6 Things Every Apartment Laundry Room Needs to Be Successful

14 Jul 6 Things Every Apartment Laundry Room Needs to Be Successful

On-site apartment laundry rooms provide renters with added convenience that attracts new tenants and retains current ones. Shared laundry facilities save residents time and create a sense of community. They are also an additional income source for property owners, as you can charge residents to use the machines and even sell supplies like detergent and fabric softener.

Laundry facilities in apartments boast higher profit margins and lower operational costs than in-unit laundry areas, which residents may misuse or damage. However, you must put all the pieces in place to make your multi-housing laundry room profitable and effective. This guide provides apartment building laundry room ideas to maintain consistent foot traffic. 

1. High-Quality Commercial Equipment

Multi-family laundry rooms need high-quality, dependable equipment that can withstand heavy use without unexpected downtime. The best apartment laundry room machines must have a large capacity to accommodate pieces like bedspreads and coats. Investing in heavy-duty laundry machines saves time and money on maintenance, repairs and replacements. 

Energy efficiency is another crucial feature that makes the laundry room sustainable and minimizes utility costs. Modern machines have shorter wash and dry cycles, customizable controls, real-time notifications and scheduling. Other factors to consider when choosing commercial laundry equipment include:

• The number of units in the complex
• The features and specifications your residents want to see in apartment laundry facilities
• Brand reputation and trustworthiness
• Costs to run the equipment
• Maintenance requirements

2. Modern Payment Methods

For decades, self-operated coin machines have been standard fixtures in apartment laundry rooms. However, payment methods have changed, eliminating the need to carry exact change for laundromats. Current and future renters will appreciate machines with readers that let them pay with debit, credit or prepaid cards.

Apartment owners benefit from modern payment systems by streamlining income revenue collection, monitoring and reporting. Replacing coin-operated machines with card readers provides tenants with convenience, as they don’t need to carry coins. 

Incorporating payment apps that allow tenants to pay with their smartphones will encourage more people to use your laundromat. You can also set up a loyalty program and offer promotions and discounts.   

3. Basic Laundry Room Amenities

Numerous laundry room essentials could increase your profits by improving the user experience. Here are some fundamentals that offer property owners and residents the best value and functionality.

• Storage space: Closets, shelves, cabinets and drawers are essential for keeping a multi-family laundry room neat and organized. 
• Sinks: Sinks in laundry rooms make it easy to hand-wash delicate items, soak and rinse stains before throwing clothes into the washer. 
• Countertops: Designated countertops or folding tables add efficiency to the laundry room by providing space to fold, sort and organize laundry. 
• Drying racks: These are an alternative to a dryer, ideal for air-drying delicate clothes that require gentle care and protection from shrinking. 
• Ironing board: Pull-out ironing boards let residents complete all their laundry tasks in one place, including pressing and de-wrinkling their garments. 
• Detergent dispensers: Built-in detergent dispensers offer residents a hassle-free experience and extend the life of commercial laundry machines by ensuring people use the appropriate products. 

4. Adequate Lighting 

Bright and airy laundry rooms attract more clients, bringing in consistent traffic and increasing profits. Good lighting contributes to a clean and inviting space where residents will enjoy doing tasks like sorting laundry, removing stains, ironing and folding.

Allow as much natural light inside as possible and update light fixtures with the correct wattage to eliminate shadows and dark corners. LED light fixtures are energy-efficient options that offer bright and consistent service and save you money on your utility bills. Updating the lighting in your laundry room also improves security, deterring burglars and reducing instances of vandalism.  

5. Stringent Security Measures

Residents should feel safe and comfortable spending a few hours a week or month in the laundry facility. They must also be confident enough to start a load of laundry and go about their other tasks without being afraid of losing their belongings. 

Here are some tips for making your apartment laundry room a safer place.

• Set up the equipment in a high-traffic and easily accessible area.
• Install indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras.
• Invest in secure locks on all machines.
• Reserve admission to residents only and restrict access to outsiders. 
• Perform routine equipment maintenance to prevent operational hazards.
• Enhance accessibility by providing wheelchair-accessible machines and unobstructed pathways.
• Post a laundry room letter to residents that discourages them from tampering with or stealing other people’s laundry and encourages them to respect the property by cleaning up after themselves. 

6. Proper Drainage Equipment

Drainage minimizes your repair and maintenance costs by ensuring fewer plumbing problems and keeping sewer lines free of clogs. 

• Lint interceptors installed into inlets and outlets capture and remove coins, lint, buttons and pins, keeping them out of the sanitary waste system. They’re easy to install and can handle several washers draining simultaneously. This equipment comes in various sizes, which you can choose between based on the number of machines you have. 
• Install OPL drain troughs in the ground or behind your washers to hold and slowly release water into the sanitation system. They prevent slow drainage issues and capture lint, debris and other foreign materials before they enter the plumbing system. 

H-M Company designs and manufactures our high-quality products using durable, lightweight polypropylene lids and polyvinyl chloride lint filters. They’re chemical-resistant and can withstand water temperatures of up to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Contact us today to learn how to incorporate our lint interceptors and drain troughs into your apartment laundry room.