Laundry is the last thing a business professional would want to do. Things get even more frustrating when you have too much work. It’s only natural to ask for a trustworthy commercial laundry service provider to handle such a task.
But, how do you make sure they are trustworthy and are competent enough to do the job? As the laundry market grows with more than 5000 service providers around Australia, it’s difficult to find the best one.
This is why we’ve come up with all the serious questions you need to ask before hiring them. Asking these questions will ensure you’re getting the right commercial laundry service.
7 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Commercial Laundry Provider
With so many laundry services available, it can be a daunting task to find the best choice. Will they be able to deliver their promise in time? Will they bail out on you in dire times? What about lost or damaged items?
Here are all the major questions you need to ask them before making the deal –
Ask Them about the Estimated Costs
Inflation is hitting world wide, and Australia is no exception. Power bill hikes are already occurring. A warm wash might cost 215$ (whole year) right now but in a year, it is expected to reach 280$. That’s just the estimation for warm wash using top-loaders.
With the rising prices, commercial laundry services aren’t any different. This is why it’s best to ask how much their services will cost. Asking whether you can afford them or not is nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, if you know how much they charge, you can compare the price with others and find cost-effective laundry solutions.
Check the Damage or Loss Policy
Up next, you should ask them about their damage and lost policies. Laundry workers are humans after all. So it’s not a shocking revelation that they can damage or lose your items.
The important part is how they compensate for the damage because the Australian Consumer Law strictly says they will provide compensation for the lost or damaged item.
They should either replace the garment or item, or pay the price equivalent of the item. Either way, they should take care of the issue.
Check on the Hidden Charges
You should be well aware of the payment terms from the very beginning. Some unethical laundry services don’t tell their customers about hidden charges. They might add extra chargers on top of the payment you’re giving them already.
Just so you don’t have to face hidden costs in laundry services, ask them to give their entire pricing list. And make sure to read it thoroughly. This way they won’t be able to charge you extra.
Proper Scheduling and Delivery
Service delivery time and pickup/drop-off schedule is extremely crucial. Late deliveries are a big red flag so the laundry workers have to guarantee pickup or drop-off exactly at the promised time.
Make sure they are situated near your location, which will ensure fast response time and quick laundry delivery schedule. And, what’s their hour of operation? If you run a nursing home, aged care or hospital, you might need their service without prior notice.
Can they provide on-demand laundry service? Are they flexible enough? They can do it only if they’re housed closeby.
You might also need personalised service. Something that’s not on the list. Are they equipped to handle laundry service customisation?
Ask about the Equipments They Use
Don’t forget to ask them what sort of equipment or cleaners they use. Laundry equipment quality is important because low quality ones can ruin your items. We should also hire workers who use eco-friendly equipment.
It’s because green equipment is less likely to leave harmful residue on your garment. They also smell better than regular ones. Sustainable laundry practices are important for us and mother earth.
Careful Linen Management
Industrial laundry solutions should know how to handle linen, especially if you’re hiring them for healthcare facilities.
While doing linen management, they should not shake the linen because it can contaminate air or nearby surfaces. They should also put soiled linen inside plastic ziplock bags in order to prevent spread.
Finally, the laundry service should have AS/NZS 4146:2000 compliance. This way you’ll know they’re authentic and equipped to handle linen.
You can also ask for their qualifications. Their skill levels can be judged based on how many years of experience they have in the relevant field. It should be around 2 to 5 years. They should also have some sort of AQF certification.
Check If You Can Have Direct Contacts
You should get a point of contact instead of the general numbers they give their clients. Reaching through the general numbers is a hectic process which wastes time. Having direct laundry service contacts will ensure your voice is heard by the right person quickly.
Furthemore, a direct point of contact means you can build a bond with them. This will help with what you exactly want from them.
Final Words
From state level organisations to local commercial laundry services, there’s just too many options. However, with these 7 questions in mind, you can now narrow down the list with minimal effort.
Still no luck? Let Holy Cross Services take care of it for you. We have 130+ years of experience handling laundry. From damage and loss policy to using green products to customised delivery schedules, we have it all without any hidden charge!