WICHITA, Kan. — SaniClean ICT, a 5-year-old commercial laundry here, reports it is on target to surpass 100,000 laundry pounds per year.
“We opened during the wake of the COVID pandemic with the idea of doing a bunch of medical laundry,” says Manager Matt Samms.
“We discovered our niche is in other markets, including salons, where we do 2,000 pounds of laundry per month.”
STRATEGIC START-UP EQUIPMENT
Owned by Brian and Daniel Asher, SaniClean launched with a smart mix of commercial-grade equipment: an ArtiClean Ozone system, Girbau Commercial E-Series soft-mount washers (in 20-, 40- and 60-pound capacities), Continental ProDry2+ Dryers (75-pound capacity) and a delivery van.
As demand grew, so did its capacity. The company added a second delivery vehicle and a Girbau Commercial GS-Series 45-pound soft-mount washer, boosting throughput and efficiency.
SPEED THAT DRIVES RESULTS
At the heart of SaniClean’s productivity are its high-speed washers, capable of reaching up to 450 G-force extract speeds. This significantly reduces moisture in each load, cutting dry times by up to 50% compared to traditional hard-mount washers. Thus, laundry is washed, dried and folded in less than 60 minutes — all while reducing utility costs.
“Our E-Series Washers are fantastic, but we’ve found the GS-Series is even better,” says Samms. “GS loads dry several minutes faster, which lets us accomplish more in less time. The GS is a game-changer for us — I can’t wait to get two more.”
SMART FEATURES FOR SMARTER WORKFLOW
But the GS-Series delivers more than just speed. It offers a large 10-inch touchscreen user interface and Genius Control, which is easy to operate and program, and features a 360-degree Corner Status Light that indicates load status from a distance.
“The light tells us when a load is done — no need to walk over and check — and the touchscreen lets us dial in every phase of the wash cycle or adjust on the fly,” Samms points out.
SANITIZED LOADS THAT SET SANICLEAN APART
A cornerstone of SaniClean’s service is its ozone system, which injects ozone gas during the wash cycle to sanitize and soften fabrics. Ozone lifts soils and stains with fewer chemicals and performs best in cool water — cutting water heating costs. More importantly, it eliminates nearly 100% of bacteria, viruses, and molds, offering a key competitive advantage.
All this adds up to customer appeal.
“We are reliable and consistent,” says Samms. “We find that there are a lot of bigger guys out there, but they mandate contracts without recourse and offer little flexibility. We deliver a more personal touch.”
EXPANDING MARKET REACH
While salons remain among SaniClean’s strongest markets, Samms hopes to dive deeper into healthcare moving forward.
“Some of our salon customers own their own towels,” he says. “If they don’t, they rent the towels from us. We’ve also had great luck processing laundry for cafés, coffee shops, and restaurants, as well as homeless shelters and oral surgeons.”
Customers love SaniClean’s personal service and quick, 24-hour turnaround, adds Samms.
A GREENER WAY TO CLEAN
As dedicated to customers as the environment, SaniClean integrates eco-friendly practices across the board. Its washers use less water and extract more moisture to cut drying times and natural gas usage. The ozone system requires cool water, lowering energy usage even further, while reducing chemical dependency.
Moreover, for packaging of goods, SaniClean replaced plastic shrink wrap with biodegradable cotton twine using a Felins Pak-Tyer machine.
“Shrink wrap was expensive and terrible for the environment,” shares Samms. “Environmental stewardship is a core value for us and the Pak-Tyer helps us stay true to that mission.”
A HYGIENIC PROCESS
SaniClean embraces a streamlined laundry process. It starts with delivery vehicles that empty laundry into SaniClean’s “dirty side,” where it’s piece-counted, sorted (by customer), and moved to the washroom.
There, laundry is cleaned using ozone and automated detergent dosing for optimal results. Finally, laundry moves to a dedicated drying room with positive air pressure to eliminate cross-contamination. Then it’s hand-folded and bound with twine for delivery.
GROWTH FUELED BY AUTOMATION
“SaniClean is on a fast upward trajectory, nearly doubling growth year-over-year,” Samms declares.
Hoping to expand further, the company plans to invest in automation. At the top of Samms’ list: a Girbau Industrial FT-Maxi Towel Folder and Stacker capable of classifying, folding and stacking up to 900 pieces per hour, and a Girbau Commercial Express Flatwork Ironer for finishing bed and table linens.
“These upgrades will reduce labor, boost output and help us win larger accounts that demand premium ironed linens,” says Samms.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
