Hand Up Homes/Sparks
Laundry Procedures
1. A laundry bag has been given each Peer to be used to process their personal outerwear laundry. Use of marker ID or tags are not necessary, as the contents identify the user.
2. White underwear, socks, and some tee-shirts are to be separate, and placed in the laundry hamper marked "Whites and Lights." Lights will consist of sheets, light colored pillowcases and bedding, including some bedcovers, etc. Towels will be separated and placed in the hamper marked "Towels," and will include washcloths and handtowels. Hamper loads are done as before.
3. Outerwear laundry bags cannot be loaded more than half full. This is ample room for two changes of clothes; including two pants, two shirts, two tee-shirts, some underwear briefs or boxer shorts, color sox, hats, and the like. Less is encouraged.
4. Outerwear laundry bags are washed and dried without removing the contents of the bag. As a general rule, if the bag goes easily into the washer, it is fine. If some effort is required to put it in the washer, it is probably overfilled and should be lightened up by removing some articles. Hygiene precautions remain the same.
5. Drying may take a little more time with the dryer available. Caution must be taken that the bags are not entangled or twisted, causing them to tear. It is hoped that, after some initial time to become familiar with this method, Peers will learn how to load their bags for optimal effect. Meantime, once the bags are dried, contents are removed, folded and stacked on top of each bag. Soon areas for this purpose will be installed; meanwhile, proceed with this individualized stacking as was usual, adding "Whites and Lights" as before.
6. The purpose of the use of these bags is two-fold: one, the hygiene of Helpers who process the laundry; and, two, to better control the amount of laundry each Peer presents for cleaning. This second purpose is critical to lowering the cost of laundry; as well as freeing up time Helpers on Overnight shift need to improve other functions (like making better breakfasts).
7. Some Peers have found that loading up the laundry with unnecessary wash loads, or placing sabotage objects in garment articles to be washed, a means to rebel. With the old system there was no way to identify such individuals; but, hopefully, the Bag Method will make that negativity much less effective. Continue to check for this.
8. ALL LAUNDRY PRESENTED WILL BE PROCESSED. Articles not presented in bags, appropriately separated into hampers, are to be placed in the Donations area when finished. To retrieve them, Peers must follow proper protocol. It may be convenient to identify such laundry by date, including day (Monday, Tuesday, etc.). Peers have been made aware of this procedural control. Boxes have been provided for this purpose and are in the Donations storage area. Assignments are encouraged.
Thanks for your cooperation on this essential function,
Tim Kelly
