Maintaining Laundry Equipment

Washing Machine Maintenance Tips for Commercial Equipment


Preventative maintenance is the key to longevity of your commercial laundry equipment. Every manufacturer of coin laundry equipment provides a manual with recommendations for and frequency of maintenance. Preventive washing machine maintenance will keep your washers running in tip-top shape as well as keeping you familiar with the “inner workings” so that you can spot the early warning signs that could signal a future malfunction or major repair. We recommend that you keep a journal and take notes of what you see and did during maintenance so that you can refer back to it, in the future.


Use the manufacturer’s maintenance manual to create yourself a schedule and live by it. We’ve included some handy tips to help you keep your coin-op washing machines working and lasting longer.


  1. Clean or replace the water filter inlet screens regularly. These become blocked by small particles in the water supply and can prevent good water flow into the machine. Water filtration systems vary by location and how often you clean/replace the inlet screens depends upon the area in which your business is located.
  2. Use the manufacturers recommended cleaner to remove dirt and soap buildup inside the drum. The deposits accumulate over time and can cause just washed laundry to have a strange odor.
  3. Check the inlet and outlet hoses, connections, and joints for leaks or sediment buildup caused by a very small leak. Change the hoses, connections, or joints as needed to prevent loss of water (and a higher bill) and/or inundation of your business.
  4. Open, close, then open the main water shutoff valve that leads into the back of washing machines. This can sometimes get stuck (corrode) into the open position preventing your ability to shut off the water source in the event of an inundation.
  5. Check the belts from the motor to the drum on every machine for fraying, splitting, or other damage. Replace these as needed and/or twice each year to prevent issuing an “out-of-order” washer.
  6. On frontloading washers, wipe down the gasket between the door and the drum to remove deposits that could prevent a watertight seal. If possible leave the doors open on these machines after each load to allow air to circulate and dry the interior.
  7. Regularly clean the soap dispensers to remove the buildup of powdered laundry detergents and boosters. Powders tend to gum up the dispenser but can be removed by washing the tray with hot water. Soak the tray, if necessary to remove hardened soap.

For even more information regarding the care and maintenance of your coin-op washers and dryers, see "Taking Care of Your Laundry Equipment.”


Should you need to replace a coin-op washing machine or just a part, TriState Laundry Equipment provides quality used laundry equipment that will save you a bundle in comparison to buying new. Contact us for more information on the numerous brands and styles of machines and parts we have in stock.