With costs still stubbornly high for businesses across the UK, every penny counts, especially in areas that often fly under the radar, such as in-house laundry rooms.
Detergents may seem like a low-cost item, but over time, they can eat into your budget if not managed properly. This guide will help you save costs on your detergents along with streamlining your in-house laundry room operation.

Auto-dosing pumps
Auto-dosing helps reduce detergent costs by removing the wastage that can come from user error or spillages.
Here at JLA, we have observed that laundry operatives often add too much detergent in the mistaken belief it will produce cleaner washing. Using up detergent stocks more quickly can lead to rising costs so an auto-dosing pump will remove the guesswork and help to keep costs under control.
Discover how JLA’s auto-dosing pumps can reduce wastage and improve your laundry wash quality.
Reducing re-washing rates
Reducing re-washing rates can save a significant volume of detergents and chemicals in the long term along with savings on energy and utility costs.
Re-washing can be caused by many different factors, including improper sorting, overloading or underloading machines, using incorrect wash programmes or the lack of pre-treatment on stained garments. Addressing these issues can help you reduce costs in your laundry room.
Subscriptions
Opting to order via a subscription not only provides predictability and consistency but also helps to ensure you don’t order an excessive volume of detergents.
Having just enough detergents to run your operation smoothly is important so you don’t have excess cash tied up in large quantities of detergents. Additionally, it can reduce wastage in the event you change your laundry room procedures and the type of detergents you use on a daily basis.
JLA provides subscriptions through our innovative myJLA customer portal. You can order at the most convenient time for you, with online purchasing, available 24/7.
Using commercial-grade products
Whilst domestic detergents may appear cheaper to purchase, they are usually unsuitable for commercial use and result in higher costs in the long run. Often higher volumes of domestic detergents may be required to keep linen and garments clean, which significantly adds to the cost.
Also, if garments require re-washing due to the use of unsuitable domestic detergents, it will result in higher energy, utility, detergent and staff costs.
Ensuring you select the appropriate commercial detergents for your laundry room can make a significant difference in the long run.
Staff training
Staff training is an effective way to reduce detergent usage in your laundry room. When employees are properly trained, they’re far less likely to waste detergent through spills or overuse.
The training should include measuring accurately and avoiding the common mistakes that lead to unnecessary chemical consumption. Training also ensures machines are loaded correctly and avoids underfilling, which wastes water and detergent.
Staff who understand the importance of selecting the right wash cycle for different fabric types and soil levels can avoid over-washing while using only the amount of detergent truly needed.
Overall machine health
Poorly maintained commercial washing machines can lead to inefficient detergent use, longer wash cycles, and more frequent breakdowns.
Regular servicing and preventative maintenance ensures optimal water temperature, spin speed, and detergent dispersion, saving both energy and chemicals.
How JLA can help
The JLA Ultra range of laundry detergents are formulated to maximise performance in your washing machines, cycle after cycle. We have a solution for every challenge from liquid detergent to destainers and fabric conditioner to emulsifiers.
Contact us today to see how we can help you.