Many municipal institutions are faced with the challenge of cleaning their textiles efficiently, hygienically and cost-effectively. Whether personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees of sewage treatment plants or fire brigades, workwear and uniforms from building yards, waste collection services, landscape and city gardening services and public order offices, or textiles from public institutions such as kindergartens and schools:Outsourcing these tasks is often expensive, inflexible and, in some cases, problematic when it comes to hygiene requirements or special needs. That is why more and more municipalities are setting up their own laundries. But how can such a solution be operated economically? What factors need to be considered? Our guide provides an overview.
Why it can make sense to have your own laundry
Municipalities that wash their own laundry benefit from several advantages:
- Cost savings: In the long term, in-house washing capacities can be cheaper than external service providers, as transport costs and service prices are eliminated.
- Flexibility: Institutions can clean laundry as needed and at short notice, without having to rely on delivery times from external service providers.
- Gentle cleaning: Municipalities retain full control over the washing results and can clean particularly delicate textiles, such as special equipment, gently and thoroughly.
- Safety and hygiene: The highest hygiene standards are required, especially for personal protective equipment (PPE) used by fire departments and sewage treatment plants. Read our tips for cleaning firefighter and turnout gear.
- Sustainability: modern washing processes save water and energy, which protects the environment in the long term and reduces costs.
Which factors play a role?
Anyone planning a municipal laundry or looking to optimise an existing one should consider the following aspects:
- Space requirements and equipment: Which textiles need to be cleaned and how much laundry is there? Which machines are required? For example, is a drying cabinet needed for work clothing? What are the structural conditions on site? The professionals at STAHL support you in the planning and contribute their decades of expertise to ensure that an economically attractive solution is found.
- Personnel & training: Which employees will operate the devices? How can the operation be organised to conserve resources? STAHL’s service also includes support in programming the devices and training in how to use the machines.
- Profitability calculation: Is the investment worthwhile compared to previous cleaning costs? Modern devices are energy-efficient, use very little water and intelligent dosing systems can further reduce consumption. This not only saves money, but also helps the environment. Durable, low-maintenance devices are an investment that pays off in the long run. Preventive maintenance can also increase the service life of the machines and avoid expensive breakdowns.
Running your own laundry can be a worthwhile decision for municipalities – both economically and organisationally. With well-thought-out planning, the use of modern technology and efficient processes, costs can be reduced, hygiene improved and the sustainability goals of the municipality supported.
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