When people think of healthcare, their minds often jump to doctors, nurses, and high-tech equipment—but behind the scenes, another critical element plays a key role in maintaining safety and hygiene: healthcare laundry services. From patient gowns to bed linens, towels to surgical scrubs, these services are essential to creating a clean and safe environment for patients and staff alike.

Yet despite their importance, healthcare laundry services are often misunderstood. Misconceptions about cost, cleanliness, and necessity can lead facilities to make decisions that compromise both efficiency and safety. In this post, we’re tackling five of the most common myths head-on—so you can make informed choices backed by industry standards and real-world experience.

Myth #1: “All laundry services are the same.”

On the surface, laundry might seem like a basic utility—load, wash, fold, repeat. But when it comes to healthcare, the standards are far higher. One of the biggest misconceptions is that any method of laundry, whether commercial or on-premises, can handle medical linens. In reality, healthcare laundry services require specialized knowledge, procedures, and certifications that go far beyond general laundering.

Professional healthcare laundry providers like MedClean follow strict protocols designed to prevent cross-contamination, ensure hygienic cleanliness, and protect both patients and healthcare staff. This includes:

• Adhering to HLAC (Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council) standards for handling, processing, and delivering medical textiles.
• Implementing a documented Hygienically Clean process with verification through microbial testing.
• Maintaining separation of clean and soiled items throughout the process.
• Using dedicated equipment, temperature controls, and validated wash formulas proven to eliminate pathogens.

Choosing a provider without these healthcare-specific qualifications can put your facility at risk—both in terms of compliance and patient safety. Not all laundry is created equal, and when it comes to healthcare laundry services, that distinction matters more than ever.

Myth #2: “In‑house laundering is more cost‑effective.”

At first glance, handling laundry on-site may seem frugal. But many healthcare facilities underestimate the true cost—and risk—of in-house laundering. From energy consumption and labor to maintenance, repairs, and compliance oversight, the expenses quickly add up.

Example: In 2023, Cameron Memorial Community Hospital in Angola, Indiana, fully outsourced its laundry services and saved approximately $38,000 by eliminating equipment costs, reducing utility usage, and shifting linen purchasing to a local commercial laundry.

Professional healthcare laundry services like MedClean streamline this complex process. By outsourcing, facilities can take the following actions:

• Eliminate the need to purchase and maintain commercial-grade washers, dryers, and water systems.
• Reduce staffing costs and allow internal teams to focus on patient care.
• Avoid regulatory pitfalls and maintain compliance with HLAC, OSHA, and CDC guidelines.
• Gain access to consistent inventory levels and reliable delivery schedules.

More importantly, these services offer peace of mind. Although in-house teams may struggle with space constraints, limited resources, or inconsistent training, MedClean provides validated processes backed by accreditation and decades of industry experience.

When factoring in measurable savings—like Cameron’s $38,000 annual reduction—along with risk mitigation and operational efficiency, outsourcing isn’t just efficient—it’s smart healthcare management.

Myth #3: “Reusable linens are less hygienic than disposables.”

This is one of the most persistent misconceptions in healthcare. Disposables can create a perception of safety, but when reusable linens are laundered properly by accredited providers, they meet—if not exceed—the same hygienic standards, while also offering environmental and economic benefits.

HLAC-accredited healthcare laundry services like MedClean adhere to stringent protocols:

• They are handled separately from soiled items and washed with thermal and chemical disinfection.
• They undergo regular microbial testing and validated process controls.
• They use chain-of‑custody tracking to prevent cross-contamination.

According to the Textile Rental Services Association’s (TRSA’s) life cycle analysis of isolation gowns, reusable gowns processed by accredited laundries produced 30% fewer greenhouse gas emissions and 28% lower total energy consumption compared to disposable alternatives.

TRSA Reusable vs Disposable Textiles LCA – Isolation Gowns

In addition to environmental gains, these reusable linens continue to uphold top-tier hygiene standards, making certified healthcare laundry services like MedClean both sustainable and safe.

Myth #4: “Laundry doesn’t impact patient safety.”

It’s easy to overlook linen as a safety concern—but contaminated or improperly handled textiles can contribute to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The CDC states that linens, such as bed linens and towels, can harbor high loads of pathogens when not processed according to protocol.

CDC—Laundry & Bedding in Health‑Care Facilities

Professional healthcare laundry services mitigate this risk through:

• Validated disinfection processes combining thermal and chemical treatment
• Strict handling procedures ensuring soiled items never contact clean linens
• Ongoing microbial testing to confirm hygienic outcomes
• Controlled delivery and storage practices to prevent recontamination

Healthcare laundry is more than a cleaning task—it’s a frontline defense against infection. As noted by the Encompass Group, pathogens from improperly handled linens have been linked to the spread of MRSA, Clostridioides difficile, and other harmful organisms. In their words, “Textiles that are not adequately cleaned, disinfected, or protected from recontamination can contribute to sepsis and other serious health issues.” The article linked below underscores the importance of working with accredited providers who are trained in infection prevention and who adhere to clear, validated protocols for washing, handling, and delivering medical linens.

Efforts to Prevent Sepsis—Encompass Group

At MedClean, we understand that patient safety starts with the basics—including safe, hygienically clean linens. That’s why our HLAC-accredited healthcare laundry services follow strict infection control standards every step of the way.

Myth #5: “It’s just about clean sheets and scrubs.”

When people think about healthcare laundry services, they often picture bed linens and staff uniforms. But professional medical laundering goes far beyond that. It plays a vital role across nearly every department in a healthcare facility—from patient care to environmental services and surgical operations.

In addition to bed sheets and employee uniforms, MedClean’s healthcare laundry services include a wide range of critical items, such as:

• Isolation and surgical gowns
• Patient gowns and blankets
• Under pads and bath towels
• Mopheads and cleaning cloths
• Floor mats and cushion station mats
• Restroom paper towels and odor control products

Every one of these products must meet stringent hygiene standards—and that’s only possible through structured processes, ongoing quality control, and full compliance with HLAC guidelines. Simply put, healthcare laundry services are an extension of your infection prevention strategy.

At MedClean, we take pride in offering more than clean linens—we provide reliable support that helps healthcare teams do what they do best: deliver exceptional care.

Misconceptions about healthcare laundry services can lead to costly mistakes, but the truth is clear: professional, accredited laundering is essential to patient safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. At MedClean, we don’t just wash linens—we protect your reputation, your staff, and your patients with every delivery.

Let’s talk about how MedClean can support your facility with reliable, HLAC-accredited healthcare laundry services. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or request a quote.

Sources:

• Infection Control Today. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/partnering-for-savings-cameron-memorial-community-hospital-s-outsourced-laundry-success
• TRSA, “Reusable vs Disposable Textiles LCA—Isolation Gowns.” https://www.trsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Reusables-Issue-Brief.pdf
• Encompass Group, “Efforts to Prevent Sepsis.” https://www.encompassgroup.com/blog/efforts-to-prevent-sepsis