When was the last time you thought about hospital laundry? Probably never. Yet while patients recover and doctors make rounds, an entire industry has been growing in the background, and it’s worth more than most people realize.
Hospital linen services pulled in $12.22 billion last year, then jumped to $13.50 billion in 2025. That’s a 10.5% increase in twelve months, and it caught a lot of people off guard.
Here’s what’s actually happening: hospitals are getting out of the laundry business. Instead of washing their own sheets and gowns, more facilities are hiring outside companies to handle everything. It makes sense when you think about it… why tie up staff and space doing laundry when you could focus on patient care?
The trend is strong enough that experts predict this market will hit $21.73 billion by 2030, growing about 10% each year.
What’s Driving This Shift?
Hospital administrators know the reality: you can’t just focus on one thing. Patient care is the top priority, but the bills still need to get paid and inspectors still show up. Over the years, hospital laundry has gotten more complicated than it used to be. It’s not just about clean sheets anymore, it affects whether patients get infections, how much the hospital spends, and whether you pass your next compliance review.
More hospitals are realizing they don’t have to handle this themselves. Companies that specialize in medical laundry understand what hospitals need. They’ve designed their operations specifically for healthcare facilities, and they can usually do it more consistently than a hospital’s own laundry department.
Infection Control and Compliance
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a serious threat to patient safety and financial stability. According to CDC estimates, nearly 1 in 31 hospital patients will contract an HAI. That statistic has made linen processing a very important part of any infection prevention plan.
The best medical laundry providers use validated processes that meet or exceed OSHA, CDC, and JCAHO guidelines. High-temperature wash cycles, antimicrobial treatment options, and separate wash streams for patient-facing textiles are now standard practice among top-tier providers. Certification through the TRSA’s Hygienically Clean Healthcare program offers another layer of assurance.
Unitex has designed its plants specifically for medical and assisted living linen. Every plant processes only healthcare-related textiles. There is no crossover with hospitality or spa linens. The staff receives infection-control training, and all procedures follow protocols designed for healthcare environments.
Cost Management Without Compromise
Running an in-house laundry facility costs more than most healthcare administrators expect. Equipment purchases, floor space, utility costs, chemical handling, and maintenance expenses add up quickly. Labor shortages and regulatory compliance only make the job harder.
Partnering with a professional healthcare linen laundry service shifts that burden. Facilities reduce capital investment, control labor costs, and convert unpredictable laundry expenses into predictable monthly rates. That’s why more administrators view laundry outsourcing as a cost-saving strategy, not a luxury.
Unitex helps clients move away from reactive spending. Through multi-year contracts and consistent per-pound billing, facilities can better forecast budgets while eliminating the headaches of running a laundry operation in-house.
Choose Unitex! Family-Owned Values Meet Scalable Infrastructure
In an industry filled with mergers and consolidation, healthcare facilities benefit from working with partners that prioritize service over shareholders. Unitex remains a family-owned business with over 100 years of healthcare experience. That long-term focus translates into better communication, more responsive service, and partnerships that last.
With multiple linen processing facilities across the region, Unitex ensures service consistency even when individual locations experience emergencies or staffing challenges.
We Are Built for Medical and Assisted Living Facilities
Unitex doesn’t dabble in healthcare, it’s the company’s sole focus. Every facility, team member, and process supports the daily needs of hospitals, outpatient centers, rehabilitation facilities, and senior living communities. This specialization ensures that healthcare textiles are handled with the right training, tools, and care.
Services include:
- Bed sheets (flat and fitted)
- Pillowcases and blankets
- Terry towels and washcloths
- Gowns for patients, staff, and visitors
- Adult diapers and underpads
- Scrubs and lab coats
- Warm-up jackets
- Kitchen uniforms and food-service apparel
- Personal laundry services for assisted living residents
- Cubicle curtains and bedspreads
- Rubberized and medical floor mats
- Microfiber mops and conventional mops
- Facility-wide environmental services
- Custom embroidery and branded uniforms
Unitex also offers linen inventory management and departmental tracking, allowing clients to monitor linen usage by unit or department.
Sustainability Without Sacrificing Cleanliness
The healthcare industry is also under pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. That’s why more facilities are choosing healthcare linen service partners who can offer greener alternatives without compromising hygiene.
Unitex invests in advanced water treatment, energy-efficient machinery, and sustainable linen rotation systems. These practices reduce water usage, energy consumption, and textile waste while maintaining the infection control standards required in clinical settings.
Reusable textile programs also help reduce the environmental cost of disposable products. When used properly, reusable isolation gowns, underpads, and surgical drapes can significantly lower medical waste volume while saving money over time.
Regional Leadership Backed by Infrastructure
North America represents more than 41% of the global hospital linen market. That leadership position rests on the shoulders of established regional players who deliver reliable service day after day.
By keeping production local, Unitex reduces transportation delays, lowers carbon emissions, and ensures clients receive responsive service with familiar faces. Each account team works directly with client administrators, learning the facility’s schedule, preferences, and priorities.
This continuity builds trust and eliminates the frustration that comes with constantly shifting service contacts or inconsistent delivery times.
Want to see how Unitex’s medical linen programs can support your facility?
Outsourcing medical linen is no longer just a supply chain decision. It’s a strategic move that affects infection rates, regulatory compliance, staff productivity, and patient satisfaction. Administrators who embrace specialized providers gain more control—not less—because they unlock data, transparency, and consistent quality.
The surge to $21.7 billion in market value proves what healthcare leaders already know: linen matters. Choosing the right partner means choosing safer care, smarter spending, and a smoother operation.
Call our team or request a free consultation today to learn how we can support your business.