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What is the difference between industrial and commercial washing machines?

Commercial and industrial washing machines are often used interchangeably, but subtle differences exist between the two which could impact the version that’s right for you.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how professional washing machines differ depending on whether they’re built for commercial or industrial use:

• Size and capacity: Generally speaking, commercial machines are smaller than industrial units, with a reduced capacity of under 100kg. By contrast, professional industrial washing machines are built for large loads of up to 220kg.
• Ease of use: Commercial washing machines are relatively similar to their domestic counterparts, meaning they’re easy to use and deliver recognisable functionality. Industrial machines, on the other hand, are developed for specialist use by trained operators, although they’re not difficult to use by any means.
• Frequency of use: While heavy-duty washing machines are robust and powerful enough for frequent daily use, industrial-grade machines can be run on a near-continuous, round-the-clock basis. That makes them an excellent choice for high-capacity laundries, including care homes and hospitals.

  Learn more about the differences between commercial and industrial washing machines in our expert guide.

How do commercial and residential washers compare?

Commercial washing machines have significant differences when compared to their domestic counterparts. Here’s a quick at why commercial washers are better suited for use in professional laundry rooms:

• Durable materials and improved build quality: While residential washers are mass-produced using a variety of comparatively low-grade materials (e.g., plastic), commercial washing machines are typically hand-built using hard-wearing and durable materials like stainless steel. This ultimately improves longevity, ensuring they continue to perform at their best cycle after cycle.
• Higher spin speeds: Commercial washers can reach much faster spin speeds than most domestic appliances, resulting in expedited cycle times and improved cleaning performance.
• Larger capacities: While standard domestic washers are designed to accept modest laundry loads, commercial units can fit significantly more items per cycle. They also have larger door openings to accommodate things like duvets, mattress toppers, and other heavy-duty linens.
• Advanced technologies: From infection control to SMART technologies – commercial washers are often retrofitted with advanced laundry solutions that serve a specific purpose. Such features simply aren’t required on the equivalent domestic model.

Are industrial washers more durable than commercial ones?

In some instances, yes.

While all commercial laundry equipment is built to a high specification, industrial washers may feature more hard-wearing internal materials. This is to ensure they’re able to cope with the demands of high-volume laundering on a continuous, round-the-clock basis.

Why are industrial washing machines faster?

One of the main advantages of using an industrial washer is the super-high spin speeds they offer. This is facilitated by powerful motors that drive the drum spin speed at a much faster rate than standard washers, ultimately helping to reduce cycle times while maximising cleaning and draining performance.

How energy-efficient are commercial washing machines?

Commercial washers are highly energy-efficient. This is thanks to advanced cleaning technologies and faster spin speeds, which allow for reduced cycle times without compromising performance and results.

Do industrial washers use more water than commercial ones?

Not necessarily, no.

Industrial washing machines typically require the same amount – or less, in some cases – of water as commercial washers. Optimised cycle settings and specialist cleaning solutions mean that more water isn’t required to achieve the same results, even when dealing with much larger load capacities.

What is the average cycle time for industrial vs. commercial washers?

Commercial washing machines typically offer an average cycle time of 35-45 minutes. This rises to 45-60 minutes for a top-spec industrial washer, since they’re generally required to handle larger loads.

Are industrial washing machines suitable for small businesses?

We typically recommend industrial washers for medium to large organisations only. However, if your business handles a large volume of laundry on a daily basis (a hotel, B&B or boutique care facility, for example), then a commercial washing machine may be a sensible option.

Contact the JLA laundry specialists to discuss your requirements with our experts.

What industries use industrial washers the most?

At JLA, we supply high-performance industrial laundry washers to businesses in a range of sectors. However, it’s clear that hoteliers, accommodation providers, professional launderettes, hospitals, and care facilities are the types of organisations that these heavy-duty appliances are best suited to.

Do you need special plumbing or electrical setups for industrial washers?

Yes, potentially; this ultimately depends on the washer model and your existing on-premises utility infrastructure.
Our team of experienced commercial laundry engineers will be able to assist with the deployment, setup and maintenance of your industrial washer, ensuring that you enjoy maximum efficiency and performance from your machine.

Can commercial washing machines handle delicate fabrics?

Yes, commercial washers feature a wide range of cycle modes and SMART technologies which make them suitable for cleaning a wide range of fabrics and materials, including delicates.

Where are industrial washing machines located?

Industrial washing machines are suitable for a range of businesses that require a high volume of day-to-day laundering. Typically, this includes hospitals, care homes, hotels, and other accommodation facilities, as well as launderettes, schools, prisons, and other public sector organisations.

What are the main use cases for commercial vs. industrial machines?

Commercial and industrial washers are widely used by small, medium and large organisations across the UK. Their durability, performance and high-spec features make them a suitable fit for processing high volumes of laundry on a daily basis.

But the question remains: should you opt for a commercial or industrial washer? To point you in the right direction, here’s a breakdown of some of the typical use cases for these two machines.

How long do industrial washing machines last?

JLA commercial washers are assembled from high-spec, durable materials, so they’re capable of lasting up to 12 years based on continuous, max-capacity use. These machines are good for over 30,000 wash cycles, six times more than the average domestic model, which has a standard output of just 5,000.

What are the maintenance costs for industrial washers?

Maintenance costs for industrial washing machines vary significantly depending on the size of the machine, its functions, and how often it’s used. It’s hard to put an exact figure on typical servicing costs, but you’re generally looking at a couple of hundred pounds per year in the case of the most heavily used appliances.

Is it cheaper to buy or lease a commercial washer?

Leasing a commercial washing machine is becoming a popular solution for businesses that don’t want to foot the upfront cost of buying a new or even used appliance. That’s why we devised JLA Total Care, our flagship equipment leasing program that gives you the equipment you need – along with several other benefits – for a flexible monthly fee.

How often do industrial washing machines need servicing?

We generally recommend that all commercial laundry washers are serviced at least once a year to ensure they continue working at their best. Bear in mind, however, that large industrial washers used on a continuous basis may require more regular servicing and maintenance.

Do commercial washers require special detergents?

While commercial washing machines don’t require specialist detergent per se, we would recommend switching to cleaning solutions developed for professional use. Products like the JLA detergents range offer the best combination of performance and affordability and are supplied in larger containers for optimal cost-effectiveness.

Is it worth renting commercial washing machines?

Equipment renting means no upfront costs, free installation and full support. With JLA Total Care, you get rapid engineer response within 8 working hours, 24/7 emergency help, and remote monitoring – all included to keep your operation running smoothly.

What is the average price of a commercial washing machine?

The cost of a commercial washing machine can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the model, size, capacity, and whether it’s a standard, stacked, or coin-operated unit. Additional features or specific requirements can also affect pricing.

Many businesses choose JLA’s Total Care package, which offers new equipment without any upfront costs. Customers pay a fixed monthly fee that covers everything from parts and servicing to ongoing support, which makes budgeting simpler and more predictable.

What should I consider when buying an industrial washing machine?

With a wide variety of industrial washing machines on the market, the model you choose will need to meet the needs of your laundry and its particular requirements. For instance, a commercial machine for a small health club may not be appropriate for a care home, medical facility or hotel.

As such, you should consider the following when deciding on the commercial washing machine that’s right for you:

• Size and capacity of machine: Commercial machines vary from 7kg to 200kg, so choose the model that best aligns with your laundry volume.
• Thermal disinfection or OTEX requirement: Where a laundry deals with infected and contaminated linens, a thermal disinfection or OTEX solution may be required to maintain peak hygiene levels.
• Purpose and application: Commercial washing machines are designed with a range of applications in mind, be it coin-operated units for launderettes or barrier washing machines for hospitals and health facilities.

Assess your needs to ensure that the machine you choose meets these specific requirements.

Are there specific regulations for using industrial washers?

While there are no specific regulations related to the use of industrial laundry washers, all employers must ensure that laundry equipment is maintained to a practicable and safe standard by order of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. What’s more, industrial washing machines also fall within the remit of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Do different countries have different safety standards for industrial washers?

Absolutely. Most countries have unique health and safety rules that may apply to the use of industrial and commercial washers. As such, it’s important to check local laws and restrictions when operating industrial laundry equipment in other regions and territories.

How do you install an industrial washing machine?

Typically, we would recommend leaving the installation of an industrial washer to a professional engineer, as these appliances may require specific power and plumbing requirements. Remember, too, that they’re also extremely heavy and bulky, making safe handling absolutely critical.

At JLA, our team of nationwide engineers is on hand to help install, service and maintain industrial laundry equipment on your premises.

What voltage do commercial washing machines require?

The voltage of a commercial washer varies but is usually between 208-240 volts.

What plumbing setup is needed for an industrial washer?

The plumbing requirements of an industrial laundry washing machine differ broadly but may include a large-diameter drain pipe, dedicated hot and cold supply valves, and potentially a floor drain.

Do industrial washers require ventilation or exhaust systems?

Usually, yes. Industrial washing machines may require additional ducting and ventilation to remove excess heat and moisture, ensuring a safe working environment free from harmful air-borne contaminants like lint.

How do commercial washing machines vary in capacity?

Light duty commercial washing machines offer capacities between 5kg – 8kg, and will comfortably handle up to eight washes per day. They’re the perfect option for B&Bs or social housing laundry rooms.

Designed for higher throughputs, medium and larger commercial washers are well suited to laundry rooms handling more regular loads, such as busy hotels or hospitality venues providing between 20kg and 80kg capacity.

Industrial washers are engineered to handle higher volumes laundry with a capacity up to 180kg.

How much water do industrial washing machines use?

The average industrial washer uses around 150 litres of water per load. To put that into perspective and demonstrate the capacity of these industry-ready machines, a typical front-loading domestic washer uses 50 litres of water per load.

Are commercial washers more eco-friendly than domestic ones?

They are considered more efficient and eco-friendly overall for businesses. The reason for this includes faster cycle times, lower operating temperatures, and faster drying times made possible by higher spin speeds.

Do industrial washers have energy-saving settings?

Yes, many industrial washing machines have eco settings like temperature reduction and variable cycle modes. They also offer super-fast spin speeds, which can speed up drying times and thus help to save more energy in the longer term.

What is the carbon footprint of a commercial washing machine?

Calculating the carbon footprint of a commercial washer is challenging since the figures are dependent on a range of factors, not least how often the appliance is used, the size of the load, the operating temperature, and even the quality of the detergents used.

If you’re concerned about the efficiency of your commercial laundry, consider investing in appliances with an A-class energy efficiency rating, as these generally account for the smallest carbon footprint.

Can industrial washing machines recycle water?

Yes, some industrial washers can recycle water, a process known as “greywater recycling”. This is when soiled water is treated within the machine and used in subsequent wash cycles, thus helping to save water.

Do note that greywater recycling is only available on specific industrial washers and is not recommended in organisations where infection control is critical.

How sustainable are JLA commercial washing machines?

By reducing the amount of gas, electricity, water, and detergent used in every cycle, JLA’s commercial laundry machines will help you save energy, lower costs, and run a more environmentally friendly laundry process.

Our SMART technology uses intelligent sensors to calculate the exact amount of water, energy, and detergent you need to clean a load, which means reliable performance with much less waste.