Save Water: 5 Ways to Reduce Your Hotel Laundry’s Water Usage
Saving water is good for the environment and your bottom line. It supports your hotel’s sustainability goals and is especially important in areas facing drought.
Lodging facilities account for about 15% of all water used in commercial and public buildings across the United States. Laundry is one of the biggest users, making it a smart place to look for savings.
Here are five simple ways to get started:
1. Review Your Wash Settings and Sorting Process
Our CORE laboratory experts recommend revisiting the washing programs used in your hotel. Not every load needs the same wash cycle. Sorting linens by fabric type and soil level can help you avoid using more water, chemicals, and time than needed.
Work with your laundry chemical or equipment provider to review your current wash settings. Lightly soiled linens may be able to use a shorter cycle, while heavily soiled items may need a more thorough wash. Any changes should still meet your property’s standards for cleanliness and performance.
2. Run Full Loads and Avoid Unnecessary Washing
Running a washer before it is full can waste water and energy. Whenever possible, wait for a full load without exceeding the machine’s recommended capacity.
Guest towel and linen reuse programs can also reduce the number of loads your team washes each day. Make the program easy for guests to understand and always follow your brand standards and guest requests. Some hotels are taking it a step further and moved their daily sheet washing to every 2 or 3 days.
Not only do these easy implementations cut down on water usage during laundering but they also extend the product life and performance.
3. Reuse Water When Possible
Some laundry systems can collect recycled water or even rainwater and reuse it in another part of the wash process.
These systems can require a larger investment and may not be right for every property. Check local rules and talk with a laundry specialist before making changes.
4. Consider More Water-Efficient Equipment
If your property is replacing laundry equipment, compare how much water each machine uses—not just its purchase price. Capacity, cycle options, water-recycling features, and energy use can all affect long-term operating costs.
For properties with a high volume of laundry, an efficient tunnel washer or washer-extractor with water-recycling features may offer meaningful savings. They can consume 0.5 gallons of water per pound being processed whereas convention equipment needs 7-8+ gallons per pound.
For smaller commercial washers, ENERGY STAR® certified models use about 45% less water than standard models.
5. Choose Linens with Water Use in Mind
The weight and design of a linen can affect how much water and energy it takes to wash and dry. Products that reduce unnecessary weight can help make each load more efficient while still providing the comfort guests expect.
The Gradient® Bath Towel uses our Comfort Experience Zone™ design, with more material in the center where guests need it most and less weight at the ends. This helps reduce the water and drying time needed to process each load.
You can also save the first wash by choosing pre-laundered linens. Room Ready for You® Laundered with Tide® sheets and towels arrive clean, fresh, and ready to use right out of the box. Your team can place them directly into guest rooms without using water, energy, chemicals, or labor to wash them first.
Other Water Conservation Efforts
The hospitality industry has also seen many hotels implement other water conservation programs. Implementing sustainable practices can reduce water consumption by 50% per guest and leave hoteliers with visible changes in operating costs. In addition to our team’s suggestions above, hospitality professionals can also consider the following:
- Water Management Plan – establish a plan with obtainable goals and educate employees. Proper training can ensure a reduction in water and that goals are met.
- Maintenance Upkeep – finding and fixing any leaks can save hoteliers up to 200 gallons of water daily.
- Recycling Water – treat and repurpose greywater for other non-potable purposes like toilet flushing and irrigation.
Small Changes Can Add Up
Every hotel laundry operation is different, but even small improvements can reduce water use over time. Reviewing wash settings, running full loads, exploring water-reuse options, and choosing the right equipment and linens are all practical places to start.
Standard Textile’s laundry experts can help you review your current process and identify products that support your property’s sustainability and operating goals. Contact our team to start a conversation.