In today’s challenging and ever-changing business environment, organisations are often required to navigate one issue after another. As a result, purchasing decisions are increasingly driven by upfront cost alone. However, one of the most important considerations in the commercial laundry industry is frequently overlooked: the true cost of operating the equipment over its lifetime.
When purchasing a vehicle—whether outright or through monthly finance—most buyers look beyond the initial price and assess the ongoing costs, including fuel consumption, road tax, insurance, and maintenance. The same principle should apply when investing in commercial laundry equipment.
A Practical Example: 40-Bed Care Home
A typical 40-bed care home will operate:
- Two 10/11kg washing machines
- Two 14kg gas tumble dryers
These machines will typically process a minimum of 10 loads each per day, resulting in 20 wash and 20 drying cycles daily.
Washing Machine Running Costs
Based on current UK averages for water, electricity, and chemical consumption, the cost to process a single wash load is approximately £2.19.
This means:
- £43.80 per day to operate two washing machines
- £15,987 per year in total washing costs
Electrolux Professional manufactures some of the most efficient commercial washing machines available. Their equipment can reduce water, electricity, and chemical consumption by up to 30% compared with many alternative brands.
This translates into potential annual savings of approximately £4,800 on washing costs alone.
Dryer Running Costs
Electrolux Professional gas dryers are among the most energy-efficient on the market, combining low consumption with significantly shorter drying times.
A key feature is Moisture Balance, which continuously monitors residual moisture levels and automatically stops the cycle when the desired dryness is achieved—whether items are to be ironed or folded and stored. This prevents over-drying, reduces energy usage, and helps extend linen life.
Comparative Example:
A typical alternative gas dryer may:
- Require approximately 45 minutes to dry a full load
- Consume around 15 kWh of gas per cycle
An Electrolux Professional gas dryer typically:
- Completes the same load in approximately 28 minutes
- Uses only 6.5 kWh of gas per cycle
This represents a saving of 8.5 kWh per load.
At a gas cost of £0.06 per kWh, this equates to:
- £0.51 saved per load
- £10.20 saved per day across 20 loads
- £3,723 saved per year
Total Annual Savings
By combining the savings from both washing and drying, a 40-bed care home could achieve total operating cost reductions of approximately:
£8,500 per year
These savings are achieved for an additional investment of less than:
£700 per year
when financing premium, high-efficiency Electrolux Professional equipment.
The Real Cost of Ownership
When evaluating your next laundry equipment investment, it is essential to look beyond the initial purchase price.
A modest increase in monthly expenditure can deliver:
- Significant reductions in utility and chemical costs
- Lower overall cost of ownership
- Faster processing times
- Improved linen care
- Enhanced operational efficiency
In short, the cheapest machine to buy is rarely the most economical machine to own.
We hope you have found this illustration useful, should you wish a more personal example for your business please do get in touch ; https://www.maxwelladam.co.uk/contact-us/
