Step-by-Step: How Medico Processes Medical Laundry for Safety & Sustainability

Medico follows a precise, accredited workflow that protects patients, supports staff safety, and reduces environmental impact throughout every stage of medical laundry processing.

The Key to Handling Medical Laundry

Medical laundry requires a level of care far beyond ordinary textile cleaning. Healthcare fabrics carry pathogens, bodily fluids, and contaminants that must be removed through strict, controlled processes. Medico Healthcare Linen has built its entire operation around safety, sustainability, and compliance. Our methodical approach keeps linens hygienic, protects healthcare workers, and reduces the environmental footprint of laundry operations across California.

Step 1: Secure Collection and Transport

Medico begins every laundering cycle with careful collection. Trained route specialists deliver fresh linen and retrieve soiled items using color-coded, clearly labeled carts that prevent mix-ups. They maintain strict separation of clean and soiled textiles throughout transport. Trucks follow designated loading protocols to prevent cross-contamination, and all employees follow OSHA-aligned handling procedures that protect themselves and facility staff.

Step 2: Controlled Sorting in a Designated Soiled Area

Once the soiled linens arrive at a Medico plant, workers move them into a designated receiving area built for safe handling. Ventilation systems, surface materials, and workflow layouts reduce contamination risks. Team members wear proper PPE and sort items by type, fabric, and required wash process. This step ensures that gowns, sheets, towels, scrubs, and specialty items receive the correct treatment. Medico’s HLAC-accredited workflow keeps soiled and clean zones completely separate, so no pathogen travels beyond the designated area.

Step 3: Precision Washing With Disinfection Standards

After sorting, the wash process begins. Medico uses advanced tunnel washers and high-capacity equipment calibrated for medical laundry. Each cycle uses precise time, temperature, water flow, and chemical levels to meet hygienically clean standards. TRSA Clean Green certification verifies that Medico balances soil removal and fabric care with water- and energy-efficient systems. Detergents, disinfectants, and rinse cycles work together to achieve full pathogen eradication while protecting textile integrity. Continuous monitoring ensures every load meets safety and quality specifications.

Step 4: Drying and Finishing in Clean-Side Work Areas

Once washed, linens travel through an internal clean-side corridor that never intersects with the soiled zone. Industrial dryers and finishing equipment handle items according to fabric needs. Workers inspect linens for stains, tears, or defects and remove any unusable pieces from circulation. Ironers, folders, and stackers create neatly finished packages that support efficient distribution at hospitals, clinics, labs, dental offices, and surgery centers. Every textile moves through a documented, contamination-free path to ensure maximum patient safety.

Step 5: Packaging and Inventory Protection

Medico packages all cleaned linens in protective wrapping or sealed carts. This step shields items from environmental exposure before delivery. Our inventory specialists track volumes, rotation cycles, and usage patterns, helping facilities maintain the right linen levels without waste. Because inventory management links directly to sustainability, Medico’s processes extend linen lifespan and reduce replacement needs.

Step 6: Sustainable Delivery Back to Facilities

Delivery teams bring clean textiles directly into the facility’s designated clean area. Medico’s Clean Green certification reflects our commitment to fuel-efficient routing, reduced emissions, and responsible resource use. By optimizing delivery schedules and investing in high-efficiency equipment, we help facilities lower their environmental impact while maintaining dependable service.

Contact Medico Today

Every stage of Medico’s medical laundry workflow supports health, safety, and sustainability. From controlled collection to accredited washing, clean-side finishing, and eco-friendly delivery, Medico provides California healthcare facilities with hygienically clean linens they can trust. Our structured process protects patients, improves efficiency, and promotes a greener, more sustainable approach to healthcare textile management. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!