We’ve always known the importance of clean laundry. One need only look to laundromats being listed as essential businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic for evidence of that fact. PPE products have become the focal point of our daily wear and have been adopted as part of the uniform standards for many businesses.
For our first responders and healthcare workers, these changes bring the increased pressure to launder PPE and other clothing to an increased standard of care. Now more than ever, clean laundry is paramount to keeping first responders and their patients safe. For firehouses across the country, the need for clean laundry has increased significantly, as departments adopt the same NFPA 1851 processes for cleaning gear after all first responder calls.
There are some industrial washer-extractors and drying cabinets that can carry the load for heavy bunker gear, however, this is not a total solution. Just as PPE is being washed more often, station wear and towels should receive equal attention. This is where light commercial washers and dryers come in to play. Unlike home laundry top load and front load washers and dryers, commercial washers and dryers are constructed to ensure they can withstand frequent use. They also contain heavy-duty components and metal transmissions for heavier loads. Having this additional equipment offers greater peace of mind that contaminants are not going home with our heroes who risk their lives to ensure our health and safety. As we continue to emerge from the current COVID-19 crisis, a prudent approach to laundry will remain. Utilizing light commercial equipment will deliver clean results and help keep station wear items separated from the more soiled/contaminated articles.