How to Make the Most of Trips to the Laundromat

Posted on December 6, 2015 by jenmertz

There are times when you are going to have to make a trip to the laundromat to do your laundry. Your washer and dryer combo could need to be serviced, and the technician cannot come until next week, yet you have laundry to wash and dry. You might be on vacation and need to do a load or two of laundry. You could be away at college, and your dormitory does not have its own laundry facilities. Regardless of your reason for having to go to the laundromat, these tips make it seem less like a punishment, and will help get you in and out as quickly as possible.

Pretreat stains and sort clothes before you leave home. Having your clothing already sorted and any stains treated saves you time once you arrive at the laundromat. It also does not hurt to check the pockets, and turn t-shirts and other articles inside out as you sort.
Only take what laundry products you need. There is no reason to lug gallon containers of laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and bleach along to the laundromat. You can premeasure the liquids and pour them into smaller sealable containers. Laundry pods or tabs are also great. You can forgo liquid fabric softener and use dryer sheets.
Choose an off time to visit the laundromat. Typically the evening hours and weekends are the busiest times at laundromats, so you may find you have to wait for washers and dryers if you go at these peak times. Rather, try to go during the day when everyone else is at work or in school, or later in the evening.
Bring a roll or two of quarters. Some laundromats now allow you to use your debit or credit card to pay for loads, but, if you are not sure if yours does, bring along plenty of quarters.

Bring something to do while you wait. Bring along a book, or download an app or music before leaving home. It is never a good idea to leave clothes unattended, and it quickly becomes boring watching the washer or dryer spin round and round.

Smell washers before using them. While it might seem gross, do you really want to wash your clothes in stinky, smelly machines? Probably not; so take the time to smell inside the washer and, if you notice any funky odors, choose a different machine.
Wipe out washers and dryers before using them. Antibacterial wipes are great for this, as you never really know what was previously washed in the machine.
Check the cycle settings before starting the machine. Make sure the washer and dryer settings are to your liking before dropping in the quarters or swiping your debit card.
Remember to bring laundry baskets and large trash bags. Whether you decide to fold your laundry or take it home and fold it later is up to you. Just make sure you have plenty of laundry baskets to put your clean clothes into. The large trash bags are to put the laundry baskets into, in case it is raining or snowing. The last thing you want is a pile of wet clothes after spending your money to dry them.

By taking the time to follow these great tips, the next time you have to visit a laundromat you will be sure to get in and out as fast as possible. If you are shopping for a new LG Washer Dryer stackable or combination model, contact FJS Distributors, Inc. now, at 800-875-1533, to speak to one of our appliance experts.

Reduce Business Laundry Expenses with a Washer and Dryer in One

Posted on October 6, 2015 by jenmertz

From doctor’s offices to hair salons, there are numerous businesses which rely upon clean towels, face cloths, and other items in order to conduct business. Most business operations outsource their laundry needs through a laundry service. The laundry service takes care of washing, drying, folding, and returning clean items on a preset schedule. However, using a third party service is not always the most affordable solution for your business.

What if you could do your own laundry and eliminate the service? How much money could you potentially save? To determine your projected savings, you have to compare the annual costs of the laundry service to the estimated costs of purchasing and installing a LG washer dryer combo. In addition, you need to include the costs for laundry supplies, water, and electricity, as well as the labor expense to pay your employees to do loads of dirty laundry.

One thing to remember is investing into a new compact washer and dryer could qualify you for the Section 179 deduction from your business taxes. Do not forget to take this into consideration when comparing the costs between using a service and switching to an in-house laundry solution. Further, after the initial expense of purchasing and installing the appliance, your ongoing monthly costs are water, electric, laundry supplies, and labor, with occasional routine maintenance.

Routine maintenance is recommended since the combo washer and dryer is being used for business purposes. Maintenance should be performed once or twice a year, depending upon the volume of laundry you do. A professional laundry technician inspects the parts and components, verifies they are operating correctly, and thoroughly cleans the interior sections of the machine.

Do I Need Dryer Venting with a Washer and Dryer Combination Appliance?

There is no dryer venting required or necessary with a washer and dryer combo. The dryer relies upon ventless drying technologies to dry wet laundry. Since no dryer vent is needed, you do not have to worry about the construction costs of installing venting, not to mention the fire hazards and increased insurance costs. You do need access to plumbing and a standard 110V three-prong electrical outlet. Since access to hot and cold water lines and drain pipes are limited in business environments, some owners have their new appliances installed next to their bathrooms or in a break area with a kitchenette.

How Many Loads of Laundry Will a Combo Washer Dryer Do a Day?

With a combo machine, both the washing and drying cycles are done in the same machine. As such, total cycle times are about two and half to three hours long. This means, for a typical “9-to5” operation, you will be able to get two or three loads of laundry done each day. If your laundry volume is more than a single appliance can handle, consider investing in more machines. Call LG Washer Dryer FJS Distributors, Inc. at 800-875-1533 for further assistance and additional information.

Laundry and the Hospitality Industry: How to Save Money on Laundry

Posted on August 12, 2015 by jenmertz

In the hospitality industry, laundry is divided between front of the house and back of the house services. The front of the house services are those where the property either features access to an onsite laundry room, or laundry service for guests who want to wash their clothes while on vacation. The back of the house services are those utilized by your housekeeping staff to launder towels, sheets, and linens used in your guest rooms and guest areas.

For front of the house services, install coin operated, eco-friendly stacked washer dryer sets in a laundry room. Energy Star certified appliances use less water and electricity, and allow hotels and resorts to put more earnings in their pockets from the paid laundry that guests do. In addition, sell eco-friendly detergents and laundry aids, either in vending machines or in the hotel’s gift shop. If a guest would rather take advantage of a laundry service where you launder their clothing and return it to their room, consider purchasing a washer and dryer combo, since loads are normally smaller and do not need to be run in commercial washers and dryers.

For the back of the house laundry, hotels and resorts run numerous loads every day. As guests check out, sheets, bedding, towels, and other linens have to be washed. One of the biggest operational costs is related to the amount of water and energy used by hotels to do laundry. If your commercial appliances are older, you could be paying more than if you invested in new, energy-efficient commercial washers and dryers.

It is possible to save more money with new equipment and negotiate with the supplier for a pay-per-use agreement. There is no lease agreement or purchase of the equipment with a pay-per-use agreement. Some of these agreements include lifetime warranties, where all service calls and parts are covered. The only out of pocket expenses are having to pay on a per-load basis. If you only do five or six loads a day, you only pay an agreed-upon amount to the equipment provider for each load. This type of agreement makes back of the house laundry more like a utility expense: You only pay when the machines are used.

To see if a pay-per-use agreement is beneficial for your hotel or resort, you will need to know approximately how much laundry is done over the course of a year. Compare the costs of paying for the loads to the costs of purchasing new energy-efficient equipment. Then decide which option is the most beneficial for your hotel. Regardless of the option you choose, remember you are going to be saving additional money on water and energy costs, too, with the new equipment.

Updating your hotel’s laundry equipment with new laundry pairs can help save you money and create additional capital to be used elsewhere. For more information about energy-efficient laundry appliances and solutions for your hotel, feel free to contact LG Washer Dryer FJS Distributors, Inc. today at 800-875-1533.

Five Benefits of Using a Front Loading Washer and Dryer Combo

Posted on April 6, 2015 by jenmertz

Laundry is one of the most common household chores around the world. On average, a family of four does about 400 loads of laundry every year. There are several different models of washers and dryers on the market today, including top loaders, HE top loaders, HE front loaders, vented dryers, ventless dryers, and combination washer dryers. Out of all laundry models on the market, front loading appliances have several benefits over top loaders.

Energy Efficiency: Front loading machines are energy-efficient. They use a fraction of the water and electricity to wash clothes. Ventless dryers cost less to operate than conventional vented machines.
Get Clothes Cleaner: Front loading washers get clothes cleaner because they are able to remove more dirt.
Better on Clothes: Since front loading washing machines do not have a central agitator, they are not only gentler on clothing, towels, and sheets, but also help make them last much longer.
Stack-ability: A stand-alone front loading washer and dryer is easily converted into stackable washer and dryer to free up space.
Handicap Accessibility: Front loading machines are handicap accessible from a wheelchair and are perfect for homes where someone has mobility issues.

To learn more about front loading LG washers and dryers featuring ventless drying, call LG Washer Dryer today at 800-875-1533.

Tips on How to Make Your Laundry Environmentally Friendly

Posted on March 23, 2015 by jenmertz

For people looking to reduce their carbon footprint and be more green-conscious about doing their laundry, there are several things you can do to make a difference. The biggest one is to replace your old washer and dryer with a new, energy efficient, front loading washer dryer combo. Combination machines use a fraction of the water and electricity as conventional machines. Most households recover the costs for a washer and dryer combo within the first two or three years of operation with the amount of money they save on energy and water bills.

Other things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, include:

Do Less Laundry: Unless you work in an environment where your clothes get dirty, such as the construction, auto repair, or culinary industries, most clothing can be worn more than once, like jeans, slacks, hoodies, and dress shirts.
Use High Efficiency (HE) Products: Detergents, fabric softeners, bleach, and other laundry aids are now concentrated for HE washers and dryers. Using less of these products not only reduces your laundry costs, but is also good for the environment.
Use Eco-Friendly Products: When selecting HE products, try to choose ones that are eco-friendly by looking for labels which say, “Biodegradable” or “phosphate-free.”
Minimize Dryer Usage: Hanging clothes outside on a clothes line to dry costs nothing. If you live in a city or other area where this is not possible, consider putting hoodies, sweaters, jeans, and other clothing items on hangers and hanging them on your patio to dry.

For other eco-friendly laundry tips, or to learn more about washer dryer combos, contact LG Washer Dryer today at 800-875-1533.

The Best Washer and Dryer Combos of 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by jenmertz

As the combination washer dryer grows in popularity in the United States, so does the number of appliances offered by various manufacturers. Some of the more popular manufacturers rated the best in 2015 for washer and dryer combo models used in the home were Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, and LG. While GE’s, Maytag’s, and Whirlpool’s “combination” machine is actually a stacked washer and dryer in one, the LG washer dryer combo is a single front loading appliance.

The key difference between LG’s washer and dryer in one and the other brands is there is no need to transfer clothes in between loads. The LG model washes and dries the clothes in the same appliance. With the stacked “combination” models, the clothes have to be transferred from the washer to the dryer.

When shopping for a new combination washer and dryer, pay careful attention to the following items:

Capacity: It is important to select a combination machine with the capacity to fit your needs, but in a size to fit in your home.
Drying Method: Ventless drying eliminates needing a dryer vent. While some brands do offer vented drying, you actually end up spending more in energy costs for vented drying. Ventless drying cycles run about 30 minutes longer, but use a fraction of the electricity.
Features: Front loading combination models use a fraction of water and electricity compared to top loading combination models. The best washer and dryer combo has multiple cycles for washing and drying clothes, just like conventional full size appliances.

To learn more about compact combination washers and dryers, contact LG at 800-875-1533 today.

How to Make Laundry Environmentally Friendly

Posted on February 16, 2015 by jenmertz

Everyone has heard of “going green,” or becoming environmentally friendly, by reducing your carbon footprint through recycling and energy conservation. Whether you own a laundromat or do your laundry at home in a washer and dryer in one, there are several things you can do to help promote a friendlier environment and still end up with clean clothes.

Replace Machines with Energy Efficient Models: Modern LG washing machines use a fraction of the water, detergent, fabric softener, and bleach to wash clothes. New ventless drying technologies are also more energy-efficient than traditional vented drying.
Use HE Detergents and Laundry Supplies: High efficiency (HE) detergents and laundry supplies only require a small amount to get your clothes clean. Not only is this good for the environment, but it saves you money.
Use Cold Water Cycles: Washing and rinsing clothes on cold cycles helps save money spent to heat warm and hot water. If you have to use warm or hot water wash cycles, make sure rinse cycles are set to cold.
Use Heat Conversion Technology: Laundromats can take advantage of new technologies, such as diverting excess heat and using it to help heat water and lower energy bills.
Run Full Loads: Washing and drying a partial load of laundry uses about as much energy as full loads.

Taking the time to implement these practices makes doing laundry “green” and helps reduce your laundry costs. For other energy-saving ideas or assistance in selecting new energy-efficient LG washer dryer combos, contact us at 800-875-1533.