laundry

Maintaining a well-run laundry room for your tenants provides a lot of benefits. It not only brings in a steady income from washers and dryers, but also makes a powerful marketing tool to attract and retain renters. In order to win over residents, you need to make an effort to give them what they want. Learn more about the specific aspects that tenants look for in an on-site laundry facility.

Tenants Want Safe Facilities

Today’s headlines have pushed safety to the top of the laundry list for renters of all ages. It can be tempting to tuck utility areas away in a corner or on a lower level where people only venture to do their wash. Instead, put the laundry room in a handy location with high traffic. Keep the area and halls bright and well lit. Make sure only tenants can access it and consider keeping the room locked.

Tenants Want a Clean Laundry Area

Tenants use the laundry to clean their towels, linens, and clothes. They don’t want to fold them on dirty tables or accidentally drop them on grimy floors. It doesn’t take a lot to maintain a spotless laundry room. Wipe down machines several times a day, empty strategic waste containers often, and mop or vacuum floors frequently. Monitor conditions every hour or two and clean untidy areas promptly. Keeping a close watch on cleanliness also adds safety.

Tenants Want Top-Notch Equipment

If you want to make the laundry area a showpiece of your building, provide quality, updated washers and dryers. Scratched and chipped appliances with frequent “Out of Order” signs will deter users. New laundry equipment provides shorter washing and drying times, saves energy, and provides renters with amenities such as automatic alerts when their laundry is finished.

If you’re ready to provide building residents with the updated equipment they require, contact FMB Laundry for information on the latest laundry room technology. We can help you plan a laundry area that brings in extra income, keeps your renters happy, and attracts new tenants. Call 410-324-3654 or email us today for more information.