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Laundering

Many hospitals in the UK allow theatre staff to take their hats home to wash but many do not.  Each Infection Control department is unique and there is no standardisation when it comes to changing hospital policy from disposing of scrub hats into the bin, to being able to wash them at home. 

 

Our new badge hat range for personalised theatre hats can be centrally laundered, just like scrubs or, washed at home so we can give hospitals a choice.

 

We have had wash tests conducted on our fabric hats by two independent laundries.  One was a small facility in Shrewsbury and the other was performed by Elis who launder a large proportion of the UK’s surgical scrubs. Both laundries confirmed that the hats passed all tests, with Elis stating that they would also launder the badge hats (after detaching the badge) if they are already laundering a hospitals’ scrubs. This ensures that the hats are suitable for regular laundering while maintaining their integrity.

Commercial laundering business

The central or commercial laundering of embroidered theatre caps presents a significant challenge, particularly when it comes to ensuring the correct hats are returned to the right individuals. Given the personalised nature of these hats, trying to get them back to the correct people after washing can be very challenging, for many they have deemed it impossible to do.

 

Another factor to consider is will everyone take their hats home and properly wash their hats at the end of every shift, as advised.  You would hope so, but through Danielle's experience working in theatres, she has frequently asked staff, "How often do you wash your reusable hats at home?" The answers have varied widely, with some staff members stating they wash their hats every other day, while others only wash theirs once a month. Additionally, some staff have revealed that they know colleagues who never wash their hats at all. Instead, these individuals simply store their hats in their lockers and wear them again the next day, often repeatedly wearing the same dirty hat without cleaning it.

 

This inconsistency in how frequently reusable hats are washed raises concerns about infection control. If hats are not laundered regularly or appropriately, they may become breeding grounds for bacteria or other pathogens, which is especially problematic in healthcare settings. The lack of uniform washing practices can undermine the effectiveness of reusable hats in reducing infection risks and maintaining hygiene standards.

 

To address these concerns, it is important to implement clear guidelines and ensure consistent washing practices among staff members. Hospitals should consider educating staff about the importance of regularly washing their hats, as well as providing practical solutions, such as easier laundering options, to help staff adhere to proper hygiene practices.

Folding Shirts

Laundering hats at home- embroidered hats or badge hats

  • We advise users to purchase at least three hats each to allow for laundry rotation.  Most of our customers purchase 4 hats each and one laundry bag.
     

  • A new hat should be worn each day or each shift. The hats should be changed more often if contaminated, so a spare is advised to be brought along to work in case this happens.  

 

  • Prior to washing the badge hats, please simply remove the badge, clean it in the same way you clean your other name badges and keep it safe.
     

  • Dirty theatre hats should be transported separately from clean theatre hats; our laundry bags are perfect for this​.
     

  • The theatre hats should be washed at 60 degrees or higher and tumble-dried and may be ironed
     

  • A wash for ten minutes at 60 degrees centigrade removes almost all micro-organisms”. (Uniforms and workwear: guidance for NHS employers, NHS England).

 

  • Some hospitals use colour-coded theatre hats to signify the role of the clinician, but there is no standardisation of this. You may wish to check and follow any local guidance.
     

  • Our badges can be colour co-ordinated and the same colour fabric can be ordered for the hats, just like all scrubs are the same colour.

Eco Ninjas Hammock style theatre hat with yellow name and role badge
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