OPL Laundry Sizing Tips and Tricks

• Washers are normally sized by dry weights.

• Four Factors affect washing quality! Time, Temperature, Chemicals & Agitation

• Ask a lot of questions!

• Small items like socks have less volume than weight. Medical rubber stoppers have more weight than volume.

• Bulk items like blankets need more room to “Open”

• How long is the laundry running – hour of operation?

• How long do they want to run the laundry?
    The first hour is washer while the last hour is drying.

• How are the items brought in for processing? A little at a time or a lot?

• Dryers are designed both dry & wet.

• Sales are normally sized on dry weight.

• 18 & 25 lbs washers pair with 30 lbs dryers.

• 40 & 45 might pair with a 50 or 80 lbs dryer (depending on the goods processed).

• 55 & 75 lbs washers are paired with 80 lbs dryers.

• Dryers are normally sized larger than washers. This gives room for items to “open” and fall.

• Dryers are more efficient when fully loaded or slightly over loaded.
    Air will always take the past of least resistance and travel around items.

• Large OPL items like blankets and sheets should be dried in a reversing dryers due to “Roping” of the goods.

• Steam dryers take longer to dry but provide a better “Hand” or feel.

Common OPL Questions

• How many pounds per year/month/week or day?

• How many hours a day do you run your laundry?

• How many hours a day to you want to run your laundry?

• Does your staff all take lunch at the same time?

• Does the laundry have to be completed each day?

• Do you have “Par” levels for linen?

• How often do you wash bed spreads or Thermal blankets (special items add to the # of pounds)?

• In an 8 hour day, are you washing the first 7 only?