Key Factors in Commercial Laundry Service for Healthcare and Medical Facilities
Laundry services for healthcare facilities and medical clinics have different requirements, standards, and considerations than standard commercial laundry. Washing medical laundry is much more involved than other types of linen and laundry service, and for good reason. Let’s take a look at some of the important distinctions between commercial healthcare laundry services and other laundry needs, some of the requirements and regulations in place, and why partnering with an expert provider is a choice made by many healthcare providers.
Unique challenges of medical laundry
Healthcare facilities and medical facilities need to be cleaned and maintained to the highest standard for a number of reasons. While hard surfaces like floors and counters are fairly easy to clean and disinfect, soft surfaces, including medical linens and laundry, require specialized care.
Infection control
Patient rooms, waiting rooms, exam rooms, and all other shared spaces in healthcare facilities are places where cross-contamination can occur. If not properly cleaned and maintained, these spaces can lead to the spread of disease and infection. Preventing the spread of diseases requires that all surfaces, hard and soft, are thoroughly cleaned to remove germs and bacteria. Commercial laundry services from MasterCorp utilize higher temperature washers, helping to disinfect and remove germs and blood-borne pathogens. The results are cleaner and more hygienic fabrics and linens.
Allergen control
Allergens can also be a concern in medical facilities, especially when treating seniors or vulnerable populations. Commercial healthcare laundry services need to take common allergens into consideration and remove them through a thorough wash process and handling. This protects patients and staff alike.
Environmental factors
Healthcare cleaning, including laundry services, avoids the creation of aromas or fumes that can negatively impact patient health. Harsh chemicals and odors may affect patients and staff with sensitivities or certain health conditions and will cause air quality in medical facilities to diminish. Additionally, using environmentally friendly chemicals and reducing energy usage wherever possible are critical environmental factors to keep in mind for healthcare cleaning needs.
Service schedule
Because hospitals, some clinics, and other medical facilities operate 24/7, they require reliable commercial laundry service that ensures they have the materials they need in the condition they need them at all times.
Commercial service process for medical laundry
The steps for washing medical laundry in a commercial setting are similar to other commercial laundry processes, but they are more involved.
Step 1 – Transportation and handling
Contaminated medical linens and laundry need to be handled with minimal agitation to reduce the risk of spreading germs, bacteria, or diseases. Additionally, laundry needs to be secured in leak-resistant bags to prevent the spread of hazardous materials.
Step 2 – Sorting
Separating good linens from those that require disposal is a key step. Damaged linens or those that are too contaminated for proper cleaning need to be removed from the process to avoid damaging other reusable items.
Step 3 – Expert-guided wash cycles
MasterCorp’s commercial laundry process utilizes specialized equipment and specific detergents, disinfectants, and other chemicals needed to ensure safety and sanitization. Higher water temperatures help kill bacteria and microorganisms that may be present in medical linens. Disinfectants are also used to ensure that laundry is sanitized. Agitation cycles and the length of the wash cycle are determined by the needs of the laundry, and final treatments include chemicals to help rebalance pH levels and prevent any skin irritation from residual detergents.
Step 4 – Finishing and folding
Once clean and dry, healthcare laundry is folded or stored in the appropriate manner to prevent wear and tear, reducing replacement costs and extending its life. It is also organized for easier storage and retrieval when needed.
Medical laundry and your healthcare cleaning needs
Healthcare cleaning services, like those offered by MasterCorp, prioritize patient safety. The healthcare environment is unique, and maintaining a clean medical office to the highest standard possible requires a professional clean that staff members may not have the time or experience to provide.
Our team strives to provide top-tier commercial cleaning services that protect healthcare workers and patients alike. That means cleaning and sanitizing patient rooms, waiting rooms, and all spaces within your medical facilities to keep your patients and staff safe. To learn more about what healthcare cleaning services we can provide to your medical offices, reach out to our team today.