Pros and Cons of Doing Your Own Commercial Laundry

Posted on February 12, 2016 by jenmertz

In today’s heavily outsourced business services industries, it is not uncommon for businesses to outsource as many tasks and services as possible. However, outsourcing is not always the best or most cost-effective option for your business, so you need to weigh the pros and cons when making a decision. For some businesses, it can make more sense to purchase their own washer and dryer sets and do their own commercial laundry in-house, rather than using a commercial laundry service.

Pros

Convenience – You do not have to wait for clean laundry to be dropped off and dirty laundry to be picked up. You can start loads whenever you want and always have clean uniforms, towels, and other items on hand. Plus, you are able to ensure your specific laundry needs are met, which can be a problem with commercial laundry services.
Speed – Commercial laundry services have turnaround times ranging from 24 to 48 hours or longer. By doing your own commercial laundry, you can have clean apparel in about 2 to 3 hours, depending on the cycle settings and soil levels.
Time – It is easy to fit in loads of laundry in between clients and customers. It only takes a few minutes to start a load and transfer loads, if needed, to the dryer. If you have multiple employees, folding loads also takes a few minutes if everyone pitches in and helps.
Affordability – You have complete control over your laundry costs. With a commercial laundry service, they may pick up and drop off daily, and bill you each time they do so, even if you only have a small amount of dirty laundry. With in-house laundry, you have the flexibility to do loads only when it is necessary.
Avoid Errors – Commercial laundry services are run by humans, and they do make mistakes from time to time, leading to you ending up with another business’s laundry, or your dirty laundry getting lost or misplaced. These issues are easy to avoid by washing your own commercial laundry at your business in your own machines.

Cons

There could be a few drawbacks to doing your own laundry over using a commercial laundry service. For instance, if you have large volumes of dirty laundry to do each day, and it would require a large number of washers and dryers, it might not be practical for you. Another potential con is if you lack the sufficient staff to help ensure laundry is being completed and kept up on.

In the end, you are the one who has to determine whether doing your own commercial laundry in-house or outsourcing it is best for your business. In cases where you only have a few loads to do each day, in the long run it can be worth the investment in modern, energy-efficient LG washer dryer combos, with ventless drying. To learn more about LG Washer Dryer sets or assistance in selecting the right sets for your business, contact FJS Distributors, Inc. now at 1-800-875-1533.

How to Build an Effective Multifamily Rental Business Profile

Posted on February 5, 2016 by jenmertz

The market for rental homes is very competitive. Whether you are managing an apartment complex or helping clients rent out their condominiums, duplexes, or single family homes, one thing is for certain – you need a strong and effective rental business profile online. There are several different rental review websites, as well as other consumer-driven review sites, like Yelp.

Since there is a variety of online sites, the first thing you need to do is to pick at least one rental review website and at least one consumer-driven review site to build your profile on. Each site will require you to register your apartment community or rental business in order to claim and build a business profile.

Depending on the website, there are several key areas you need to focus on to create an effective online profile. In addition, avoid using text-speak and abbreviations in your online profiles when you describe your business. Specific information and details you should complete when building your profile include:

NAP (Name, Address, Phone) – Make sure your business name is spelled correctly. Carefully enter your address and phone number. It is important to use the same NAP data online, because it will make it easier for search engines to index your business and display it in local search results. If you abbreviated a street direction or ending, make sure it is consistent on all of your online profiles.

Select the Right Category – Review sites may require you to select a business category as part of configuring your business profile.

List Amenities and Features – Make sure to let prospects know what amenities and features your rental community offers, such as combination washer dryers, an onsite fitness center, security gates, security systems, a swimming pool, and so on.

Include a Website Link – Add a link to your website so prospects will be able to visit your site. If you do not have a website, it is okay to use the link to your Facebook or other social media pages.

Upload High Quality Pictures and Videos – Pictures and videos make it easier for prospects to review your rental homes online. Just make sure the pictures and videos of the model home are consistent with your actual units.

Tell People a Story – Remember to tell people about your rental community or business. People want to know your story and learn more about the community, how it has evolved, and how you specifically help your tenants and rental clients.

After your online profiles are set up, make sure to let others know about them, like updating brochures and promotional flyers to say your rental community is now featured on the review sites you choose. In addition, make sure to interact and respond to online reviews and feedback in a positive manner, to show people you care about your tenants. If you are looking to add new amenities or update your in-home laundry with a modern all-in-one LG Washer Dryer, please feel free to contact FJS Distributors, Inc. today at 1-800-875-1533.

Removing Stains from Your Baby’s Clothing

Posted on January 29, 2016 by jenmertz

Babies can be really messy, especially when it comes to getting their clothes dirty. From spit and burped up formula and mushy baby foods, to spaghetti sauce and chocolate cake, your baby is going to play with his or her food, and this often means getting it onto clothing (yours and the baby’s). Before you toss the stained clothes into your washer and dryer in one and risk setting the stain, try using these tips to get the stains out.

Pretreat stains as soon as they occur. Use cold water and a small amount of baby-friendly liquid detergent to pretreat stains. Allow the soapy mixture to set on the stain for about five to ten minutes, and then rinse in cold water. If the stain is still there, try a baby-friendly pretreater instead. Liquid pretreaters and detergents work better on food stains than powders.
Pretreat non-food stains with baby-friendly powders. Stains from baby lotions or baby oils are best removed by pretreating the stain with a powder detergent or pretreater. Make a paste and apply directly to the area, and allow to sit on the stain for five to ten minutes, before rinsing in cold water.
Dealing with diaper messes. At some point, your baby’s diaper is probably going to overfill and stain their clothing. Powder pretreaters and detergents work will to get these types of messes out of the clothing. Mix a small amount of the pretreater or detergent with some water and apply the paste to the stain. Next, place it in a half-filled sink or mop bucket of cool water and add about a quarter of cup of bleach or color safe bleach. Allow the article of clothing to soak for about half an hour, and then rinse in cold water.

After pretreating stains, if the stain is still present, apply a small amount of detergent or pretreater directly onto the stain and wash the clothing on the cold or warm water cycle in your washing machine. If you have an all-in-one, disable the dry cycle. You want to make sure the stain is removed before drying; otherwise, the heat from the dryer will set the stain.

Even with stained whites, avoid using the hot water cycle, as the hot water can set the stain, too. If you need to wash the clothing in hot water, wash it first on the cold or warm water cycle to help remove the stain, and then wash it in hot water. For difficult stains on whites and light colored clothing, expose the clothing to direct sunlight, as the UV rays of the sun are a natural stain remover.

Keep in mind, it can take up to a few days of direct sunlight exposure to fully remove the stain. For other laundry tips and suggestions, or help selecting an energy efficient LG Washer and Dryer for your home or apartment, do not hesitate to contact FJS Distributors, Inc. today by phoning 1-800-875-1533.

Tip for Ironing Your Clothes Like a Pro

Posted on January 22, 2016 by jenmertz

For most people, ironing is the lease favorite laundry-related chore. Sure, it can seem like it is already time consuming enough to wash and dry clothes, and then fold them and put them away. However, when you have unwanted wrinkles in your clothes, you are going to have to make extra time to get wrinkles out of the clothes.

Ironing involves using a bit more skill and the right temperature settings. Ironing requires precision and using the right methods for different types of materials and colors. With these tips, you will be ironing like a pro and getting through this chore much faster.

Use the damp dry setting on your LG dryer for delicate clothing. It is easy to avoid unwanted wrinkles with delicates by not fully drying them in the dryer. Remove them when they are still slightly damp, and use your hands to smooth out any wrinkles, before hanging them on a hanger and allowing them to air dry.
Cut ironing time in half by using aluminum foil. Take a sheet of aluminum foil and lay it in between the garment and the ironing board. The aluminum foil reflects heat back, upwards, and helps remove wrinkles from the underside of the clothing while you are ironing the top.
Turn dark- and black-colored clothing inside out. Dark- and black-colored clothing can get an undesirable sheen if ironed without turning them inside out. For areas where you cannot avoid ironing the normal side of the clothing, place a slightly damp cotton towel in between the iron and the clothing.
Use distilled water in the iron. Using tap water can result in deposits forming inside the iron, and these will eventually clog up the openings in the iron. If you run out of distilled water, boil a pot of water, allow it to cool, and strain it through a strainer. This will help remove most of the deposits from tap water.
Iron in a back and forth motion. You want to iron using back and forth motions, and while keeping the iron straight. Circular motions can cause the fabric to stretch out and wear out faster.
Protect embroidery and designs that do not need to be ironed. Place a towel on the ironing board, and then place the clothing face down and iron it from the back side.
Iron clothing in the right order. Clothing should be ironed in a particular order to ensure wrinkles are removed. Start with the cuffs first, then move on to hems and collars, before ironing the main areas of the clothes. If there are pockets on the clothing, do those after the collar.
Use cardboard to separate areas being ironed. If you want to keep the front and back of the clothes separate while you iron them, slide a piece of cardboard in between.

Remember to have plenty of hangers on hand while you iron, so you can hang up ironed clothing right away. Otherwise, wrinkles could return, and you will have to iron the clothing again. For more laundry tips or assistance in selecting a new LG Washer Dryer, please feel free to contact FJS Distributors, Inc. today at 1-800-875-1533.

Should I Wash My College-Aged Kid’s Laundry?

Posted on January 12, 2016 by jenmertz

As parents readjust to their college-aged kids returning home on breaks throughout the year, one question that comes up a lot is whether they (the parents) should be washing their kids’ clothes. There is much debate about whether you should or should not be doing this chore for your son or daughter. In the end, it really comes down to how you raised your child, and if you actually taught them how to do laundry and operate washer and dryer sets.

Throughout most of the year, our college-aged kids have had a huge amount of responsibility and independence. They have to make sure they get to class on time, eat, shower, and remember to do their laundry. As parents, we hope they are washing their clothes and not simply tossing them on the floor and re-wearing dirty clothes for several weeks at a time, until they are forced to wash them because the clothes are starting to smell badly.

Yet, when our kids return home, some are all too quick to fall back into old habits and want to be dependent upon their parents. They are hopeful dad and/or mom will take care of all their needs during their visits home, like giving them spending money, taking care of chores, and doing their laundry. Some parents jump right in because they feel their young adult is now a visiting guest, rather than still living at home full time. On the other hand, other parents do not care whether they are visiting a few week or are home all summer long; their kids will do chores, earn an allowance, and do their own laundry.

Is it okay to do your college student’s laundry? Sometimes it is, and others it is not. For instance, if you have a small load to wash, and have room left in the washer, offering to put some of their dirty clothes in with yours to make a full load is acceptable. Another case where it may be acceptable to do their laundry is if you have pushed your child to focus entirely on their academic studies to earn good grades, and, while they are at home, they are working on course work. If they are not, then there is no reason why they cannot wash their own clothes.

An alternative to whether or not to do your kid’s laundry is to make trade-offs with your college student. You will do their laundry, but they have to do a certain number of chores around the house, make a few dinners, or even take care of the grocery shopping and other errands in return. This way, they are not getting to sit around relaxing, doing nothing, while mom and/or dad wait on them hand-and-foot.

Lastly, do not be afraid to retrain your college student how to do laundry if you notice they are not washing their clothes correctly, or have picked up bad laundry habits while away from home. If you or your college student is shopping for new laundry appliances, do not hesitate to contact FJS Distributors at 800-875-1533. We are a factory authorized distributor of popular brands, like LG Washer Dryer, and even carry combination compact washer and dryer models.

What Is the Difference between a Heat Pump Dryer and a Condensing Dryer?

Posted on January 5, 2016 by jenmertz

Before discussing the differences between a heat pump dryer and a condensing dryer, you need to know these terms are fairly new. Manufacturers are starting to use them to describe the differences between ventless drying technologies to help consumers be able to distinguish between the two current technologies used in these types of dryers. Whether you are looking at a new stackable washer and dryer, combination washer and dryer, or side-by-side models, understanding the differences will help you select the model that works best for your home.

A heat pump dryer is one of the new terms being used to describe ventless dryers. Heat pump dryers tend to use what is known as air-to-air condensation drying technologies. The heat pump is designed to recycle and reheat the air within the dryer rather than blowing the heated air outside. By recycling the heated air within the dryer itself, it cuts down on energy usage and is more energy-efficient.

Another term being used to describe ventless dryers is condensing dryer. This term is rather popular in the United Kingdom and other places in Europe, where ventless technologies have been around longer than they have been in the United States. A condensing dryer uses water condensation drying technologies to dry clothes.

Water condensation drying also uses heated air, but, rather than using cool air to remove the moisture from the warm air, it uses cool water. The colder water cools the heated air and causes the moisture within the air to turn into water. The water is then pumped out of the dryer, down the same discharge drain used for the washer.

It is worth mentioning that a heat pump dryer also extracts moisture and converts it into water, which is pumped out the dryer and down the discharge drain. The only differences between the two technologies is how they dry the clothes by either using air-to-air condensation or cool water condensation. Both types of dryers are much more energy efficient than conventional vented dryers, and they do help reduce energy bills.

Why Is Ventless Drying Technologies Better than Vented Drying?

Vented drying is inefficient because those types of dryers require drawing air in from the room, which your furnace or air conditioner has to replace, heating it and blowing it outdoors. Rather than extracting the moisture by converting it into water, a vented dryer has to heat air to higher temperatures to remove the moisture from the clothes. Since it is discarding all of this heated air right out the dryer vent, it has to reheat room-temperature air throughout the drying cycle. As such, it results in consuming more electricity to fully dry the clothes.

One thing to keep in mind when shopping for a new ventless dryer is that some resellers do interchange the terms heat pump drying and water condensation drying to describe dryer models. The best thing to do is to ask questions about how the dryer actually dries the clothes. To learn more about heat pump and condensation dryer models, or for further questions about how these technologies work, please feel free to contact FJS Distributors at 800-875-1533 to speak to a representative today about LG Washer Dryers and other brands.

Tips for Saving Money on Laundry

Posted on December 29, 2015 by jenmertz

When it comes to doing laundry, most people do not even consider exactly how much per load they are paying. This common household chore is not normally looked at like other household expenses, such as food and clothing. There is more to laundry costs beyond laundry detergent and fabric sheets. Hundreds of dollars, or more, is spent each year on water and electricity, as well as the costs for laundry appliance repairs and maintenance. With a few minor changes, you can reduce your laundry expenses.

Upgrade to a Ventless dryer. Vented dryers are a big electricity waster. In order to dry clothes, they draw air in, heat it, and then discard all of that warm air out the dryer vent. With ventless drying technologies, the heated air is recycled, resulting in a reduction in electricity use.
Upgrade to an HE (high efficiency) washer. If your washer is ten years or older, consider replacing it with a new Energy Star® HE washer. HE washers use significantly less water and get your clothes just as clean as conventional washers. Plus, many HE washers offer more cycle options to fit with your laundry needs and help save some money on electricity.
Cut down on the amount of detergent used. Most people believe using more detergent gets clothes cleaner, but this is not true. Adding extra detergent prevents the water from removing stains and dirt from clothing.
Adjust water levels to match load sizes. Most HE washers will do this for you automatically by sensing the weight or level of the load in the machine. If you have a top loader with a water level option, change it to match the amount of clothes in the machine. You only need the water level to be at the top of the clothing.
Wash more loads using cold water cycles. Hot and warm water cycles are not needed for the majority of laundry loads. By switching to cold water cycles, you will save money.
Use less fabric softener. Whether you use dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener, a small amount goes a long way. Cut dryer sheets in half or thirds, and, with liquids, a quarter of a capful is plenty. Your clothes will still come out soft. One tip to know you are using too much fabric softener is if your clothing feels stiff.
Hang clothes up to dry. If you are able to hang some of your clothing up to dry, either indoors or outdoors at least part of the time, you will not have to use your dryer as much, and you will reduce your energy costs.

For additional laundry tips and ways to save money, or to learn more about the latest Energy Star® HE washers and energy-efficient ventless dryers on the market today, call FJS Distributors, Inc. at 800-875-1533. We are a factory authorized distributor of LG and other washer and dryer brands.