Celebrating Laundry & Linen Week: Q&A with Our Experts

This week, we celebrate National Laundry and Linen Week and the incredible dedication of laundry, sterile processing, and EVS professionals across the globe. With these teams of talented professionals, our modern standards of cleanliness and sterility in healthcare environments would simply not be possible. Although they are physically located behind the scenes, these individuals are at the forefront of patient care every single day.

At Standard Textile, we are proud to have experienced laundry and linen experts as part of our Technical Services team. Ken Kaiser (Senior Manager of Regulatory & Technical Services) along with Ben Robers (Lead, Technical Services & FDA Compliance) have decades of combined laundry and textile processing experience. They have assisted hundreds of customers with troubleshooting laundry issues, improving linen handling processes, and much more.

In celebration of this important week, we asked Ken and Ben to reflect on their journeys and experience, share insights about the importance of laundry and linen professionals, and offer advice for those shaping the future of this vital field.

 

What role do laundries play in the healthcare and hospitality industries?

“Clean textiles are required in both markets. In a hotel, fresh-smelling linens and towels are among the first things guests notice, which have a positive impact on their stay. In healthcare, laundries need to ensure items delivered to the hospital for use are hygienically clean.

Laundries also play a crucial role in effective linen management, contributing to reduced costs per use, enhanced sustainability, and improved customer satisfaction.”

 

How does Standard Textile support laundries in driving the transition to reusables?

“Standard Textile and contract laundries provide products/services to a mutual customer. It’s also common for the laundry to purchase items directly from Standard Textile. To support the drive to reusable products, it’s key to illustrate the benefits of a reusable textile program. This includes lower cost per use items, sustainable options that reduce waste, and added revenue for the laundry.

Standard Textile and a laundry partner can drive the transition to reusables by demonstrating superior products that meet the end user’s needs. In addition, the value-added services offered by Standard Textile and a laundry partner can make the transition to a reusable program seamless.”

 

Why is promoting reusables such an important part of this week?

“Promoting reusables during Laundry & Linen Week is crucial for several reasons:

Environmental Impact

• Reducing Waste: Reusable textiles significantly cut down on waste compared to disposables. This helps in minimizing the environmental footprint of healthcare and hospitality operations.
• Sustainability: Using reusables supports sustainable practices by reducing the need for constant production and disposal of single-use items.

Cost Efficiency

• Long-term Savings: Although the initial investment in reusable textiles might be higher, they offer long-term savings by reducing the frequency of purchases.
• Operational Efficiency: Reusables can streamline laundry operations, as they are designed to withstand multiple washes without compromising quality.

Health and Safety

• Enhanced Hygiene: Reusable textiles, especially in healthcare, can be sanitized more effectively than disposables, ensuring higher standards of cleanliness and safety.
• Reliability: During crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, reusable textiles proved to be more reliable in maintaining supply chains and meeting demand.”

 

What’s the most important takeaway for laundries during Laundry & Linen Week?

“Recognition and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of laundry and linen professionals.

This week highlights the vital role these teams play in maintaining cleanliness, hygiene, and comfort in healthcare and hospitality settings. In addition, it offers the opportunity to highlight the benefits of reusable textiles and encourage their wider adoption in the healthcare and hospitality industries. It not only emphasizes the importance of sustainability and waste reduction, but also provides a platform to educate customers on the cost-savings benefits of reusable textiles.

Thank you for your incredible dedication and unwavering commitment—you are true heroes.”