Gillmans: How can you reduce cross contamination through laundry in care homes by following the HTM 01-04 guidelines?

What are the HTM 01-04 guidelines?

HTM 01-04 (Health Technical Memorandum 01-04) is official guidance from the UK Department of Health that outlines best practices for the decontamination of linen in health and social care settings. Its purpose is to help ensure that laundry processes in care environments are safe, effective, and compliant with infection prevention standards. It covers everything from equipment requirements and validation to thermal and chemical disinfection methods, helping care homes protect residents and staff from healthcare-associated infections.

To minimise the risk of infection spreading through laundry and daily operations the guidance recommends:

• Segregate laundry: Keep clean and soiled linen separate at all times.
• Use water-soluble bags: Especially for infected or soiled items.
• Train staff: Ensure all team members understand infection control procedures.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly service washing machines and disinfectant dosing systems.
• Implement clear workflows: Designate clean and dirty zones in laundry areas.
• Use appropriate wash cycles for disinfection:
  • Thermal disinfection: Uses high temperatures (e.g., 71°C for 3 minutes) to kill pathogens.
  • Chemical disinfection: Uses approved disinfectants at lower temperatures, ideal for delicate fabrics.

By following HTM 01-04 and adopting robust hygiene practices, care homes can significantly reduce infection risks and protect residents and staff alike.

Both methods require proper equipment and adherence to protocols to ensure effectiveness and compliance.

At Gillman’s we have training materials available to help you design your laundry room to meet best practice, and train your staff. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and let us know how we can help. We can supply detergents and de-stainers that can support chemical disinfection. We can also supply repair and maintenance services to ensure the equipment is maintained in accordance with the guidelines.