Some healthcare employees may prefer to wash their work uniforms at home. It’s not only more convenient for them but also cheaper for the hospital, surgical center or nursing home.

The problem is that home washing of healthcare garments poses potential risks to anyone who comes in contact with these items, according to results of a 2012 study of European healthcare employees.

The European Textile Services Association (ETSA) commissioned GfK, the Society for Consumer Research in Germany, to conduct a survey of consumer behavior while washing workwear—for the period between July and November 2012 in Belgium, Germany, Poland and the ...