The supply of bed linens must equal two times the licensed capacity of the facility. The facility shall develop and implement written procedures for the storage and handling of soiled and clean linens. The facility must contract with commercial laundry services or the laundry service of another licensed health care facility for all common-use linens if laundry services are not provided on the premises. A facility providing laundry services shall have adequate space and equipment for the safe and effective operation of the laundry service.

1. (1) The supplier of the chemical specifies low-temperature wash formulas in writing for the machines used in the facility;
2. (2) Charts providing specific information concerning the formulas to be used for each machine are posted in an area accessible to personnel;
3. (3) The facility ensures laundry personnel receive in-service training by the chemical supplier on a routine basis, regarding chemical usage and monitoring of wash operations; and

4. (4) The facility ensures personnel monitor chemical usage and wash water temperatures at least monthly to ensure conformance with the chemical supplier's instructions.

   Any resident's personal clothing that is not commingled may be processed according to manufacturer's recommendations using water temperatures and detergent in quantity as recommended by the garment or detergent manufacturer. The facility shall have distinct areas for the storage and handling of clean and soiled linens. Those areas used for the storage and handling of soiled linens must be negatively pressurized. The facility shall establish procedures for the handling and processing of contaminated linens. Soiled linen must be placed in closed containers prior to transportation. Clean linens must be transported in containers used exclusively for clean linens, must be kept covered with dust covers at all times while in transit or in hallways, and must be stored in areas designated exclusively for this purpose. The department must review and approve any written request for any modification of the requirements of this section before any changes are made.

Commingled residents' personal clothing; common-use linens; any isolation clothing; and housekeeping items must be processed by methods that assure disinfection. The facility shall process laundry following the laundry equipment and cleaning agent recommendations. If hot water is used for disinfection, minimum water temperature supplied for laundry purposes must be one hundred sixty degrees Fahrenheit or seventy-one degrees centigrade. If chlorine bleach is added to the laundry process following the manufacturer's direction, the minimum hot water temperatures supplied for laundry purposes may be reduced to one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit or forty-nine degrees centigrade. The facility may wash commingled residents' personal clothing, common-use linens, and any isolation clothing in water temperatures less than one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit if:

Source: 38 SDR 115, effective January 9, 2012; 46 SDR 65, effective November 26, 2019 ; 50 SDR 19, effective August 30, 2023 .

General Authority: SDCL 34-12-13 (2).

Law Implemented: SDCL 34-12-13 .

Prior versions effective: 2019-11-26, 2012-01-09.