(1) If a specialty mental health facility processes its own laundry on the facility site, it must:

(a) Set aside a room for laundry and utilize it solely for that purpose.

(b) Equip the laundry with a mechanical washer and dryer (or additional machines if necessary to handle the laundry load) , handwashing facilities, mechanical ventilation to the outside, a fresh air supply, and a hot water supply system which supplies the washer with water of at least 160 º F (71 º C) during each use for 25 minutes, or, if lower temperatures are used, with chemicals suitable for low temperature washing.

(c) Sort and store soiled laundry in an area separate from that used to sort and store clean laundry.

(d) Provide well maintained carts or other containers impervious to moisture to transport laundry, keeping those used for soiled laundry separate from those used for clean laundry.

(e) Dry all bed linen, towels, and washcloths in a mechanical dryer.

(f) Protect clean laundry from contamination.

(g) Ensure that facility staff use hygienic techniques while handling soiled and clean laundry, including:

(i) covering their clothing while working with soiled laundry;

(ii) using separate clean covering for their clothes while handling clean laundry; and

(iii) washing their hands both after working with soiled laundry and before they handle clean laundry.

(2) The facility must maintain a linen supply adequate to provide changes of bed and bath linens at appropriate intervals.