Where do I begin on this blog? I hope everyone is safe and healthy during these difficult and everchanging times. I feel extremely grateful that we are in an essential industry and that we’re currently allowed to stay open and remain viable. I know the novel coronavirus has changed many businesses and will continue to as time proceeds. My name is Natalie Camacho and I am the owner of a laundry service business in Los Angeles, California. We have been servicing commercial businesses as well as residential customers since 2015. We adapt to our customers needs including the tedious process of washing infectious laundry from time to time. I want to give as much information in terms of COVID-19 and our laundry needs and other tips that I found useful during these times and possibly heron after.
Monitoring the COVID-19 Situation: Ensuring the Safety of Customers and Staff
We carefully monitor the ever-changing situation pertaining COVID-19 through our informative sources such as the Coin Laundry Association (CLA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), world, nation and local news for updates and new safety protocol. Our main focus is ultimately the health and safety of our customers and staff members.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the coronavirus is usually transmitted through respiratory droplets from an infected person sneezing or coughing rather than through fomites, objects and materials that when contaminated, can transfer disease. However, the CDC notes that evidence suggests that the novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials, which includes clothing. These particles can dry out over time and inactivate the virus but should be cared for with caution. We have also to remember that some fabrics are more prone to retain germs and the viruses longer than others and could remain active up to 2-3 days. But even if all the laundry has been affected by COVID-19, the only way the viral particles become active is when it gets into your mouth, nose and eyes. Avoid touching your face at all cost! I’m sure that’s easier said than done but once we successfully practice such a protocol, you should be fine.
Sanitizing Protocols for Laundry Equipment and Vehicles
When it comes to washing machines/ dryers, tables and carts, you will need to sanitize everything before transferring laundry to dry. When in doubt, sanitize everything followed by washing your hand thoroughly. Laundry should be washed with at least 80 degrees F if permitted and dried with heat for at least 15 minutes (more to be safe) if permitted to kill the COVID-19.
With that said, all Royal Quality Laundry staff has had experience with orders that were considered infectious laundry like staph, lice, and scabies. From pick up to delivery but never at this high volume. Though we haven’t been in contact with anyone that we know of with any illness, we can’t assume people DON’T have anything that can be transferred to our staff and to other customers. The sanitizing process should also apply to vehicles when used for delivery. I mean, at this point, let’s just sanitize everything you can.
All staff should have the proper equipment like gloves, aprons, masks, disinfectants and training on how to use them properly.
Going the Extra Mile: Extra Sanitization Measures for Laundry Bags
Once everything has been sanitized, we go ahead and sanitize some more! Like the bags that we wrap the laundry in. We know that our customers are taking this coronavirus very seriously as we should because we never know if someone might have an underlining condition. I saw in the news that some delivery drivers disinfect the package before leaving it at someone’s door to protect the customer and I thought that was very sweet. If we all can contribute as much as possible, I mean it couldn’t hurt. Heck, I even keep a bottle of sanitizing solution and towels in my car for when I go to ATMs or other public places. I know we will come out of this if we all put our part for the solution. Afterall, we are all in this together. Good luck out there and keep up the good, positive work.