Can you wash clothes in jail?

Washing clothes in jail is a common question for many inmates and their families. Maintaining hygiene and having clean clothes is important, but the laundry process in jails can be quite different than at home. In this article, we’ll take a look at how laundry works in jail, the types of clothing provided, and what options inmates have for washing their own clothes behind bars.

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How Does Laundry Work in Jails?

Laundry services in jails are handled in a few different ways:

Jail staff handle all laundry – In some jails, correctional officers or other staff collect dirty laundry from inmates on a schedule and handle washing, drying and returning clothes. This is more common in smaller jails.
Central laundry facility – Larger jails may have an on-site laundry room where inmate workers are employed to wash, dry and sort all inmate uniforms and linens. These jailhouse laundromats typically use industrial washers and dryers.
Inmate workers in housing units – Some jails have washers and dryers in each housing unit where designated inmate laundry workers wash clothes. This allows clothes to be handled directly within each area of the jail.

In-pod laundry – The newest jails are built with small laundry facilities right inside each inmate housing pod or cell block. This allows inmates to handle their own laundry conveniently within their living area.

No matter how laundry is handled, jails tend to run on very structured schedules. Uniforms, towels, sheets and other linens are washed on specific days in bulk. Access to laundry facilities and washers is limited for security reasons.

Standard Jail Uniforms and Clothing Items

Inmates are required to wear standard issued clothing in jail. Typical clothing items include:

Shirt – Usually a basic short or long sleeved shirt, v-neck or pullover. Typically white, gray, green or orange in color.
Pants – Matching elastic or drawstring pants. Sweatpants are common.
Undergarments – White t-shirts, boxer shorts and sports bras are provided.

Socks – White crew socks.
Shoes – Rubber sandals or slip-on shoes.
Jacket – A basic zip-up jacket in cooler weather.

Towels and washcloths – Provided on shower days.
Sheets and blanket – Issued for the inmate’s bunk.

These standard issue clothes are laundered by the jail’s laundry system. The inmate worker’s uniforms may be washed more frequently. Jail uniforms are designed to be durable, comfortable and impossible to fashion into weapons or contraband. For female inmates, options like sports bras may be provided for better support and comfort.

Can Inmates Wash Personal Clothing?

Opportunities for inmates to wash personal clothing in jail are very limited. Jails maintain tight control over inmate access to laundry facilities, supplies and equipment. Here are some scenarios where inmates may be able to wash a small amount of personal items:

In-pod laundry rooms – If washers and dryers are available within the inmate’s housing unit, they may get occasional access to wash approved items like underwear, socks or t-shirts. This access is rare and closely supervised.
Sinks in cells – Some inmates wash underwear, socks or t-shirts by hand in their cell sink. Supplies are limited to the issued soap and cold water.

Program rewards – A few jails offer laundry access as an incentive for good behavior and program participation. This may allow pre-approved items to be washed.

However, most jails do not allow inmates to retain personal clothing. Belongings brought in at booking are sent home or placed in property storage. The only clothes available are the standard jail issued uniform. For sanitary reasons, underwear and socks may be swapped out more regularly than outerwear. But washing machine access is uncommon in jails.

Challenges of Washing Clothes in Jail

There are many reasons why inmate access to laundry is restricted in jail:

Security – Laundry supplies and equipment can be misused to create weapons or contraband. Inmate clothes also can’t have strings, metal or other dangerous items.
Order – Strict laundry schedules prevent chaos and keep the jail running smoothly. Giving inmates control of laundry could disrupt order.
Safety – Industrial washers have risks. Inmates could get injured or damage equipment. Proper training is needed.

Staffing – Officers would need to supervise personal laundry times, taking away from other duties.
Costs – Water, soap and equipment expenses would increase with more laundry.
Hygiene – Personal clothes may spread germs. Increased laundry could cause mold and mildew.

For all these reasons, jail administrators limit inmate laundry options. Property storage, scheduled uniform changes and good hygiene practices help mitigate the need for personal washing. Overall, clothes washing access for inmates is extremely limited in jails across the U.S. unless rewarded through special programs.

What About Prison Laundry Privileges?

Prisons generally offer inmates more opportunities to do personal laundry than jails. Here are some of the differences in laundry access:

Jail Laundry	Prison Laundry
Very limited access	Weekly or bi-weekly access
No laundry supplies issued	Can purchase laundry supplies
No machines available	Washers & dryers on site
Only uniforms washed	Some personal clothes allowed
No incentives	Good behavior rewards

Prisons allow inmates to purchase approved clothing items like sweatpants, t-shirts and undergarments. With access to commissary supplies and on-site laundry rooms, prisoners can wash personal clothes regularly. Laundry access can be earned through good behavior. However, privilege abuses can result in laundry restrictions.

Creative Inmate Laundry Methods

With limited access to washers, some inmates get creative with laundry methods using resources available. Some techniques inmates have been known to use include:

“Bucket laundry” – Fill a trash bucket with a small amount of soap and water for washing.
Bar soap scrubbing – Rubbing clothes vigorously with a bar of soap under running water.

Sink washing – Using a cell sink to hand wash garments.
Towel scrubbing – Wetting a towel with soap and rubbing it on clothes to clean.
Body washing – Using soap and water during showers to wash underwear or socks being worn.

While these methods employ determination and creativity, they have downsides. Hand washing clothes without proper supplies can degrade fabric over time. Some techniques like bucket laundry could violate rules as well. Ultimately, the best option is to use scheduled uniform exchanges.

Hygiene in Jail Laundry and Clothing

Jails can harbor bacteria, germs and parasites easily spread through clothing and linens. Proper laundry hygiene is important for inmate health. Here are some tips jails follow:

Hot water washing and drying kills microorganisms living in fabric fibers.

Bleach and other sanitizing products disinfect laundry loads.
Separate washing keeps clothes contaminated with viruses, bodily fluids or infestations from spreading.
Using mesh bags containing clothes keeps parasites like lice contained.

Isolating infected inmate laundry prevents further contamination.
Issuing clean uniforms and linens regularly improves living conditions.

Inmates can support healthy laundry habits in jail by:

Changing into fresh uniforms when issued.
Avoiding sharing clothing, towels or bedding with others.
Reporting any signs of infestation or skin irritation immediately.

Keeping living spaces and bodies clean through regular showers and hygiene.
Handling any personal laundry with proper sanitation.

Proper clothing, laundry and hygiene routines create a healthier environment for both inmates and jail staff.

Specialized Laundry Programs in Jails

While opportunities are limited, some jails offer specialty programs that provide laundry access or skills. These may include:

Job training programs – Some jails train select trustworthy inmates to work in the jail laundry room. This provides valuable employment experience.
Parenting classes – Family service programs may teach laundry skills to inmates about to be reunited with children.

Life skills classes – Programs focused on social integration may provide laundry education using washers and dryers.
Treatment programs – Substance abuse and mental health treatment programs may offer supervised laundry as part of structured activities.
Vocational training – Privileged inmates developing trades like food service may wash kitchen uniforms or job aprons under supervision.

Though limited in scope, laundry access through special programs provides incentives for positive change. The skills help prepares inmates for integrating back into the community.

Conclusion

Doing laundry in jail is quite rare for the average inmate. Security and scheduling take priority over amenities like personal clothing laundry. Uniformed jail issue provides clean attire on a structured basis. For inmates strongly desiring to wash personal items, creative manual methods can get clothes clean in a pinch. But opportunities remain very limited compared to prison. Special privileges may allow select inmates to access laundry through job training, parenting, life skills or vocational programs. Overall, jail laundry is focused on providing sanitary basics and maintaining order rather than comforts. Good inmate hygiene within these limitations is key to cleanliness behind bars.