For centuries, commercial linen services have played a crucial role in supporting industries like hospitality, healthcare, and food service. Over the years, the technology available has helped enhance the services provided to companies and made commercial laundry more efficient. The evolution of commercial linen services in the United States reflects broader economic, technological, and social changes. Here, we’ll explore the rich history of commercial linen services, tracing their development from humble beginnings to today’s sophisticated operations.
Early Beginnings: The 19th Century
In the early 1800s, linen services were primarily small, family-run businesses catering to the needs of local hotels, restaurants, and hospitals. At this time, laundry was considered by most to be a very labor-intensive task. It mainly involved manual washing, scrubbing boards, and boiling water, requiring hours and days of manual labor to receive the results we get so quickly with machines today. As the amount of laundry required was not as high as today, with huge hotels and hospitality businesses to cater to, these small businesses were just about able to keep up with demand.
The Industrial Revolution brought significant advancements, including mechanized washers and improved water heating systems. Steam-powered washing machines were one of the greatest developments at this time, saving washing by hand. Another development was that of the electric-powered rotating tub, where a motor rotated the tub instead of relying on hand-operated paddles. Clothes wringers now consisted of two circular tubes that squeezed water out of clothing. This development helped make commercial laundry more efficient and scalable and reduced the tedious manual labor required to produce high amounts of clean laundry. This model was just the start of commercial laundry services as we know them today, and from there, the growth and organization of these services helped to shape them into businesses we wouldn’t be able to live without.
Growth and Industrialization: Early 20th Century
By the early 1900s, commercial linen services had become more organized, and technological developments had helped to revolutionize the industry. Introducing electric washers, dryers, and ironing equipment saved endless hours of work for those working in laundry facilities and eliminated some of the physically exhausting jobs of the past. Alva J. Fisher created the first electric washing machine in 1907, which was called the Thor. By the 1920s, it was common for many American households to have electric washing machines, and some companies had also started to invest in on-site laundry services.
During this period, companies began offering rental services, providing linens to businesses that found it more cost-effective than purchasing and maintaining their stock. This measure was a great service for new businesses and those unable to maintain in-house laundry facilities, which were still quite costly to set up and maintain at this time. This period also saw the rise of uniform rental services. They allowed companies to present a polished and professional look without worrying about doing huge amounts of laundry for their team daily.
Post-War Expansion: 1940s-1960s
After World War II, America experienced economic prosperity and a boom in the hospitality and healthcare sectors. The growth in these industries fueled the demand for commercial linen services, so companies started opening across the United States, particularly in major cities. Innovations such as automated washing machines, chemical detergents, and large-scale industrial dryers enhanced efficiency. Manual labor was much rarer then, although using some equipment required many staff members to operate laundry facilities. Companies began standardizing practices in this era, and industry associations were formed to set benchmarks. This formation increased the quality of laundry services. It made it a more enticing option for companies and individuals who did not want to spend the time and energy doing laundry by themselves each day.
Technological Advances: 1970s-1990s
The late 20th century brought significant technological advancements and started to move commercial laundry services forward to where they are today. Computerized systems improved inventory management, scheduling, and billing processes, saving company owners and managers hours a day of work. Energy-efficient machines and environmentally friendly detergents emerged in response to growing environmental awareness. Companies started to show more concern about their impact on the planet, which filtered through to the processes used within commercial laundry services. The number of laundry services companies offer was now more extensive than ever due to the need to keep up with competition in major cities nationwide.
Modern Era: 2000s to Present
Today, commercial linen services are integral to many industries, especially hospitals, hospitality businesses, and hotels. Companies use advanced technologies such as RFID tracking, automated sorting systems, and eco-friendly laundering processes to offer the best service possible and quick turnaround times. The industry has also adapted to the demands of sectors like healthcare, where strict hygiene standards are paramount, and hospitals and healthcare organizations must be ready for inspections at any time. Technology continues to develop at a rapid pace, offering more solutions to businesses processing a huge amount of dirty laundry each day. With giant hotels and resorts in Florida attracting thousands of visitors each year, the option to outsource laundry is an attractive solution to avoid operating an on-site laundry facility.
Commercial laundry services have certainly been through a huge number of changes and developments over the past two hundred years. Technology has only helped to make laundry services more efficient and ensure that you get your laundry serviced as quickly as needed to offer the best service possible to your clients. We only expect continued developments over the upcoming decades and look forward to seeing its positive impact on the industry. Our dedicated team aims to support Florida businesses and hotels that don’t want to operate an on-site or on-premise laundry facility. We offer a range of services and packages that can be fully customized to fit the unique needs of your business operations.
Contact Nexa Laundry to learn about our services or to discuss any questions you have about working with us to improve your commercial laundry processes.