Correct laundry procedures are absolutely crucial for infection control in aged care facilities. Ensuring that your facility meets and upholds laundry hygiene standards is essential for the health of residents, staff and visitors. Proper handling of laundry also gives the residents’ families confidence that their loved one is being well looked after.
Laundry is a Key Service in Aged Care
Providing laundry services is one of the many daily living activities required to perform for residents. Laundry in an aged care setting may include bedsheets and blankets, towels, personal clothing and staff uniforms. Residential aged care, like other types of communal living, increases the likelihood of contact between people, and consequently, the risk of spreading infection-causing microorganisms.
Laundry and linen can carry traces of influenza, gastroenteritis or other harmful viruses. As we age, our immune systems weaken. Aged care residents, many of whom live with pre-existing illnesses, are particularly vulnerable to infection. This is why properly washing laundry is so important and a key component of a greater infection prevention and control strategy.
Laundry Standards in Aged Care
In Australia, there are official regulations in place detailing the proper handling of linen and laundry. While there may be some variations, public healthcare operated laundry and linen services’ policies must line up with AS/NZS 4146 Regulations.
Laundry infection control relates to the following Aged Care Quality Standards:
However, each aged care facility will have its own policies on the proper handling of linen and laundry in addition to these standards.
Benefits of Ozone Technology for Aged Care
Ozone laundry systems, like the OTEK System from Ozone Technologies, use electricity and oxygen to create ozone which is dissolved in cold wash water. Ozone is oxygen (O2) with an extra atom attached (O3).
Ozone-enhanced cold water permeates the items being washed in such a way that it removes dirt, germs, mould and smells much more effectively than regular wash water, without having to use hot water or nearly as many chemicals. In addition to effectively disinfecting linen, ozone laundry systems offer the following 5 key benefits:
- No Capital Outlay – OTEK units quickly pay for themselves and more through the savings they provide. Ozone laundry systems provide a proven return on investment from the savings in utility costs alone.
- 100% Green – Ozone laundry systems disinfect linens without the need for harsh chemicals. Ozone is faster at destroying bacteria and sterilising fabrics and, because ozone reverts to pure oxygen after use, there are no chemical residues left on linens.
- Saves Water – Ozone laundry systems eliminate many of the steps in a typical wash cycle, resulting in water savings of up to 40%.
- Saves Energy – Using cold water, ozone achieves the same disinfection as hot water. This allows for significant reductions in electricity and gas consumption, with energy savings of up to 90%.
- Less Drying Time – Ozone laundry systems also reduce dryer gas usage by up to 40% as ozone lowers water retention in linen, shortening a typical 45 to 55 minute dryer cycle to 25 to 35 minutes.
With ozone technology, you can reduce costs while maintaining a level of cleanliness that meets and exceeds laundry standards in aged care, thus keeping residents safe.
Find Out More About Ozone Aged Care Laundry Systems
Book a free demonstration today or contact us to get more information about how Ozone Technologies’ patented OTEK System can help reduce your aged care facility’s laundry costs by boosting the performance of your washing machines and chemicals.
