UK CARE OPERATIONS TOOL

Care home laundry cost: in-house vs outsourced

Model your own laundry workload, compare a real supplier rate and turn the decision into an infection-control-aware scope.

MAKE-OR-BUY WORKSHEET

Compare the operating model, then ask suppliers the right questions.

The supplier rate is deliberately editable: UK care-home contracts are quote-specific.

LAUNDRY VOLUME

2,189 kg

Planning volume per month. Change the kg assumption to match your own weighing records.

  • 40 beds at 90% planning occupancy
  • 2,189 kg of linen/clothing per month
  • 3 collection and return cycles per week
  • Supplier comparison rate: £2.10 per kg
  • In-house break-even supplier rate: £1.97 per kg

THREE-YEAR TCO

In-house£155,628.00
Outsourced£165,492.00

Outsourcing is £274.00 more per month in this scenario.

IPC HAND-OFF CHECKLIST

Cost alone is not a care-home laundry decision.

  • Keep clean and used linen physically separate throughout the workflow
  • Confirm dirty-linen collection, storage and return hand-off points
  • Ask how infectious linen, staff training and traceability are handled
  • Specify turnaround, resident clothing identification and lost-item process

Sources and limits

This model is an operating-cost comparison, not a clinical laundry protocol or a supplier quotation. UK care-home providers must ensure suitable linen handling; the actual system, infection-control policy, staffing and service agreement determine the right process.