LAUNDRY LIFTING THE LOAD
Helene Jones, UK Head of Care Homes at international multi-service provider Elis, looks at the professional advantages of care homes outsourcing their laundry services.
Laundry may not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to running a successful establishment, but for care home operators it’s a critical service that impacts infection control, resident dignity, staff productivity and operational efficiency. In today’s demanding care home environments, where financial and staffing pressures continue to mount, facilities across the UK are rethinking traditional in-house laundry operations and increasingly turning to professional providers for reliable, compliant and cost-effective solutions.
THE HIDDEN COSTS OF IN-HOUSE LAUNDRY
Running an in-house laundry service is far from simple. From investment in equipment to repair and maintenance, utilities, staff wages and laundry supplies, there are a number of elements that need to be factored in. It’s a continuous process that requires consistent input, and often comes with financial and logistical challenges.
From capital outlay in equipment, to unexpected repair costs and fluctuating energy prices, many care home managers are oſten surprised by how much in-house laundry is really costing them. Machine breakdowns are a common issue and, when failures occur, they can cause significant disruption. There may be the requirement to temporarily outsource laundry services at short notice, and some care homes have no option but to use the local launderette, for which there can be a premium to pay.
Added to this are the hidden staff costs. Laundry duties take up valuable time that could be better spent delivering personal care and engagement and, when laundry becomes overly time- intensive, resident wellbeing and staff morale can suffer.
A MORE PREDICTABLE, RELIABLE ALTERNATIVE
Outsourcing laundry to a specialist provider like Elis offers an effective alternative. Elis operates on an industrial scale, serving
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care homes across the UK with tailored solutions that are fully compliant with HTM-01-04 and EN 14065 guidelines for infection prevention and bio-contamination control.
Care homes that make the switch to professional outsourced services experience a number of benefits, including: • One simple, predictable monthly cost. • No capital investment in laundry equipment or linen stock. • No responsibility for machine maintenance, repair or upgrades. • Fully compliant processes that support infection control. • •
Improved efficiency and better use of staff time.
Increased useable space through the repurposing of in-house laundry areas.
EFFICIENCY AND COMPLIANCE: BUILT-IN BENEFITS
As well as helping to ease the pressure on staff, professional laundry services also deliver more consistent results – particularly in terms of hygiene and quality. Elis facilities are purpose-built and staffed by trained laundry operatives. Each item is laundered using specialist equipment, with optimal wash temperatures and detergents designed to remove contaminants while preserving fabric integrity. Quality checks are carried out as standard, with repairs completed where possible to reduce waste and extend textile lifecycles.
“Laundry duties take up valuable time that could be better spent delivering personal care and engagement.”
For items such as towels and bedlinen, Elis’s flat linen rental service ensures that care homes always have access to a
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