Get in a Rut and Like It

Usually getting into a rut is considered a bad thing to do. It''s a symbol indicating a very boring routine. Yet much of being a success in any enterprise, especially in the coin or card-op laundry business, is the ability to do unexciting and boring things routinely and do them well. To get into a rut, so to speak. Successful laundry owners will either do those mostly boring things personally or will routinely check up on those who are assigned to undertake the undesirable activities just to be sure they are done right. One of the surest ways to get things done properly is to make a schedule and lists of all the things to be done. Sounds so simple doesn''t it. Such lists don''t have to be fancy printouts, they can be hand written and taped some place where they won''t be missed. One great place is inside the changer door. Most owners handle the change machines personally, so having a list posted inside the door means it will remain confidential, but will be seen each time the bills are removed or the changer bins reloaded. The list should cover those chores that are often neglected because they are done so infrequently. A good example could be cleaning out the dryer vent lines. This task should be performed every four to six months, depending on how busy the laundry is. What''s undone for six months is likely to be forgotten altogether until the results of not doing the job become apparent, maybe because the dryers don''t function as well as they should , and you begin to hear customer complaints about drying too slow. Other periodic jobs that are often over looked include: Lubricating or oiling motors as called for in the manufacturer''s specs and service manuals. Doesn''t take very long to do this infrequent task, but it will extend the life of the laundry''s equipment for years. Cleaning beneath and behind the washer rows. This is a time consuming job that needs to be done to hold down laundry smells. Checking the tie down bolts on front load washers. Once they get loose it causes the washers to vibrate, which can be destructive of machine life. Walking washers can be scary for customers as well as being hard on machines. Cleaning out the dryer lint traps. Inspection of plumbing bulkheads and water heating systems for evidence of leaks. Drip by drip leaks can be expensive. Making customer refunds, plus a hundred other things you will think of to do periodically to make your laundry as good as it can be. As you itemize and add to your list, perhaps on a calendar, get yourself in the habit of checking that list each time you open the changer. You''ll find that as your laundry becomes better managed, it will be more successful and likely become a bit more profitable. Getting into a good rut all pays off in many ways, not the least of which is your equipment will perform better, last longer, and the laundry''s clientele will grow. Which of course eventually results in higher profits.