Criterion HS102#

# Linen used by children or adults is hygienically laundered off-site or on-site.

Guidance#

How to show you are complying#

You must make sure any linen used at your service is properly laundered (cleaned). You can do this at your service if you have the right facilities, or you can ask parents to help or hire a professional laundry service.

Hygienic laundering

Linen is hygienically laundered when it has been cleaned in a way that removes dirt, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms.

In the context of early learning services, we consider linen includes:

• bedding
• kitchen laundry (dish cloths, tea towels, hand towels, oven mitts, and so on)
• bibs
• dress-up clothes
• fabric play items
• towels
• furniture coverings
• art and messy play cloths
• cloth nappies (if used).

To make sure linen is hygienically laundered:

• use a washing machine that can meet thermal disinfection requirements (water temperature above 60°C and holds times for the temperature). A domestic washing machine is unlikely to meet these temperatures.
• don't wash nappies in the same washing machine as other Centre items.
• use a hot wash (above 60°C) and adequate laundry detergent for all washing followed by effective drying and handling to prevent recontamination.
• launder kitchen, bathroom, and bedding items separately have clear separation of clean and dirty areas in the laundry.
• dedicated storage for clean laundry.

Soiled clothing

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) recommends that soiled clothing should not be rinsed. Instead, remove any solid material, place the clothing in a double bag, and store it in an area that children cannot access—such as the laundry. Soiled clothing should be sent home with whānau.

Drying considerations

Any drying racks used should not block corridors, exits, or entryways, or interfere with children’s play areas.

Reusable nappies

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) recommend reusable nappies should be sent home with the child. If you need to launder reusable nappies, NPHS advice is:

• to have a dedicated separate place for ‘soiled’ (faecal) contaminated nappy liners from ‘wet’ nappy liners in nappy change areas
• to separate ‘soiled’ (faecal) contaminated nappy liners from ‘wet’ nappy liners when transporting to the laundry area
• use separate washing machines for washing nappies and other centre items
• wash re-useable nappies on a full cycle (not a quick wash) in a separate washing machine that reaches a temperature of at least 60°C
• have a dedicated laundry with a hand wash basin
• provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), for example, gloves and apron
• have a clearly marked bucket for sanitising soiled nappy liners and a process for sanitising
• make sure all soiled items are rinsed and pre-soaked in an approved sanitiser, such as Napisan or Vanish, diluted as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Cleaning the washing machine, following the manufacturer’s instructions using hot water and detergent. Allow the entire machine cycle to run.

Washing machines can be disinfected using a hot wash cycle and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to give 0.1% hypochlorite while the machine is filling (based on the capacity of the washing machine bowl).