Hospital laundry is an important part of healthcare operations. Textiles used by patients, healthcare workers and clinical departments may come into contact with microorganisms, blood, body fluids and other sources of contamination. For this reason, the collection, handling and reuse of hospital linen should follow an appropriate process designed to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Hospital laundry procedures involve more than simply washing garments, bed sheets or towels. An effective workflow should control the entire process, from collecting linen at the point of use and sorting soiled items to transportation, washing, drying, finishing, quality inspection, storage and distribution back to hospital departments.
The Role of Hospital Laundry Procedures
Reusable healthcare textiles may include patient garments, healthcare worker uniforms, bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, operating room linen and other textile items. If soiled linen is not collected and handled properly, the process of transportation or laundering may increase the risk of spreading contaminants and causing cross-contamination between soiled textiles, the environment, staff and clean linen.
Hospital laundry procedures should therefore be organised around the principle of controlling linen movement and limiting contact between soiled and clean areas.
Hospital Linen Classification
Sorting is one of the first and most important stages of hospital laundry operations. Proper classification helps determine suitable handling methods, washing programs and protective measures for different types of textiles.
Used and Soiled Linen
This group includes textiles that have been used during patient care, treatment or daily hospital operations. Depending on their condition, textiles may be classified according to the level of soiling, the type of contamination and specific processing requirements.
This category may include:
- Patient garments.
- Uniforms worn by doctors, nurses and healthcare workers.
- Bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets and other patient linen.
- Face towels, bath towels and other healthcare textiles.
- Operating room linen and specialised textiles.
Linen Contaminated with Blood or Body Fluids
Textiles contaminated with blood, body fluids or other potentially high-risk substances should be identified and handled according to the procedures established by the healthcare facility. Sorting linen at the point of use can help minimise unnecessary handling and reduce staff exposure.
Soiled linen should not be shaken unnecessarily, as this may spread contaminants into the surrounding environment.
Clean Linen
After processing, clean linen should be kept separate from soiled textiles. Clean linen areas should be maintained in a clean and dry condition and protected from dust, moisture and other potential sources of recontamination.
Collection and Transportation of Soiled Linen
Soiled linen should be collected at the point of use and placed into suitable bags or designated containers. Containers should be closed or otherwise controlled appropriately during transportation to help prevent leakage and the spread of contaminants.
Personnel involved in collecting and handling soiled linen should follow hand hygiene requirements and use appropriate personal protective equipment according to the level of risk.
The transportation of soiled linen should be organised through an appropriate workflow that limits unnecessary contact with clean linen. Carts, containers and equipment used for soiled textiles should also be cleaned and managed according to the procedures of the healthcare facility.
Separation Between Soiled and Clean Areas
One of the most important principles in the design and operation of a hospital laundry is the separation of soiled and clean areas.
The soiled area is used for receiving, sorting and preparing linen before washing. The clean area is used for handling processed textiles after washing, including drying, finishing, folding, packaging, storage and preparation for distribution.
The workflow should generally move in one direction, from the receiving area for soiled linen toward the clean side, in order to reduce the possibility of processed textiles returning to contaminated areas.
Proper facility layout, movement routes, storage areas and equipment positioning all contribute to efficient hospital laundry operations.
Hospital Linen Washing Process
The same washing program should not necessarily be used for every type of healthcare textile. Washing procedures should be selected according to fabric characteristics, the level of soiling, processing requirements and the instructions provided for the equipment and laundry chemicals.
1. Receiving and Sorting
Linen is received in the soiled area and classified according to the characteristics relevant to the processing workflow. Foreign objects that could present a risk to employees or affect laundry equipment should be identified and removed through appropriate procedures.
2. Loading the Washing Machine
After sorting, linen should be loaded according to the designed capacity of the washing machine. Overloading may reduce mechanical action and affect the interaction between water, laundry chemicals and textiles.
Important factors in the laundering process include time, temperature, mechanical action, water quality, laundry chemicals and the level of soiling.
3. Washing and Processing
Washing procedures should be established according to different linen categories. For textiles requiring infection-control measures, processing parameters should follow the healthcare facility's procedures, applicable professional requirements and the instructions provided by equipment and chemical manufacturers.
Controlling the washing program, temperature, processing time and chemical dosage helps maintain consistent results while reducing unnecessary damage to textile fibres.
Drying and Linen Finishing
After washing, textiles should be transferred to the drying and finishing process on the clean side of the laundry operation. Linen should be dried appropriately before proceeding to folding, ironing or packaging.
Depending on the type of textile, the process may include:
- Drying healthcare textiles.
- Ironing or finishing linen.
- Folding and sorting according to intended use.
- Packaging before transportation or distribution.
During the finishing process, clean linen should be protected from contact with floors, contaminated surfaces or areas that may cause recontamination.
Quality Inspection After Processing
Processed linen should be inspected before being returned to service. Inspection may include cleanliness, remaining stains, odours, textile condition and physical damage.
Items that do not meet the required condition should be reprocessed or removed from service according to their actual condition.
Quality inspection can help identify problems related to washing programs, equipment, laundry chemicals or operational procedures.
Storage and Distribution of Clean Linen
After finishing, clean linen should be stored in a clean and dry area and protected from dust, dirt and other potential sources of contamination.
When clean textiles are transported to hospital departments, suitable transport methods should be used to maintain their hygienic condition. Carts and equipment used for clean linen should be controlled and cleaned regularly.
An organised distribution system helps hospital departments maintain an adequate linen supply while supporting control of linen in use, linen being processed and available inventory.
Requirements for Hospital Laundry Personnel
Laundry personnel should receive guidance on textile handling procedures, the distinction between soiled and clean areas, the use of personal protective equipment and appropriate hand hygiene practices.
Operational procedures should also provide clear guidance for handling situations such as heavily soiled textiles, foreign objects, leakage incidents or other special processing requirements.
Equipment Used in Hospital Laundry Operations
Depending on the scale and operational requirements of the healthcare facility, a hospital laundry system may include equipment for different stages of linen processing.
- Industrial washing machines or healthcare washing machines.
- Barrier washer-extractors designed to support separation between the soiled and clean sides.
- Industrial laundry dryers.
- Ironing and linen finishing equipment.
- Linen carts and transportation equipment.
- Laundry chemical dosing systems.
Equipment selection should be considered according to laundry volume, textile types, operational workflow, available space and the specific requirements of the healthcare facility.
Hospital Laundry Procedures and Infection Control
Effective hospital laundry operations depend not only on equipment but also on the entire workflow. From the moment linen is collected until it is returned for use, every stage should be controlled to help reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Sorting linen at the point of use, organising appropriate transportation routes, separating soiled and clean areas, selecting suitable washing procedures, drying textiles properly, inspecting quality and storing clean linen correctly are all important elements of hospital laundry procedures.
A well-organised workflow can help maintain linen quality, support infection-control practices and contribute to the continuous operation of hospital departments.
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