A linen service may be utilised by some residential aged care facilities if there is no laundry service available on-site or the laundry facilities are not big enough for the demand. It is vital that employees who handle dirty and clean linen maintain best practice standards.

Personal Hygiene

All employees must maintain a high standard of personal hygiene 

Wear a clean uniform every day

Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for each laundry duty 

Regard All Soiled Linen As Infectious

Employees handling soiled linen must wear appropriate PPE, including gloves and long-sleeved, impervious gowns

Place soiled linen in bags that can be stored and collected in a way that avoids infection spreading 

Heavily soiled linen (with blood or other bodily substances) must be contained in a suitable impermeable alginate bag

In the laundry area, soiled linen should be separated by a physical barrier or be at least two meters away from clean linen

Maintain a clean-to-dirty flow of linen at all times

Personal Washing

Use domestic-type washing machines for residents' items

Only one resident's clothing is washed at one time if hot water is not available 

Use of an appropriate detergent and hot water

Use chemical disinfection if hot water is not available

Linen Transport

Use separate, labelled trolleys for clean and dirty linen transport

Clean linen transport trolleys daily with a neutral detergent

Clean Linen 

There must be an adequate level of quality linen stock available at the residential aged care facility

Maintain a clean-to-dirty flow of linen 

Linen must be handled and stored in such a way as to prevent contamination by moisture, dust, vermin, surface contacts, and airborne deposits

Rotate clean linen stocks on a first-in, first-out basis 

Quality Control

Clean linen storage shelves on a regular rotating basis

Linen storage rooms must be kept clean and dust-free at all times

Ongoing quality activities, such as an equipment maintenance programme, should be in place to monitor equipment temperatures and washing cycles

A pest control program should be in place to ensure contamination of linen from pests and rodents does not occur

Undertake regular inspections/audits to ensure standards are maintained