Winter hits hospitals hard. Patient numbers rise, beds turn over faster, and the risk of infection increases with every load of laundry. Hospital-acquired infections, or HAIs, are illnesses patients contract during their stay rather than those they arrive with. Contaminated linens are one of the key ways these infections can spread from one patient to another.
When hospitals across the Northeast, including facilities in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and surrounding states face their busiest months, clean linens become more than a standard. They become critical protection.
Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services has built a quality assurance process around eight specific checkpoints designed to catch contamination before reaching a patient’s bed. Our system handles the same volume and maintains the same standards whether it’s a quiet Tuesday or the peak of flu season.
1. Controlled Sorting and Handling
Every item starts its journey in a controlled environment. Trained technicians carefully sort soiled linens by type and level of contamination, preventing contact between isolation items and standard-use linens.
Our staff wear the proper protective gear at all times and rely on touch-free systems where possible. These precautions reduce the spread of bacteria before the wash cycle even begins.
2. Automated Wash Formulas and Verified Water Temperatures
Each wash cycle at Unitex follows a validated formula. Our automated systems control every variable, including water temperature, time, and chemical concentration. We maintain water temperatures above 160 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 25 minutes to meet CDC and HLAC disinfection standards.
Every load is digitally monitored to confirm it reaches the required levels for thermal and chemical sanitation.
3. Precision Chemical Dosing
Accuracy in chemical use is vital to both safety and fabric care. Our automated injection systems measure each cleaning solution with precision. The right balance ensures complete disinfection while protecting fabric durability.
We use hospital-grade products that target healthcare-associated pathogens. These formulas are regularly reviewed and tested with the help of trusted suppliers who stay current with new microbial challenges.
4. Separation of Clean and Soiled Zones
The design of each Unitex facility supports infection control from the ground up. Physical barriers fully separate clean and soiled areas. Air pressure controls and one-way workflow prevent the possibility of cross-contamination.
Clean linens move only in one direction through the process, from wash to packaging. This layout reflects the same attention to hygiene that healthcare facilities apply to their own patient areas.
5. Continuous Quality Assurance Testing
Quality assurance at Unitex is constant, not occasional. Our team performs daily cleanliness checks using surface and microbial testing methods. These evaluations confirm that every load meets hygiene requirements before leaving the facility. Independent third-party laboratories also conduct regular audits.
To maintain our HLAC accreditation and TRSA Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification, we must pass quarterly microbial testing that verifies our processes consistently produce hygienically clean textiles. These external tests verify that our internal processes remain reliable through every season, including the colder months when indoor microbial activity tends to increase.
6. Advanced Drying and Finishing Systems
Drying does more than get rid of moisture. The heat kills anything that survived the wash. Our dryers run at controlled high temperatures that finish the sanitization process without turning linens into sandpaper. Patients need clean sheets that still feel comfortable.
After drying, linens go straight into automated folding and finishing. The less people touch them at this stage, the better. Machines fold and prep each item for packaging without adding contamination back into the mix. By the time linens leave our facility, they’ve been handled carefully at every step.
7. Individually Packaged and Sealed Linens
Every patient gown, towel, and sheet is packaged and sealed immediately after cleaning. This step maintains cleanliness during transport and storage. During the winter months, when viruses like influenza and RSV are more active, sealed packaging provides an added layer of assurance for both staff and patients.
Seeing that every item arrives clean and securely packaged builds visible confidence in your facility’s infection control efforts.
8. Staff Training and Ongoing Audits
Training at Unitex isn’t a one-and-done deal. Yes, new hires learn the basics during orientation, but everyone goes through regular refresher sessions on hygiene, safety, and handling procedures. Healthcare laundry has different rules than commercial work, and our staff needs to know those differences cold.
We base our training on OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and the CDC’s infection control guidelines. Our facilities are HLAC accredited and Hygienically Clean Healthcare certified by TRSA. Independent inspectors verify we meet these standards through regular audits.
Audits take place every day, whether through walk-through inspections, process checks, or equipment reviews. Each shift and every facility operates under the same strict standards. If an audit reveals an issue, we address it immediately rather than waiting for the next reporting cycle.
The rules change and then the CDC releases new guidance. The Joint Commission updates requirements. A new superbug makes headlines. When any of this happens, management sits down, figures out what needs to change, and gets it done. Our hospital clients can’t afford to work with a laundry service that’s six months behind on compliance.
Why These QA Steps Matter More in Winter
Winter’s higher infection rates amplify the need for consistency. Hospitals experience more frequent bed turnovers, heavier linen use, and increased exposure to contagious illnesses. Even minor lapses in laundering can raise the risk of HAIs such as MRSA, C. difficile, or norovirus.
By maintaining strict quality control at every point, from pickup to delivery, Unitex helps healthcare providers uphold infection prevention programs without interruption. Our clients rely on us to manage textile hygiene so they can focus on patient care.
Looking For A Proven Healthcare Linen Expert? Call Unitex Today!
Protecting patients starts with clean linens. Let Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services support your facility this winter with hospital linen cleaning services that exceed industry standards.
Our regional teams serve hospitals, nursing homes, and medical centers throughout the Northeast, including facilities in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and surrounding states.
Contact Unitex today to learn more about our hospital linen programs to help reduce HAIs during the winter season.