In any type of hospital, extended care or health care facility keeping linens and room essentials clean and orderly is very important. Both covered and open linen carts are able to organize materials on shelves, in bins or in compartments for easy storage. The major benefit to a covered linen cart is that the cover also acts to eliminate accidental spills, debris and dust from coming in contact with the clean linens on the cart. Covered carts also are ideal for transporting linens through non-patient areas to and from the laundry facilities. In multi-building facilities covered linen carts also protect the clean supplies from rain or dust while being moved between buildings. In addition covered linen carts may help in decreasing losses from the carts since linens and other objects will not be view and will not be able to drop from the cart while the cart is in transport. What color options are available with a linen cart? Different manufacturers provide different options for linen cart covers. Generally most covers will be made of a fine mesh material or a more solid material and will come in a wide range of colors. Vinyl linen cart covers are both durable and sturdy, plus they are easy to clean in the event of spills or dirt on the cover. Common colors for most companies include various shades of blues, greens, mauves and reds as well as traditional hospital colors such as beige and neutral tones. The linen cart covers should be easy to remove for washing and cleaning, plus they should also be available from the company as replacements in the event they become damaged. What size are most linen cart models? There are many different sizes of linen carts and which one is the best match for each facility depends on several factors. The number of patient rooms in a particular facility as well as the types of linens transported will all be an important factor. Other issues with regards to size may include the space available to store the carts and the size of elevators and doorways through which the linen cart may have to move. Smaller carts are often made of lightweight but very durable PCV pipe. These styles typically have between two and four shelves and may be two to four shelves in height. Each shelf in these lightweight linen carts will hold approximately 50 pounds, plus each shelf can also be adjusted to provide just the height required. These carts can be used for both storage and transportation of linens and are a great addition to any facility. Heavier duty carts that are made of aluminum or chrome may be able to carry up to 2000 pounds without any difficulty. These carts are typically covered and come with several shelves that can also be adjusted. Different widths from 24 inches to wider 30 or more inches are available in both the aluminum, chrome and plastic models.

There are several features that make rolling laundry carts more or less efficient within a hospital or health care facility. Perhaps the most important issue is the size of the cart itself. Rolling laundry carts that are very small will require multiple changes of liners or returns to the laundry facility, ending up in additional time and material costs.

Rolling laundry carts that are too large, on the other hand, may be awkward to maneuver in patient rooms, common areas and corridors. Finding the right size to hold laundry without being impossible to safely and easily move is perhaps the most important feature.

Easy cleaning and sterilization is also an issue with rolling laundry carts. Chrome finishes, aluminum and durable types of hard plastic are all good options. They can be treated with any disinfectant without discoloration, plus they are easy to and very quick to wipe down between uses.

What safety features should be considered when selecting rolling laundry carts?

Safety is going to be an important consideration in any hospital or health care facility. Although rolling laundry carts are not going to be constantly in patient rooms and common areas, making sure that some basic safety features are present is important.

Always check to make sure that rolling laundry carts have the option to lock the wheels to prevent the cart from moving when laundry is being loaded or unloaded. This prevents the cart from literally pushing into patient's beds or other furniture within a room. Specialized recessed handles are also an important consideration as they prevent any sharp or protruding objects from the cart itself. This will prevent or eliminate the concern of catching medical equipment with the handles when the cart is being turned or moved through crowded spaces. Handles on both ends to allow staff to easy maneuver the cart even in very confined or one-way type spaces is also an important safety consideration.

How heavy of a load can rolling laundry carts carry?

The amount of weight that rolling laundry carts are approved or guaranteed to be able to carry should be clearly stated within the specifications listed from the manufacturer. Some of the very heavy duty aluminum carts can carry up to 2000 pounds, certainly more than most staff would ever anticipate having to move. Lighter weight plastic rolling laundry carts may only be guaranteed for a few hundred pounds while the chrome laundry carts with the cage type mesh may be approved for up to 1200 pounds of load.

Some rolling laundry carts may have additional sections for storage of cleaning supplies or other essentials. These carts are often considered to be utility carts and are often the best option for smaller facilities that may not require specialized carts for every task. As with rolling laundry carts, utility carts come in a variety of styles and prices. Considering your needs and the uses you may have for the utility style cart before buying is important to ensure you get just what is needed.