How MGM Grand Cleans 24 Million Pounds of Laundry | WSJ A to B

MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas is the largest single-standing hotel in the United States. In one year, the hotel’s laundry division tackles 24 million pounds of used sheets, pool towels and other kinds of dirty laundry at their off-site facility. But what kind of washing machines and other industrial equipment go into cleaning this high volume of laundry and returning it to guests so quickly?
WSJ uncovers the logistics behind the hospitality giant moving and cleaning massive loads of laundry to and from the hotel eight times a day, 365 days a year.
0:00 8,500 pounds of laundry per hour
0:41 Hotel collection
1:49 Offloading and washing
5:17 Final transport and delivery
#LasVegas #Hotel #WSJ

[@tltinatl]

I love stories like this, about people doing crucial but largely invisible work.

[@dopeboyp3487]

Agreed!👍🏽

[@plumeria66]

Without essential workers, our society could not run!

[@gagahusband]

Yes I can think of nothing more crucial than supplying the American greed cabal in Las Vegas. I agree.

[@DemonKing1515]

It was inspiring to watch it seamlessly operate

[@Jdalio5]

Agree and the understanding of how complex thing quickly become at a large scale.

[@__A_A]

You can tell how much pride he takes in his job & that is HONORABLE

[@EmberRoseGaming]

You think about laundry service but; at the same time you really don’t. Thank you for creating clean spaces for guests! You’re recognized

[@KRH1997]

Massive respect and appreciation for these workers!! I hope they’re getting paid well!🎉

[@davisg]

they're not

[@alexkeast7327]

$23.10 a hour I get in a 8 hour shift so nearly $200 per day

[@yolanderamilison4799]

@@alexkeast7327Are they still hiring? where is it located, I want to work there.

[@Daniel_Heartt]

I got paid 9.50 the hour at a hospital version of laundry had to fold 8 blankets per minute and 12 bath blankets per minute from 8 am to 5-6pm

[@phil4977]

Having the size and scale of the MGM hotels allows them to own their own laundry facilities and thus the cost benefit associated with it. Great lesson in logistics and efficiency

[@lindaparks225]

I do laundry at a. Nursing home. We fold it all by hand. I can't even imagine that amount of laundry in a day. Thank God for the huge machines and automaton you all have.

[@Macsrus5]

These linens are cleaner than most hospitals. My husband recently had an extended hospitalization…. We joked that we could read the newspaper thru the worn out towels! Good job MGM employees 👏

[@SCFLEUR]

All the behind the scenes that make the process run smoothly. 🙂 Thank you.

[@LStottmann]

If you are reading this and work in this industry, you deserve MUCH more recognition and thank you!

[@Trimalchio12]

This was really interesting! I always wondered how they managed to get linens so clean regardless of how dirty they were.

[@ScottPankhurst]

as a former laundry plant manager - really good chemicals

[@edwinsimmons7148]

Thank you for your services!

[@ameridesign]

🫡🫡

[@johntaylorjr4344]

I thank these folks for all the hard often invisible work they do.

[@Jiggy609]

I always think about these crucial workers who make these massive operations possible. Unsung heroes!

[@Beeaaa08]

I was just there. Hotel/casino was too huge but all of them in Vegas basically are. I hope the housekeepers get a living wage, like everyone working in our country deserves.

[@beng3345]

Have to define what "living" is but the job market is competitive.

[@ann28]

Thank you so much to the laundry and housekeeping teams for all your hard work behind the scenes. May God bless you all 🙏 🙏

[@dolores2318]

Housekeeping, the spine of any successful operation. Bring your own Lysol/Clorox spray just to handle any missed areas of cleaners.Always tip your housekeeping, smile at them,thank them.

[@johniii8147]

If you're flying you cant put that in your carry on.

[@scottkaiser8589]

WOW, I never gave the laundry service a thought. Thanks for what you do

[@kimberlyreuter2981]

Thank you all for taking care of us when we visit. I always stay at MGM Grand

[@aznpridebuhhd]

Really cool to see their process, especially as someone who’s in logistics/supply chain!

[@kathleenritz32]

I used to work as a maid some years ago while I was in college. It was really hard work!! I always made sure the rooms were super clean but there were some things I did not agree with how the rooms were cleaned or the laundry. One was the brand and type of cleaners. I don't know if anyone knows this but even though the sheets are laundered and changed every day, the comforters are not! I never thought that was right and it's disgusting, really. I used to always tell the owners the comforters should be changed every day! Who knows who and what has been sitting on the comforters, even dogs and people might get a disease or fleas, bed bugs, etc.! but they still would not change them every day. I used to always tell them, in my opinion that the bed sheets should not only be laundered with a good brand of detergent, but Clorox bleach should be used and not the cheap brands that are not effective, but they used to just tell me, "It would be too much of a cost to the business." I used to tell them instead of using just a disinfectant spray on the bathtubs, bathroom sinks and toilets, cleanser and bleach, Fabuloso, or Pine Sol should be used together to clean them. They just did not want to pay the extra costs to have the rooms clean, I guess they just thought too much money and too much time, then I found out it was not just that hotel, it was all of them! The comforters were never changed unless they were really noticeably dirty. The maids were always expected to work fast and the owners were always happy with my work, but I just always thought if it were me, I would want my room and bedding clean the way I would clean it. I don't think I would ever want to stay in any hotel or motel after what I know. Anyone out there that does, just tell the owner or person at the front desk, you need one or two more (or however many you need) of comforters, at least.

[@Suzanne_Vega]

Thank you. This is why I haven't traveled in years😅 It's really gross when you think about hotels putting dirty comforters on top of so called cleaned sheets.

[@cable30]

I think if ever i would just bring my own comforter and put theirs to the side. but would of course fold it up and put in a bag so it not just sitting on the floor. so can replace comforter anytime they gotta check room and have mine in a dif bag that is suitable to be stored with my stuff. or if ever use ultravoilet test an check for any bad stuff and use ur own if u are real fussy about stuff anytime.

[@Kenosene]

Well, I way of not having to deal with dirty conforters is to use duvets. The duvet covers are cleaned every day along with the sheets. That would have been a solution for that hotel. About the cleaners used, I don't know how that hotel operates but in the ones I've worked they use industrial chemicals designed for hotel usage, and your skin can tell they are harsher than your regular supermarket brand.

[@beepboopbeepp]

@@Kenosene thank you for being the first one to use a paragraph, I can’t understand how nobody else manages to put paragraphs in their comments 😩

[@KA-eu9sy]

This is why I don't travel. I'm thoroughly grossed out.

[@PakaBubi]

Huge respect to any housekeeping personnel.

[@blake.henderson]

these people are doing gods work

[@TrevorBrass]

And this is just the facility for ONE of the Las Vegas hotels, or is it the central laundry facility for all MGM properties in Las Vegas? Either way, this is an amazing process at the raw logistics of doing tons of laundry in short order and the unsung people doing this work.

[@emmanuellarsson3435]

5:30

[@eacoincmubiru5894]

Amazing. I stayed at one of the huge strip hotels and I kept looking for the hotel laundry. Never knew they had a separate laundry facility miles from the hotel

[@leonard5606]

@@eacoincmubiru5894 I worked at a Holiday Inn once as a house man and there laundry was in the basement so you never would see it anyways....a few floors down. :)

[@TXDXEXO]

I absolutely love videos like this, u get to see the inside of many businesses

[@SteadyBark96720]

I always tip these hospitality workers, and thank them for their service

[@missbae_]

Now if only y’all could make sure the housekeepers changed the sheets lol but seeing this definitely put me at ease about the cleanliness of the linen in general

[@keemp1273]

Now these are workers! Thank you for your hard work

[@cereal4u]

I used to be a laundry attendant for Grand Canyon.. but we used a box truck and our clean linen came from Phoenix .. cool job

[@janicemintz8592]

Interesting story. I have new respect for those who work behind the scenes.

[@adelasefora]

All of the sudden this makes me want to do my laundry

[@mrmakaiwi]

This is so interesting! Not being sarcastic, I’ve always wondered where and how this was all done!

[@ScottysAir]

Wow! Laundry room!! So many dirty sheets! Please keep it clean!

[@SDS-1]

This is absolutely AMAZING 😍

[@bok..]

People need to help hotel cleaners by not leaving their rooms an absolute mess. The whole "its their job" excuse is infuriating, like tidy up your room a bit geez.

[@Star_Gazer_77]

I use to work at a 414 room resort in Gurnee and we would clean att rooms in 5 washers and 7 dryers with a dozen people

[@donnarobertson252]

The blankets and bedspreads are never cleaned. Dont touch them. Bring your own blankie.

[@spencermann3951]

Cool Like this behind the scenes Keep it up

[@morenaconsentida418]

Fascinating 😊

[@mustlovedogs5569]

Didn’t seem many blankets or duvets...confirmed they don’t get washed!

[@kistelkistel]

Only when absolutely necessary

[@miimonalisa]

Yeah that’s gross

[@AVIVRO2]

‏‪2:47‬‏ Looks like a great place to cook... (breaking bad)

[@mattheweburns]

We should be using systems like this for all sorts of products used to get nasty stuff off of or out of many things, think air filters, residential bedding, any kind of filters of any sort… Or any other cloth. It’s not like anything other than thread, count matters with people care so much if they had clean white sheets every day as opposed to a special pattern that’s disgusting after a week?

[@fl0pZ3]

i work at a hotel pool where we provide the towels, it’s nothing compared to the size of this hotel but let me tell you it’s still a nightmare. just watching this traumatizes me

[@dsp8884]

Still bring your own linen trust me

[@sandybeggs255]

Very interesting Thank you

[@allthingshome6953]

I am amazed!

[@SuperEtab]

I’d love to know the chemistry of the detergent they use to keep the linens so white.

[@johniii8147]

Clorox 2 probably

[@thagoochtookmylunchmoney8800]

The main reason I clicked on the video actually…😔

[@scottmiller3954]

depends, they use raw bleach, Alkali, and sours. But there is different chemistry for each item, those tunnel washers also shoot almost 300 degree steam into each mod,

[@minorr2011]

We use bleach. If it doesn’t come clean it goes back through.

[@zozyb1]

Nellie's laundry soda with hot or steam cycle works great for my white sheets.

[@apara2005]

Wow!!! Thats a lot of work. This is why i dont request new linen and bath towels on my stay.

[@JBrown-go8ru]

Gross! It’s part of the job, that no one forced them to do. You refusing clean towels, and linen, doesn’t help any worker in the grand scheme of things.

[@kistelkistel]

​@@JBrown-go8ruIt's not gross. You can use your towel more than once. It's not automatically dirty from one use. Just hang it up properly and it'll be fine

[@JBrown-go8ru]

@@kistelkistel You failed to read his post properly. He stated that he does not request a towel change during his stay. Meaning, if he stayed for a week, he'd continue using a dirty towel. That's mother freaking gross!

[@kistelkistel]

@@JBrown-go8ru They didn't say how long they stay at places. Most ppl at our hotel are only there for a night or two. And I'm sure if it was a week they would get new stuff.

[@youtuberconsuming6411]

lol as if all the biohazard linens look like biohazard linens 😂😂😂😂

[@autobotdiva9268]

that is mega work!

[@calipsycho625]

I need 1 of those mega super washers for my house the way these kids pile up laundry

[@ThemeParkSoCal]

All this time I thought they do there laundry at the MGM Grand till now lol now I know that they have there own laundromat to do the laundry for the hotels rooms restaurants etc.

[@missbae_]

Ummm this IS at the MGM Grand

[@XroorX]

The MGM hotel in Oxon Hill MD has all their laundry machines in house….

[@jose81luis]

Observo que no usan protectores para los oídos por el ruido elevado de la lavandería.

[@sledgehammer7499]

me imagino que es más peligroso no poder oír a tus gerentes y compañeros de trabajo que tolerar el ruido de las máquinas.

[@dustinp161]

No wonder my sheets feel like sandpaper 😂

[@JBrown-go8ru]

Depends on your budget, and hotels you frequent. We typically stay at the well known 5 Star hotels, and the sheets feel wonderful.

[@mfm0049]

I was waiting to see Gustavo Fring come out from behind one of those washing machines

[@madog1]

Wonering how many quarters those washing machine take for a load. 🤔

[@artukmi91]

It’s amazing how someone invented the whole process

[@philliplee980]

Interesting I always wondered about that and I’ve been to the mgm grand

[@spencermann3951]

Can’t wait to go back

[@Acvasq]

You have to admit, for such a huge property, they have the logistics down Pat

[@Jay-rx1hs]

These are the ones that deserve our tips more then others throughout the casinos

[@MrJLee-ri3so]

Does laundry wash n rinse all the sheets n towels. Someone mentioned these facilities rinse/ disinfect only unless linen is soiled. The coin op laundry that I use, rinse cycle is almost nonexistent.

[@youtuberconsuming6411]

do they wash the hampers that brought the dirty laundry before loading them with the clean?

[@fauzirahman3285]

"Someone's going to get in trouble, I don't want to point fingers at who, but that'll be me right?" Story of my life right there.

[@MsTambri10]

I hope they pay these ppl very very well

[@petrus666love]

They won’t

[@davidcantor293]

These people need more recognition. They are probably chronically sore and need some relief.

[@saffloweroyl3663]

Is the cleaning facility air conditioned?

[@drinny26]

Whenever I travel I use the same town for 4 days. Then I ask for a replacement.

[@oliviao2238]

That's a lot of Tide detergent

[@ryzezee8543]

Do these places have their own water filtration and recycling system?

[@jdaz5462]

No, but Clark County does. Nearly 100% of all water that goes down the drain, is returned to Lake Mead.

[@ryzezee8543]

@@jdaz5462 I feel like these massive laundries need their own water recycling system, or pay the county more for the water service

[@g-man6230]

realy usfull information

[@KA-eu9sy]

useful

[@ameridesign]

*useful

[@ropro9817]

Ok, but how do I get to the meth lab below? 😆

[@kirkarthur8137]

Impressive

[@KJay-fe9rt]

So interesting

[@mikeschulte4271]

Wonder what chemicals they wash with, do they use ecolab or gurtler , p&g, sunburst or what industrial chemicals they use

[@bok..]

I thought there was already issues with the amount of water consumed in the south west. Las Vegas doesnt contribute much to water use in the grand scheme of things but still.

[@lanabyk8012]

That is brutal. No wonder our society has so many problems! Society is busy washing laundry.

[@michaelmorehouse8872]

Brady linen processes on average of 600k pounds of linen per day. MGM is one of our largest clients, Brady helps them with certain properties. Not the entire 600k is MGM, probably 65% is MGM related. Just remember, MGM Grand, is only 1 property.

[@MH_6160]

Wonder what is under those washing machines.

[@petermaclean9326]

What would america do without their hardworking immigrants?

[@lovingme1st973]

I'm sure they're part of the union, so they really don't work that hard.

[@warshortsfacts]

Hire hardworking Americans

[@blureality]

Fold like newspaper

[@ennis_w]

I just found a tiny piece of dried gum on shower towel in my hotel bathroom. Then it brings me to check this video, to see how hotel laundry works.

[@Andreas19300]

Ancillary revenue opportunities from operating labs in the basement

[@innarizqi9075]

Mesin yg canggih ilmu yg luarbiasa menciptakan mesin laundry Dengan rol linen hanya dengan 1 orang bisa langsung dilipat itu luarbiasa

[@matthewp1682]

I just wanna check those laundry machines if any of them lift up

[@pierluc_cr]

I wonder if it happens that those machine makes black grease stains or holes in the laundry? What do they do with the pillows and the blankets? I worked in an hotel in Canada an our subcontractor tend to damage, lost, not clean for real or mix our laundry whit the one of others establishments. One time time i found a soak wet pillow in a transparent plastic bag with that message: "Coussin pas laver?!" Its seams to means: "We don't clean pillows".

[@1DumbSquirrel]

I just started my job at a laundry facility.

[@capsortee]

Inocencia Diaz!!!!!!!!

[@artie4017]

If your laundry doesn't end up in the red bag, you're not doing Vegas correctly.

[@pawsfurGod]

😂😂😂😂

[@Peizxcv]

The largest single standing hotel in the US is The Venetian LV, not MGM Grand. Both are spread out over multiple buildings but The Venetian is a single structure from the basement to 2nd floor while MGM Grand have 3 towers at the back not physically connected to the casino

[@hewhohasnoidentity4377]

Luxor has more rooms

[@alkey7266]

Mgm has more properties even when they sold the mirage

[@joshuab77829]

Believe the mgm grand is largest by amount of rooms if I am not mistaken

[@iScottyv84]

Venetian Tower only has 4,049 rooms. MGM Grand (Main Tower) has 5,044. They are not referring to the whole resort.

[@gunit6815]

The MGM Grand I believe is larger than the Venetian. Now I am not sure if its the case if you combine the Venetian and Palazzo

[@VegasYouTuberSteve]

Cool

[@arishem555]

so, one huge point missed in the whole video. why in the world laundry is not on the -3rd floor? why is it separate facility?

[@kistelkistel]

Can you imagine all the noise it makes. 5000 rooms. It's an all day thing

[@laerwen]

Because it's over 5000 rooms worth of linen, plus pool towels and restaurant linens. You expect them to have that kind of facility IN the hotel?

[@TheJ602]

Why can’t they filter then recycle the water?

[@timothybaker8234]

Bed spreads never get washed?

[@donnarobertson252]

And blankets too. I never touch them and bring my own blankie.

[@kistelkistel]

It's rare. It has to be visibly dirty. Think about how much more room they take up compared to sheets. For the washer, for the dryer, for the cart, for storage. It would be impossible to wash every single one every single time. You wouldn't be able to clean all the rooms daily, and that, would be bad for business.

[@njt002]

I wonder what's beneath those washing machines.

[@T1M6]

If by comforters you mean duvets it doesn't surprise me they aren't washed after single use. It's just not viable both from monetary cost and cost to the environment. Everything used... bleach, disinfectants , cleaners go back into the ground and then back into our water. Overuse is very bad. I agree the work is extremely arduous and I congratulate every worker.... perhaps more so the ones who work in facilities like this. 😊x

[@yolanderamilison4799]

What is the address of this? I want to work there.

[@cindyb3704]

Just like any other place one load at a time

[@roachtoasties]

All the guests see are the housekeepers, who get all the complaints. I wonder what happens to the worn linens. After a number of washes, the linens need to replaced. I'm thinking some towels just get lost, or guests keep some each cycle. Maybe 1%, so the wash facility is constantly adding new linens in with the washed linens.

[@mustlovedogs5569]

Surely they should wear gloves for this dirty stuff

[@chriserazmus2967]

Wow biggest laundry keep ppl busy insane !