While ensuring a sterile environment is always a priority for on-premises laundries, maintaining effective laundry cycle management is essential to eliminating the risk of cross contamination and preventing the spread of infection. Mick Christian, training & demonstration manager for Electrolux Professional UK & Ireland, outlines best practice for care home laundries and outlines how new technologies can help laundry managers enhance both hygiene and productivity
It is safe to say that an on-premises laundry (OPL) forms a critical component of any care home's facilities management strategy. Both residents and staff alike require a steady stream of clean linen every day. From bed clothes and gowns to staff uniforms and PPE, total hygiene control is paramount.
The reality, however, is that these items represent just a fraction of any given care home's laundry load each day. Without effective separation and hygiene control, the cross contamination of different laundry items could prove to be a catalyst for the spread of disease and bacteria. In turn, this could then compromise the health and safety of staff, visitors, and other residents — many of whom may already be classed as vulnerable.
Taking these considerations into account, the scale of the challenge faced by care home laundry managers is clear. With hundreds, if not thousands, of items collected, washed and returned each day, ensuring consistent and stringent hygiene standards is — excuse the pun — a never-ending cycle.
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