Rawesome Vets · Internal Staff Protocol

Laundry

Version 1.0 · May 2026 · For internal staff use

⎙ Kennel Room — Done Standard (print & laminate for wall)

Towel Use — Don't Waste Them

Every towel you use has to be washed, dried, and folded. Be sensible:

• Don't pile towels on one patient. If a patient needs comfort or insulation for the cold, use a recovery bed or proper bedding — that's what they're for. Using 3+ towels on the same patient does not make sense.
• Reuse towels for the same patient. A towel used for restraint can become their recovery towel. One towel can do several jobs through a single visit.
• Only swap to a fresh towel when the current one is soiled or wet.

1. Washing

Before anything goes in the machine

• All towels must be free of gross poo, food, or vomit before they go in the washing machine. Shake/scrape off into the bin first.
• If a towel is too gross or has come off an infectious patient — bin it. Do not try to save it.

Towels vs drapes — wash separately

• Towels and drapes are washed in separate loads. Never mix them.
• Drapes: soak in cold water with Vanish first so blood lifts off easily, then transfer to the washing machine.

Loading the machine

• Load evenly around the drum. An unbalanced load will stop the wash cycle from finishing and you'll come back to a wet pile.
• Don't overload — the drum needs space for things to move.

2. Drying

Use methods in this order of preference:

How to hang towels properly

• Hang vertically with two pegs at the top — one at each corner.
• Do not fold towels over the line — folded towels take twice as long to dry.
• Leave space between towels so air can move through.

Tumble dryer — standard use

• Check items are wrung out / not dripping before loading — wet items extend cycle time and waste power.
• Don't overfill — items need room to tumble or they won't dry evenly.
• Clean the lint filter every load. Lint build-up is a fire risk.
• Use a normal cycle for towels. Avoid the dryer for drapes where possible.
• Once dry, take items out promptly so they don't sit damp/wrinkled.

3. Folding & Refilling

Dry towels need to get back into rotation — don't leave a clean pile on the bench. Fold and refill as soon as they come off the line/rack.

Refill checklist — check all of these every laundry round:

• Kennel room — main towel store
• Consult room drawers — top up so the next consult isn't searching
• Treatment room
• Surgery
• X-ray area