Airbnb and other short-term rental accommodations continue to be a popular option for holidayers. In order to make these properties presentable, hygienic, and welcoming, after every guest has left the owners must clean the property themselves, or in many cases outsource the cleaning to a local business, to prepare for the next lot of guests. This includes the laundering of towels, bedsheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, and any other flat linens that are provided by the hosts. The hosts may choose to do the cleaning themselves because they live nearby and choose not to spend money on outsourcing. Other hosts may not live in the area or have several properties to look after and simply cannot take on the task of cleaning. Whatever way the host chooses to do their laundry, one thing that can benefit all laundries servicing Airbnbs and short-term holiday stays is commercial laundry equipment.

Domestic Washers and Dryers Are Not Up For the Job

Aqualogic has had many Airbnb hosts and cleaning companies reach out to us frustrated with their domestic-style washers and dryers that can’t keep up with demand, slow them down, and are repeatedly unreliable requiring repairs frequently. The solution that our laundry experts typically recommend will depend on several factors. That’s why it’s so important to speak with a professional when finding a commercial washer or dryer that’s the right fit for your unique laundry needs. However, we have put together the most common scenarios to give you an idea of what to look for when putting together a laundry fit for short accommodation stays.

Hosts that do Laundry Onsite

Even hosts that are only caring for one holiday property can benefit from commercial laundry equipment. The time between the last checkout and the next check-in is often only a few hours during the busiest holiday periods. If you’re an Airbnb host that is frantically trying to wash the bedding for several rooms and a number of bath and beach towels using the laundry at the property, domestic washers and dryers will only slow you down. Not only do domestic washers and dryers typically have a smaller capacity but their cycle times can be very long, particularly for a front-load washer.

A small commercial washer and dryer are perfect for those hosts that are only caring for one or two properties and have limited space and/or budget. They are available in 9.5kg capacity, have much shorter cycle times, higher extraction speeds to reduce drying times, and are designed and made to be used frequently, lasting years to come. They’re compact in size and super easy to use, so you can even have them at the holiday property for guests to use.

Hosts or Cleaning Services that Hire Linen or Use the Local Laundromat but Want to Bring their Laundry In-House

The boom of the sharing economy and short-term accommodation industry has led to growth in the cleaning industry and even an emerging sub-sector catering specifically to this market segment. Cleaning companies that solely service Airbnb and other holiday rental properties are prevalent and increasing. Some companies often focus on the cleaning of the property and outsource the laundry to a local linen hire service or make use of a nearby laundromat. By outsourcing their laundry, they can get a large volume of laundry washed in a short amount of time. However, some companies are seeing the financial benefit of setting up their own laundry and bringing it in-house.

For these types of cleaning companies or hosts that look after several properties, commercial laundry equipment will allow you to bring your laundry in-house, potentially saving you money in the long term. Commercial washers and dryers are designed and made for large volumes and high throughput. They will give you fast turnaround times, efficient use of energy and water resources, and are designed and made for the rigours of commercial use, with an average life expectancy of 10 years when cared for properly. Commercial-grade washers are also heated, providing superior levels of hygiene. Their capacity starts relatively small at 10kg and can go up to industrial size. Although a larger capacity will allow for bigger loads, more often than not you are better to have two smaller machines than one massive machine. This way your business will always have a backup and you can have two different washers to suit two different needs. For the best solution, be sure to speak with a laundry expert to ensure you get the right machinery for your unique business. Bringing your laundry in-house will give you even quicker turnaround times and instant access to clean linen. [Read: How to Set up an In-House laundry in 5-Steps]

Hosts or Cleaning Services that Already Have an In-House Laundry but Want to Expand

Perhaps you manage many holiday properties and what started as a necessity to keep the linen clean and hygienic is evolving into another arm of the business. Or perhaps you have a cleaning company and you would like to be able to service more customers and more segments of the market, to grow your business even further. Your existing laundry could benefit from a site assessment from a laundry expert in order to analyse the existing set-up, and identify the best way to increase your laundry throughput. The recommended solution will depend on how much space you have to work with, what fabrics you’re washing, how many staff you intend to hire, the hours you want to operate, the budget you have to work with, and many other variables that all make up the success of a commercial laundry operation. By increasing your laundry capacity, not only will your business be able to service more Airbnb customers, but you can look at targeting other segments such as small motels and hotels, conference centres, and restaurants, for an even better return on investment.

Benefits of Commercial Washers and Dryers for the Airbnb and Short Stay Accommodation Industry

• A superior level of hygiene – thermal, good agitation, stainless steel drum instead of plastic, automated chemical dosing
• Bigger capacities available
• Speed of cycle and dry time
• Energy and water savings
• Get more laundry done in shorter time frames, increased throughput
• Opportunity to grow your business, and target other hospitality segments

[Read: What’s the Best Commercial Washing Machine]

Common Commercial Laundry Equipment Used for Airbnb Laundries

• Small Commercial Washers and Dryers
• Vended/Coin-Operated Washers and Dryers
• Commercial Washers and Dryers
• Small Flatwork Ironers

Summary

We have discussed the importance of commercial laundry equipment for Airbnb hosts and cleaning companies servicing short-term rental accommodations, as well as highlighted the limitations of domestic washers and dryers in handling the high demand and quick turnaround times required for laundering linens between guests. Even hosts managing a single property can benefit from small commercial washers and dryers, which offer faster cycle times, larger capacities, and durability. There are many advantages of bringing laundry in-house for cleaning companies or hosts managing multiple properties, as commercial equipment provides fast turnaround times, energy and water savings, superior hygiene, and increased throughput, as well as presenting other opportunities for the business. It is important to consult with laundry experts to find the right machinery based on the unique needs of your laundry, as they will also give professional guidance on your set up and provide exceptional technical installation.

For more information on our laundry equipment, a site assessment, or how to go about setting up a laundry for your Airbnbs and holiday properties, call Aqualogic on 1300 222 119 or make an online enquiry and speak with a laundry expert.