In the high-stakes world of hospitality, healthcare, and aviation, where first impressions and safety are paramount, commercial laundry plays a critical yet often overlooked role. Behind every spotless hotel sheet, sanitized hospital gown, and crisp airline blanket lies a rigorous process designed to uphold the highest health and hygiene standards. In the Middle East—a region witnessing rapid growth in luxury tourism, medical services, and global travel—this process has become even more vital.

Today’s commercial laundries are more than cleaning hubs; they are centers of precision, compliance, and innovation. From thermal disinfection and chemical dosing to water treatment systems and zoned facilities, every step is crafted to ensure that linen isn’t just visibly clean, but microbiologically safe. International certifications such as ISO and RAL are increasingly being adopted to meet global benchmarks, while technology and workforce training are elevating operational reliability.

As industry experts Ferenc Daniel Lucza, Manager – Laundry Operations, Catrion and Ignasi Guia Delgado, Regional Expert, Institutional Water Treatment & Fabric Care, Emerging Markets, Diversey – A Solenis Company emphasize, hygiene in laundry is no longer optional—it’s a critical service pillar. This feature delves into the evolving landscape of hygiene in commercial laundry, spotlighting how Middle Eastern providers are raising the bar to deliver trust, safety, and quality with every wash.

Why Hygiene in Commercial Laundry Matters More Than Ever

As Ferenc Daniel Lucza, Manager – Laundry Operations at Catrion, explains, “Health and hygiene standards in commercial laundry operations are essential—not only for regulatory compliance, but for protecting public health and maintaining trust.” This is especially critical in the Middle East, where booming sectors like medical tourism, luxury hospitality, and aviation demand exceptionally high service quality and safety benchmarks.

In sectors like healthcare, linen is frequently exposed to infectious materials. If not managed properly, these items could become sources of cross-contamination or hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). That’s why many Middle Eastern commercial laundries are aligning with international hygiene systems like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and RAL-GZ 992 certification for hygienic textile processing.

But it’s not only healthcare. In luxury hospitality or first-class aviation, even a slight decline in linen quality—be it in softness, whiteness, or scent—can negatively impact brand perception. “Poor linen quality can damage a hotel or airline’s reputation,” says Lucza. Hence, consistency, reliability, and safety are non-negotiable expectations.

Disinfection: A Science, Not a Guessing Game

As Ignasi Guia Delgado, Regional Expert at Diversey – A Solenis Company, puts it bluntly: “Hygiene isn’t a bonus—it’s the beating heart of the operation.” Particularly in elder care and hospitals, linens can carry bacteria, viruses, or fungal spores. One mistake in processing could mean widespread consequences.

To meet these hygiene demands, laundries must follow either thermal disinfection (using high temperatures) or chemical disinfection with validated cleaning agents. In Europe, laundries often adhere to EN 14065, a hygiene management system based on the RABC (Risk Analysis and Biocontamination Control) framework. While not yet universally adopted in the Middle East, this standard is gaining traction, especially among international hospital chains and high-end hotels.

A Place for Everything: Laundry Zone Discipline

One of the most overlooked aspects of hygiene in commercial laundry is zoning. As Delgado points out, professional laundries are designed with clear separations—“dirty” zones for soiled linens and “clean” zones for disinfected, processed ones. Cross-contamination is simply not an option. “No ‘just this once,’” he says. Staff movements, PPE protocols, and linen flows follow a strict choreography of safety. Handwashing, clothing changes, glove use—everything is methodical and monitored.

Water Quality: The Unsung Hero of Cleanliness

“Not all water is created equal,” emphasizes Delgado. Water hardness can compromise disinfection and dull white fabrics. As such, most leading laundries now treat and soften water to optimize chemical performance. A delicate balance is key—too much detergent damages textiles and budgets, too little leaves harmful microbes behind.

Lucza agrees, noting that supporting systems like water treatment, chemical dosing, and machine sanitation are indispensable. Well-maintained machines, accurate dosing systems, and consistent temperature controls ensure that every piece of linen meets microbiological safety benchmarks.

Machines: Not Just Metal Boxes

Today’s industrial washers are far from simple. They come with complex software, automated cycles, and integrated disinfection features. But Delgado warns that these machines still need daily love—maintenance, calibration, and inspection. A tunnel washer may be automated, but without human oversight, it’s just an expensive liability. Continuous monitoring, manual spot-checks, and quality testing are still essential for ensuring hygienic output.

Training: The Achilles' Heel of Hygiene

“You can laminate a protocol and post it on the wall,” says Delgado, “but if your staff doesn’t understand why hygiene matters, it falls through the cracks.” Both experts stress that training is the foundation of consistent, safe practices. Lucza adds that his teams are regularly trained in safe handling, hygiene protocols, emergency response, and ISO-compliant documentation.

Staff must know not just what to do—but why to do it. When teams are informed and empowered, hygiene becomes a cultural norm, not just a checklist.

Compliance is the Beginning, Not the End

While regulatory compliance remains the baseline, the real goal is to exceed it. “High hygiene standards are a quiet promise,” says Delgado—“between the laundry, the client, and the person who will lay their head on that pillow.” In the Middle East, laundries that position themselves as hygiene-first providers gain a distinct competitive edge. Whether servicing five-star hotels, government hospitals, or international airlines, the ability to prove and deliver hygienic outcomes through audits, SOPs, and certifications is now a market differentiator.

OPLs vs. Commercial Laundries: Blurring the Lines

Interestingly, the divide between on-premise laundries (OPLs) and commercial laundries (CLs) is narrowing. Delgado notes a growing trend where OPLs are taking on external clients to optimize excess capacity. This strategic move turns a cost center into a revenue stream. But doing so brings with it the same rigorous expectations for hygiene and quality—reinforcing the need for investment in training, compliance, and technology.

Looking Ahead: Hygiene as a Growth Driver

As the Middle East continues its expansion in sectors like medical tourism, aviation, and luxury hospitality, the demand for hygienic laundry solutions will only increase. Certification frameworks like ISO, RAL, and EN 14065 are likely to become more widespread, especially among providers looking to serve global brands.

Both experts agree that commercial laundry operations can no longer be viewed as peripheral support services—they are critical components of public health infrastructure and guest experience delivery. In this new era, clean is not clean enough unless it’s also safe, traceable, and certified.

Final Word

Commercial laundry, once a quiet back-end process, is now a central player in maintaining public trust, brand reputation, and health outcomes. From zoned floor plans and water quality to employee training and cross-sector compliance, every decision made in a laundry facility echoes into a hotel room, a hospital ward, or an aircraft cabin.

As Delgado aptly concludes, “Behind the sparkle of clean linens lies a discipline that never sleeps.”