When removing soiled linen you should?

This fact sheet provides recommendations for the management of linen from healthcare facilities for people suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 infection.

Table of Contents Show

General principles
Healthcare facility management of linen
Transport of linen
Laundry management of linen
Patient items
Further information
How to Clean Soiled and Dirty Linen
Step 2: Wash and disinfect
Step 3: Drying Linens
Alsco Linen Services
Disposal of Clinical Waste
Guidelines for the Safe Disposal of Sharps
Soiled Linen

General principles

The risk of disease transmission is very low if basic hygiene and common-sense storage and handling of soiled and cleaned linen is practised. Good laundry practice requires that work procedures and guidelines for precautions are followed when handling all soiled linen regardless of source:

All onsite and offsite facilities that process or launder linens for healthcare must have documented operating policies consistent with AS/NZS 4146.
All used linen should be handled with care to avoid dispersal of microorganisms into the environment and to avoid contact with staff clothing.
All linen used for a person with confirmed, probable or suspected COVID-19 infection should be managed as for heavily soiled linen.

Healthcare facility management of linen

At the point of generation, linen used for a person with confirmed, probable or suspected COVID-19 infection should be placed in an alginate bag and then into an appropriate laundry receptacle.

A long-sleeved fluid-resistant gown or apron and disposable gloves should be worn during handling of soiled linen to prevent skin and mucous membrane exposure to blood and body substances. The long-sleeved gown or apron and disposable gloves should be removed and discarded into the clinical waste repository. Hand hygiene must always be performed following the handling of used linen.

Used hospital linen must not be rinsed or sorted in patient-care areas or washed in domestic washing machines.

Transport of linen

Routine established processes for the transport of linen should be used.

Laundry management of linen

Routine processes for laundry management of linen apply. There are no additional controls required for laundry management for linen used for patients with confirmed, probable or suspected COVID-19 infection. Laundry workers should wear the personal protective equipment that is normally used as appropriate to the task being undertaken. For example, laundry workers at the sorting station should normally wear personal protective equipment such as gowns and gloves.

Patient items

Domestic-type washing machines must only be used for a patient’s personal items such as clothing (not hospital linens). Washing must involve the use of an appropriate detergent and hot water. Only loads of one individual patient’s items should be washed at one time. Clothes dryers should be used for drying.

Further information

Last updated: 8 July 2020

A business’s reputation is made on how it handles the myriad details that are a part of any service industry.

Soiled linen is any fabric that is dirtied from food, fluids from the human body, including blood, saliva and vomit, or from other items. To handle soiled linen, treat it the same way you may treat any other biohazard – with care to reduce the risk of injury or cross-contamination. First, remove any soiled linen. Ensure that your hands are covered by reusable rubber gloves to minimize contact with any fluids or other materials. Place linens in a designated, leakproof container.

How to Clean Soiled and Dirty Linen

Equipment Needed to Clean Soiled and Dirty Linen ⦁ Washer ⦁ Dryer ⦁ Rubber Gloves ⦁ Disinfectant/whitening agent – baking soda, bleach or vinegar

Life’s detritus can get stuck on or tucked into linens. Customers hide food in their napkins. Anyone can suddenly feel unwell. Children leave behind pacifiers. Really anything can be tucked inside a napkin, tablecloth or sheet. Removing these items can be an important first step to clean dirty linen, not to mention preserving the life of wash machines.

Step 2: Wash and disinfect

Once you have removed any solids, begin to make dirty linens clean. Time and temperature are important considerations but the water quality (ph or water hardness) are also important to keep in mind. In general, use hot water (158–176°F or 70–80°C) for at least 10 minutes and an approved laundry detergent. Disinfectant is not always needed if soiled linen is not heavily soiled.

To disinfect, bleach is best – its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is effective in killing bacteria, fungus and viruses – but gentler cleaners are available.

Tips and Tricks for Washing Linens ⦁ Never wash linens with other items such as kitchen towels or clothes. ⦁ Adding ¼ cup of white vinegar to the load can help eliminate odors, remove dirt. ⦁ Wash in hot water if heavily stained as described above.

Step 3: Drying Linens

Linens should be dried completely. A priority when washing and drying soiled linens is to keep their quality intact. Drying soiled linens on high heat may cause some shrink but is another step to help remove unwanted contamination.

Alsco Linen Services

A large part of Alsco is providing the restaurant and medical industries with top-quality linens. Whether it’s through our linen or laundry services, you can count on us to deliver hygienically clean, quality linens every time.

Clinical waste is produced from health and social care. Clinical waste can be either hazardous (waste that poses or may pose a risk of infection for example, pads and dressings) or non-hazardous (which is not infectious waste). Waste containers should be handled carefully to avoid contamination. Where appropriate you should use PPE to protect you from contamination and infection. It is placed in either yellow or orange plastic sacks. It should be kept separate from other waste and disposed of using specialist facilities

Disposal of Clinical Waste

Disposal of clinical waste is covered by the Environmental Protection Act (1990). Waste, including all personal protective equipment used, should be disposed of using the correct bags, as follows:

Black plastic bags – normal household waste, paper towels and double-wrapped sanitary and incontinence products (where there is no known infection)
Yellow plastic bags – waste that may contain body fluids e.g. used gloves, aprons and wound dressings (can be ordered from the Council, who will also be able to inform you of the weekly collection day. This is detailed in the Support Plan)
Brown cardboard box – aerosols and glassware
Yellow plastic sharps box – used needles (must not be discarded with normal household rubbish)

Don’t forget to wash hands after disposing of any waste

Use to answer question 15.1e of the Care Certificate

Guidelines for the Safe Disposal of Sharps

The following guidelines in relation to sharps should be followed:

They must be disposed of at the point of use into an approved container
All sharps bins should have the name of the person who assembled it and the date of assembly on the label. The same applies for the person closing the bin
Do not fill bins past the ‘full’ line marked on the bin. Sharps can fall out and cause injury
Use the temporary closure mechanism on the top of the bin when it is not being used, to prevent spillages if the bin is toppled over
Always keep bins above floor level to prevent children from reaching them
Store bins securely out of sight and reach of other people who may be present. If workers are transporting sharps by car, these should be kept in the car boot
Do not pass sharps from one hand to the other
Do not handle sharps more than is essential
Do not put protective covering back on needles
Do not bend or break needles
Do not separate needles or syringes before disposal.

Soiled Linen

Linen that comes into contact with workers or individuals can become contaminated with harmful micro-organisms and body fluids. Linen refers to anything that is made of cloth including bedding, towels and clothing. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn when handling infected linen as it can transfer pathogens to skin and clothing. All infected linen (that is linen that is contaminated with body fluids) must be washed separately to other items.

Clothing can be decontaminated in a 40°C- 50°C wash followed by tumble-drying or hot ironing
Bedding and towels should be washed in a hot wash to ensure that bacteria are killed
Laundry should be moved to the washing area in sealed, colour coded bags
When supporting an individual in their own home you should ask permission to wash infected linen immediately

Once linen has been decontaminated it must be stored separately from contaminated linen to prevent cross-contamination. You must always follow your agreed ways of working (including dignity code, essence of care and compassion). If you have any questions about these you should consult your line manager.

Use to answer question 15.1e of the Care Certificate

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