How must laundry be prepared before being sent offsite for cleaning?

Before sending laundry offsite for cleaning in a healthcare or dental setting, it is essential to place it in a biohazard bag. This is because dental and medical facilities often deal with potentially contaminated items that may pose a risk of infection or contamination to anyone handling the laundry. The biohazard bag serves multiple purposes: it clearly identifies the contents as potentially hazardous, it helps prevent cross-contamination, and it protects staff handling the laundry from exposure to infectious materials.

The requirements for handling laundry in healthcare settings are strictly regulated to ensure safety and compliance with health standards. The use of biohazard bags is a crucial part of the protocol to manage infectious waste responsibly, ensuring that the laundry is treated with the appropriate care before being cleaned offsite.

Other methods such as folding and sorting, washing on-site, or leaving laundry open for drying do not adequately address the necessary precautions required for potentially contaminated laundry. These practices could expose individuals to health risks and are not in accordance with safety guidelines.