Most specialist laundry problems start before collection: a bag left open, an affected sheet mixed with clean linen, or an ordinary load sent by mistake. This guide covers simple separation and handling routines for households and sites, agreed with your laundry provider rather than improvised.
In brief: bag affected textiles where they are, seal and label bags, keep them away from clean laundry, never mix specialist and ordinary loads, and agree bag types with your provider in advance.
Separation rules
- Keep a clearly marked space for sealed specialist bags, away from clean linen.
- Never put specialist items in an ordinary laundry order.
- Use separate bags for bed bug, flea-affected and incontinence loads where more than one applies.
- Keep dry-clean-only items in their own bag.
Handling
Follow your organisation's own handling and protective-equipment policy. Avoid shaking items or carrying them loose through shared areas. If you plan to use dissolvable bags, agree suitable bags and handling with the service first.
Labelling
Label with a simple description and a non-clinical reference. Do not write diagnoses or personal details on the outside of bags.
At collection
Hand over sealed bags at an agreed point and record the count. If a bag is damaged, tell the courier and the service.
How we keep loads separate
Specialist loads stay apart from ordinary laundry. In London they are processed at our separate North Tottenham facility, not at our Hackney laundrette. MyLaundress holds seven London council contracts for specialist laundry services. That is a statement about the contracts we hold, not a council endorsement, and it does not mean every contract covers every specialist service.
Specialist laundry is available in London and across the rest of the United Kingdom, subject to postcode, textile suitability and agreed collection arrangements. Ordinary laundry and everyday dry cleaning remain London services, and London urgent-collection wording is not a national response promise.
- Request a care or housing provider quote
- Bed bug laundry service and prices
- Incontinence laundry service and prices
- Bed bug laundry bags: handover checklist
- Care labels and affected garments
Published 2026-10-31 by MyLaundress team. Request a regular laundry quote