Why Nursing Homes Are Rethinking On-Site Laundry and Scrub Ownership

For many nursing homes, on-site laundry and staff-owned scrubs are simply how things have always been done. The equipment is already there. Staff are used to handling their own uniforms. It feels familiar and manageable.

But as staffing pressures increase and compliance expectations grow, more administrators are stepping back to ask whether that model still makes sense today.

Why OPL and Scrub Ownership Are Hard to Walk Away From

On-premise laundry offers a sense of control. If something is needed, it is in the building. Staff-owned scrubs seem simple because the responsibility sits with the employee.

Over time, these systems become part of the routine. Changing them can feel disruptive, even if the workload behind the scenes keeps growing.

The Overlooked Costs Add Up

The true cost of on-site laundry goes far beyond utilities.

Administrators are managing:

• Dedicated laundry labor
• Equipment maintenance and unexpected repairs
• Chemical handling and safety
• Water and energy usage
• Documentation for infection control compliance

When machines break or staffing runs short, the problem lands on your team. Laundry becomes one more operational issue competing with resident care.

Where Staff-Owned Scrubs Create Risk

When caregivers launder scrubs at home, there is no way to verify wash temperatures, detergents, or handling practices. Garments move between resident rooms and personal environments without documented controls.

Even when intentions are good, the lack of consistency creates hygiene gaps and potential liability concerns. In today’s regulatory climate, that uncertainty matters.

How Outsourcing Simplifies Operations

Outsourcing is not just about moving laundry off-site. It is about reducing burden and improving consistency. With a professionally managed program, linens and uniforms are processed using healthcare-grade standards, inventory is monitored, and deliveries are reliable.

At Gunderson, our senior living and nursing home linen services are backed by TRSA Hygienically Clean Healthcare Certification, giving administrators clear documentation and verified hygiene practices.

The result is fewer operational headaches, more predictable costs, and greater confidence in infection control.

What Nursing Home Administrators Should Evaluate

Before deciding to keep an OPL or ownership model, it helps to ask:

• How much staff time is spent managing laundry each week?
• What are the real annual costs of repairs and equipment replacement?
• Are scrub hygiene standards documented and verifiable?
• What happens when machines fail or staffing is short?

For many nursing homes, this is no longer just a laundry discussion. It is about reducing operational strain and protecting residents and staff. If you are re-evaluating your current model, Gunderson is here to help you explore a simpler, professionally managed approach.

Let’s Make Laundry One Less Thing to Worry About

In a nursing home, residents come first, your staff needs support, and daily operations have to run smoothly. If laundry is starting to require more oversight and troubleshooting than it should, it may be time to consider a different approach.

Gunderson partners with nursing homes across Wisconsin to provide consistent service, verified hygienic processing, and predictable costs. If you are exploring your options, we are ready to have that conversation. Let’s talk!