LAUNDRY


Rethinking laundry: why domestic washing machines do not make the grade


While the familiarity of domestic washing machines might seem attractive to care home operators, research has shown that such machines consistently fail to disinfect laundry to the required standard, as De Montfort University’s Professor Katie Laird explains


In care homes, where resident health and dignity are paramount, infection prevention is a daily priority. Most protocols are tightly controlled and evidence-informed, from medication handling to hand hygiene. However, there is a key area that could be quietly undermining these efforts: the use of domestic washing machines for providing laundry management in care homes. A study of over 1,000 care homes across the UK has demonstrated that the use of both domestic machines and launderettes is still common practice by some care homes (De Montfort University questionnaire funded by the Textile Services Association). New research bymyself and the team at De


Montfort University (PLOS ONE by Cayrou et al (2025) highlights the risks posed by standard


household washing machines. While these machines may seem familiar and cost-effective, research shows they consistently do not disinfect laundry to the standard required. The implications of this for care homes are significant, and the case for switching to commercial-grade or outsourced laundry solutions is now stronger than ever. Domestic washing machines are not designed


with infection control in mind. They are built for energy efficiency, convenience, and gentleness attributes that serve private households well but fall short in care home living settings which often house vulnerable people. We tested six commonly used domestic washing machine models and found that nearly half failed to meet the minimum disinfection standard when running a 60°C wash; the temperature often not meeting the standard


Figure 1: Log10


reduction of E. faecium bioindicators following domestic laundering using a 60°C full-length or rapid wash cycle (n=4), (Cayrou et al. 2005). THE CARE HOME INDUSTRY HANDBOOK 2026 27


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