Self-service laundries in winter

Winter laundry profile

Customers take advantage of the first cold spells to bring in duvets, blankets, sofa covers and bedspreads. It is then the season for coats with grease marks or urban grime. And ski gear at the close of the season.

Recommended products in winter

Operational adjustments

• Prioritise 18–27 kg washers for volume
• Long cycles at 40 °C for duvets
• Double rinse for bulky garments
• Extra stock of Oximatic + above standard monthly consumption

Duvets and bulky items without complaints

The duvet is the star wash of winter, and also the one that generates the most complaints when something goes wrong. These steps prevent most problems:

1. Check the care label: some duvets and blankets cannot be machine washed or call for a delicate programme.
2. Choose a washer where it fits loosely: packed in tight, it does not get wet or rinsed evenly. That is what high-capacity washers are for.
3. A long cycle at 40 °C with a double rinse, so no detergent residue is left in the filling.
4. Dry it completely: a duvet that comes out damp inside will start to smell within a few days.

Typical winter stains and how to treat them

• Grease on the collars and cuffs of coats and jackets: Power Gold removes grease and disperses stains without damaging fabrics.
• Food stains on festive tablecloths and napkins: Q3 is designed specifically for protein, carbohydrate and lipid-based stains. It is applied neat to the stain, left to act for about 5 minutes and then washed as normal; it is not suitable for wool or leather, and a colourfastness test beforehand is advisable.
• Dull or greying whites: Oximatic +, an oxygen bleach dosed by pump, brightens colours and can be used on any type of textile fibre.
• Mud and city grime on trouser hems: let the mud dry, brush it off and pre-treat before washing.

A tip for the sign in your shop: do not apply heat, not even from the dryer, until the stain has gone, as it can set it.

Drying, the winter bottleneck

With cold, damp weather, many customers prefer to dry their laundry at the laundromat, and the dryers fill up before the washers do. Clean the lint filters every day, check that laundry really comes out dry and give customers guidance on how many drying cycles a duvet usually needs in your machines.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a freshly washed duvet smell damp?

Almost always because it has not been dried completely: the filling holds water even when the cover feels dry. More information under damp smell.

Should I use more softener in winter?

Not more per kilo. Power Soft +, for example, is dosed at 5–10 g per kg of dry laundry in the final rinse. Bulky items weigh more, so the total amount per cycle goes up, but the dose per kilo stays the same.

How much bleach should I keep in stock?

The guideline on this page is to hold extra Oximatic + stock, above standard monthly consumption, during the duvet season. As it is dosed by peristaltic pump at 2–6 g per kg of dry laundry, also check that this pump is properly calibrated before demand picks up.