Infection control is a top priority in aged care settings – and with good reason. Residents are among the most vulnerable demographics and outbreaks can spread quickly, with serious consequences.
While much attention is given to hand hygiene, cleaning protocols and PPE, laundry often plays a less visible, yet equally critical, role in maintaining a safe environment. At JayChem, we work with aged care providers across Australia to improve their laundry systems for both compliance and care. Here’s why laundry processes matter so much to infection control and what facilities can do to strengthen this vital area of their operations.
Laundry is a key vector for cross-contamination
Every day, aged care laundries process linen that may carry pathogens – this linen can include everything from bedsheets and towels to resident clothing and staff uniforms. If not handled correctly, these items can transfer bacteria, viruses and fungi from one person or area to another. Key risks include:
- Inadequate separation between dirty and clean zones
- Improper handling of soiled linen
- Reusing trolleys or surfaces without disinfection
- Staff uniforms washed off-site without validation.
Wash process variables affect disinfection
Not all laundry cycles are created equal. Disinfection depends on a combination of temperature, mechanical action, chemical performance, wash time and critically, staff procedures. If any of these fall short – even slightly – the result can be incomplete pathogen removal. Common issues we see:
- Wash temperatures that don’t meet thermal disinfection thresholds
- Incorrect (unvalidated) chemical dosing
- Overloaded machines that limit mechanical action
- Poor staff procedures.
The consequence is linen that appears clean but still carries microbial risk.
Staff uniforms and PPE matter more than you think
Uniforms are in constant contact with both residents and staff, and if they’re not laundered correctly they can contribute to the spread of infection between shifts, wings or even facilities. Some sites rely on staff laundering uniforms at home, but this introduces uncontrolled variables. Home machines often don’t reach the right temperatures and there’s no way to validate detergent use or wash outcomes. Uniforms and PPE should be washed onsite or by a commercial laundry with validated processes, and tracked for compliance.
Rewash rates can signal deeper hygiene issues
High rewash rates are more than a productivity problem. They can indicate:
- Ineffective cleaning cycles
- Low-performing chemical products
- Improper load sizing
- Equipment or temperature inconsistencies.
Not only does this waste time, water and chemicals but it also raises the risk that substandard linen is being returned to use.
Digital tools improve infection control and accountability
Audit requirements for aged care facilities continue to increase, and paper-based systems are quickly becoming outdated. Digital laundry platforms like JayCloud provide aged care providers with:
- Real-time visibility of every wash cycle
- Temperature and chemical tracking
- Automated compliance reporting
- Immediate alerts for wash failures.
These tools support better decision-making and ensure hygiene standards are met, consistently and transparently.
The bottom line – laundry is central to resident safety
In aged care, infection control isn’t a single protocol – it’s a system, and laundry plays a central role in that system every single day. Poor laundry processes can undo the best hygiene efforts elsewhere in the facility. But when done well they reinforce a safe, compliant and caring environment for both residents and staff.
At JayChem, we support aged care providers with tailored solutions that combine smart chemistry, digital tracking and operational insight to protect the people who matter most. Want to review your laundry compliance or upgrade your processes? Get in touch with JayChem today.