If you’re hoping that a standard domestic washing machine will suffice in a care home environment, think again.
Not only do domestic appliances not reach the 82°C required for effective disinfection, but they also don’t comply with WRAS Category 5 for similar reasons. That’s putting aside the fact that they’re not designed for heavy use, lacking both the capacity and performance to handle continuous throughput.
Why domestic machines fall short in a care home environment
Without meaning to sound blunt, domestic washers are not suitable for care home use. Here’s why:
- Not WRAS Cat 5 compliant: That’s really all you need to know about why domestic appliances aren’t care home compatible. They lack any safeguards against backflow contamination, creating serious water safety risks.
- No effective disinfection control: Washing machines designed for casual home use do not deliver the temperatures needed for effective disinfection.
- Insufficient capacity: Since care homes require around 0.75 kg per resident per day, domestic appliances, graded for an average of 6-8 kg per load, do not have the capacity for continuous usage.
- Poor long-term durability: Domestic washers are tested for around 5,000 cycles, while commercial washers are expected to deliver 30,000, highlighting the huge performance discrepancy between the two variants.
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The fatal flaws: Why domestic machines fail in care homes
While they may have less-intensive capacity requirements than, say, hospitals or healthcare facilities, even the smallest care homes have unique laundry processing requirements. That’s why you need a commercial laundry equipment that’s designed to meet these needs, not a domestic model that’s underpowered and ill-equipped.
With that said, let’s take a closer look at the core reasons why domestic washing machines are unsuitable for care home use.
Inadequate infection control
Consider that care homes handle soiled linens contaminated with bodily fluids that may contain bacteria, viruses and other harmful pathogens. When you launder these items, you need to be confident that they’re disinfected and cleaned thoroughly, with no risk of contamination.
Domestic appliances simply can’t deliver this. They don’t reach the required temperature to guarantee disinfection, nor do they have the functionality to reduce cross-contamination.
Insufficient capacity for care home operations
Having partnered with hundreds of care facilities around the UK, we understand their day-to-day capacity requirements. It’s a fact that domestic washers simply aren’t up to the task, particularly in multi-room care homes where wash cycles are required two or more times per day.
To provide some context here, understand that the average 40-bed care home has an average laundry requirement of 30 kg per day. Since the average domestic machine is rated up to an average of 6 kg per cycle, that’s already five loads per day, an inconceivable throughput without risking delays and a drop in the delivery of quality resident care.
Durability and reliability failures
Commercial washing machines are built for continuous use; domestic appliances are not. We’ve already touched on the fact that household washers have an expected lifespan of approximately 5,000 cycles, while commercial machines are expected to perform for six times longer, delivering up to 30,000 washes.
Of course, there’s a long-term impact to all this, be it downtime as a result of faults and breakdowns, or a general drop in performance and output. You’re also looking at higher maintenance costs, since domestic models are prone to faults under heavy use.
Critical regulatory compliance failures
Of course, the domestic versus commercial washing machine debate isn’t simply a matter of efficiency, performance and features. There are legal ramifications for not using the appropriate appliances in your care home laundry suite, which could easily land you in hot water with the CQC.
Water safety regulation violations
Using a domestic washing machine could mean your care home is not WRAS Category 5 compliant. This regulation safeguards water quality by eliminating the risk of backflow contamination.
Domestic washing machines do not have the same compliance requirements as commercial units, and, thus, they’re not suitable for care home use.
Health and safety non-compliance
Beyond WRAS 5, it’s highly likely that using domestic appliances in a commercial care home environment could mean you’re non-compliant on several pieces of H&S legislation.
Both the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and the most recent PUWER regulations cite the importance of using suitable, commercial-ready equipment, so domestic appliances simply won’t be up to standard, and should be viewed as non-compliant by the CQC.
Real-world consequences: The hidden costs of domestic machines
By now, you should have a pretty strong understanding of the risks of using domestic appliances in a care home laundry environment. But, just so everyone’s on the same page, here are the key considerations in black and white:
- Risk of CQC inspection failure
- Legal liability as a result of non-compliance and environment-related issues
- Long-term reputational damage
- Higher overall energy use
- Outsourcing and staff overtime-related costs
- Drop in resident care and accommodation quality
- Risk of ill-health and virus-related outbreaks
- Frequent downtime and high maintenance-related costs
What care homes need: Commercial washer requirements
While we’ve spent much of this guide reiterating the risks and consequences of using a non-compliant appliance in your care home laundry, it’s worth discussing the capabilities and functionality that you need instead, all of which you can get from a washer that’s built for commercial use.
With that said, let’s take a comparative look at domestic versus commercial washing machines in a care home laundry, highlighting the key capabilities to look for.
Specification | Domestic machine | Commercial machine |
Thermal disinfection | Cannot achieve 82°C | Validated 82°C+ cycles |
Capacity range | 6-8kg maximum | 5.5kg to 32kg+ |
Cycle durability | ~5,000 cycles | 30,000+ cycles |
WRAS compliance | Not rated | Category 5 compliant |
Water backflow protection | None | Integrated systems |
Auto-dosing | Manual only | Automated chemical systems |
Validation/auditing | Not available | Temperature logging and records |
Service support | Consumer warranty voided | Professional maintenance contracts |
Making the switch from domestic to commercial laundry Equipments
We recognise that for some small-scale care homes, making the switch from a standard domestic laundry setup to a fully-compliant commercial-grade one might seem like a daunting process. However, provided you assess, plan, and implement the right changes, you should be able to deploy suitable equipment in an efficient, cost-effective way.
With that said, here are some top tips for making the switch to a commercial laundry setup:
- Assess your current laundry setup: Which functionality and capabilities are you missing? And what changes are required to bring your laundry up to compliant standards?
- Understand your budget: Are you able to purchase new equipment outright? Or would a serviced laundry equipment procurement contract like JLA Total Care be a better solution?
- Partner with a trusted provider: As well as professional installation, the right commercial laundry equipment provider can provide a range of servicing, maintenance, and aftercare services to help you manage your commercial laundry space.
Expert insights: JLA’s care home laundry experience
Care homes are central to the work we do here at JLA, so we’ve amassed decades of experience in understanding the needs and requirements of these unique laundry spaces.
We know, for instance, that the right commercial equipment can make a huge difference to the daily workflow of care home laundry rooms, ensuring that staff aren’t burdened by time-intensive tasks that could otherwise be automated.
We’ve also come to learn that commercial washing machines and dryers can save our customers money in the long term, with reduced maintenance and servicing costs, lower overall energy use, and predictable day-to-day operations helping to create cost- and time-saving initiatives.
Of course, the number one reason for making the switch to a commercial laundry infrastructure is infection control, which is always a key priority for our customers. This issue sits at the heart of a care home’s overall H&S and compliance standards, so the right commercial laundry equipment can help manage and maintain it.
JLA can help you protect residents with proper equipment
In the case of care homes, making the switch from domestic appliances to commercial laundry equipment isn’t simply a nice-to-have, but a must-do. The risks are simply too great where inferior domestic equipment is concerned, so you need commercial appliances that you can rely on for day-to-day efficiency, safety and performance.
If you need to upgrade your laundry space ASAP, JLA can help. Contact us today on 0808 239 7578, and we’ll get you started.
FAQs
Why can’t domestic washing machines be used in care homes?
Domestic washing machines aren’t compliant with care home laundry facilities, since they lack the infection control and water hygiene capabilities of their commercial counterparts.
What temperature do care home washing machines need to reach?
A temperature of 82°C+ is required to ensure reliable infection control during a standard laundry wash cycle.
What is WRAS Category 5 compliance, and why is it required?
WRAS Category 5 is a compliance measure used to ensure that water systems are protected from the highest risk of backflow contamination. It’s required to maintain optimal water hygiene and reduce hazardous materials in the public water supply.
How much laundry capacity does a care home need?
It’s estimated that care homes have a daily laundry capacity of around 0.75 kg per resident. So, if a care facility has 100 permanent residents, that’s 75 kg per day.
What are the legal consequences of using unsuitable laundry equipment?
Care homes risk the combined wrath of the CQC and the HSE by failing to use appropriate laundry equipment. This could culminate in fines, facility closures, or even imprisonment in the most serious cases.
Can domestic machines be upgraded to meet care home requirements?
No. Replacing domestic appliances with suitable commercial counterparts is the only feasible way of ensuring that a care home laundry is safe, efficient, and compliant.
George Barclay
Laundry expert
Head of Installations George joined JLA as an apprentice service engineer in 2011. With years of experience in plumbing, engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, he oversees the delivery of safe, compliant installations.
George is Gas qualified for both laundry and COMCAT 1, 2, 3, 5, and holds IOSH Managing Safety and 17th edition accreditation.
