If you are taking clothing home from a hospital or care home to wash, the risk of infection to you and your family is low. Following this advice will help you handle and wash the clothing safely.

Before you take clothing home

Staff will place the clothing in a securely tied plastic bag to prevent any leaks. You may wish to put this inside another clean plastic bag for carrying home.

Do not carry the clothing in a bag containing other items such as food.

In some situations, staff may give you additional advice, for example if the person has an infection that requires special precautions.

When you get home

Wash the clothing as soon as possible after arriving home.

Step 1: Prepare the laundry

Wash the clothing separately from your usual household laundry.

If the items are in a laundry bag with a dissolvable strip

• Put the entire bag directly into the washing machine.
• The bag is designed to open during the wash cycle.
• Remove any remaining bag material at the end of the wash and dispose of it in your household bin.

If the items are in a standard plastic bag

• Remove the clothing and place it directly into the washing machine if possible.
• Avoid sorting the clothing unnecessarily.
• If you need to sort items, wear rubber gloves.
• Wash your gloves and your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water afterwards.

Handling dirty clothing safely

• Hold clothing away from your body.
• Do not shake clothing, as this can spread germs into the air.
• Check the care label before washing.
• Avoid rinsing dirty clothing by hand where possible.

If you need to rinse clothing by hand:

• Wear rubber gloves.
• Keep items fully underwater to prevent splashing.
• Carefully dispose of the used water down a drain.
• Clean the sink afterwards using your normal household cleaner.

Step 2: Wash the clothing

• Follow the washing instructions on the clothing labels.
• Wash at the highest temperature recommended for the fabric.
• Use your usual washing powder or detergent.
• Avoid overloading the washing machine.

After loading the washing machine:

• Throw away the plastic bag used to transport the clothing.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• Clean surfaces around the washing machine, including worktops and the machine door, using your normal household cleaner.

Step 3: Dry the clothing

If possible, tumble-dry the clothing following the care instructions on the label.

If tumble drying is not suitable, dry the items in your usual way, such as on a washing line or clothes horse.

Step 4: Iron and store the clothing

If appropriate for the fabric, iron the clothing according to the care instructions, ideally using a steam iron.

Store cleaned items in a clean, dry place until they are needed again. When returning clothing to a hospital or care home, carry it in a clean bag.

Top tips

• Always wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling dirty clothing and before handling clean clothing.
• Make sure your washing machine and tumble dryer are working properly.
• Clean the tumble dryer filter regularly.
• Use the correct amount of detergent recommended by the manufacturer.

When to ask for advice

Speak to ward or care home staff if:

• You need extra advice about washing clothing safely.
• The person has an infection and staff have provided additional instructions.
• You are unsure whether clothing should be taken home for washing. In rare cases, the hospital or care home laundry service may be recommended instead.