McPherson College, in McPherson, Kan., recently upgraded an athletic laundry dedicated to its baseball, volleyball, softball and men’s and women’s basketball programs. The result is a laundry solution that drastically improves productivity and sanitizes every load.
SLS High-Speed Washers Cut Laundry Time
Three 60-pound capacity Sports Laundry System® (SLS) Washers — producing high-extract speeds up to 400 G-force — replaced the facility’s existing hard-mount machines, according to equipment provider Matt Samms, of Commercial Laundry Sales and Service, in Wichita, Kan. “The new soft-mounts obtain and hold much higher extract speeds than comparable hard-mount washers,” he said. “Laundry dries in half the time. This quickens the wash/dry process, allowing coaches and staff to move on to other important duties.”
McPherson College Director of Facilities Marty Sigwing agrees. “Wash and dry times are substantially shorter and we’re getting through laundry faster,” he said. “The machines don’t leak, offer more programming options, are faster and haven’t broken down.”
Moreover, unlike hard-mount washers, the SLS soft-mount washers did not require a reinforced concrete foundation, bolt-down or grout. The SLS machines slid easily into place for a simple, less costly installation.
Moisture Sensing Dryers and Short Dry Times Equal Extended Uniform Life
The new washers work in concert with three 75-pound capacity dryers. The dryers feature Uniform Life Extension (ULE), a moisture sensing system that automatically shuts the dryer off when a preset moisture level is obtained. It prevents over-drying and resulting damage to fabrics and uniforms. “When you cut drying time, you reduce linen wear,” said Samms. “This works to extend the life of uniforms and practice clothing,” he said.
Finally, the SLS Washers and Dryers feature multiple programs for properly cleaning and drying towels, loops, uniforms and practice clothing. The washers automatically inject cleaning chemicals and sanitizing ozone at the perfect point in the wash cycle to deliver consistently clean results. Operators, who are typically team coaches, just load, enter a program number and press start.
Ozone Kills 99 Percent of Bacteria and Viruses
The ozone — a gas that relaxes fabric fibers and facilitates the breakdown and removal of organic materials — is environmentally friendly and works best in cool water. As a result, ozone lowers water heating usage and costs. Additionally, it irradicates 99 percent of the bacteria, viruses and molds found in laundry — helping thwart infections like MRSA, staph and Covid-19.
That’s a big deal for the College. “It was an easy call to make to add ozone,” said Sigwing. “We’d been going through Covid so we thought it was wonderful chance to take extra precautions. We are residential campus so we are responsible for our students and their personal health,” he said. “Now we know when a student-athlete puts on a uniform, it’s clean and safe.”