Keeping care homes safe: Effective laundry procedures

WITHIN CARE and residential homes, infection control should be the top priority when it comes to keeping vulnerable residents safe. Considering the communal nature of care homes, and with residents interacting with one another day-to-day, pathogens can spread much easier if not properly managed, leading to infections and potential illness for residents, visitors and staff.

One area that care home managers and staff can lean on to help prevent the spread of infection, is the effective management of the laundry room. Whether its harmful pathogens lingering on bedding, or soiled clothing potentially leading to an outbreak of infection, laundry can become a significant spreader of germs and disease.

Minimising infection within the laundry 

No matter the size of your care homes’ laundry room, it’s important to invest in commercial equipment that can support hygiene compliance whilst thoroughly and gently cleaning laundry items. Considering laundry equipment that can ensure optimal wash cycle times and reach high temperatures can facilitate effective infection prevention. With many commercial options to choose from, care homes should work closely with a partner that can help match a solution to their requirements.  

Additional to having the right commercial equipment in place, it’s vital that relevant staff and management are fully trained in how to properly work the machines, understand your homes’ laundry processes, and are up to date with any new industry regulations.

Before placing dirty laundry into a washing machine, staff should follow strict protocols to minimise the spread of pathogens prior to washing. Before handling laundry, staff should be provided with the relevant PPE such as gloves and aprons and once equipped, any contaminated laundry items should be placed into appropriate colour-coded bags before transporting to the laundry room. It is also important to remember that dirty laundry should be separated from clean items and stored in a separate room to prevent cross-contamination.

Once all relevant preparation has been completed and staff are ready to begin the wash cycle, laundry bags should be loaded into the machine without removing the contents, allowing them to unwrap automatically during the wash cycle providing that the drawstring has been released beforehand. For any items that are soiled with bodily fluids, these should be placed into an alginate bag or water-soluble bag before entering the machine. Once all contents have been loaded into the machine, staff should opt for high-temperature programmes, as according to the Health and Safety Executive, achieving optimal infection control and decontamination requires either a 71⁰C wash for at least three minutes or 10 minutes at 65⁰C. 

Pairing your washing machine with the correct detergent also plays a huge role in infection control. Staff should ensure that the prescribed quantity of the recommended detergent is used in combination with the appropriate temperature set by the manufacturer, as this enables the agitation of laundry required to kill infectious diseases.

Once the washing process is complete, staff should ensure that any items are suitable for their intended use. This involves checking that they are clean and have not been damaged or discoloured during the wash cycle before placing into a dryer. 

Maintaining a healthy and hygienic environment in care homes is not just a priority, it’s a vital aspect of the day-to-day running. It requires a comprehensive approach, of which laundry procedures and professional machinery are a significant part. By implementing effective laundry procedures, care homes can ensure residents are both safe and comfortable.  

Nicky Whittaker is national account manager at Miele Professional

For more information visit www.miele.co.uk/p/