 |
||
|
Cornell University : Cornell Cooperative Extension
|
||
|
||
| Yates Association |
|
|
Killing Bacterial/Viral Infection in the Home Laundry |
|
|
From disinfecting baby and adult diapers to handling medically contaminated clothing, people worry about the transfer of bacteria and viruses to themselves and to other clothing in the home laundry. Research shows that it is rare to become infected from handling biologically infected garments. However, until this clothing is washed or dry cleaned, we encourage you to wear disposable rubber gloves and discard the gloves after use. Laundering is the preferred method of cleaning because of the many flushes used in the laundering process. Disinfecting
your home laundry can be done inexpensively, easily and without damage
to the fabric. Microbiologists at U.S.D.A.’s Textile and Clothing
laboratory have identified 4 categories of products which are effective,
safe for fabrics and are available in local stores. Use the amount
of disinfectant listed on the product's label. 1. Pine oil disinfectants, which are effective in hot and warm water. Some brands include Pine Sol, Real Pine, Spic-n-Span Pine and Lysol Pine Action. They should be added at the beginning of the wash cycle. 2. Phenolic disinfectants are also effective in hot and warm water. Lysol brand disinfectant is available locally. Phenolic disinfectants may be added to the wash or rinse water, if the rinse water is warm. 3. Liquid chlorine disinfectants may be used in hot, warm or cold water temperatures. Chlorine bleach should always be diluted with water before adding it to the washer, and should never be poured directly on clothing. It also is not suitable for use on wool, silk, spandex or certain dyed and finished fabrics. Be sure to read the care labels on all items to be washed. Examples of liquid chlorine bleaches include Clorox and all supermarket house brands. 4. The last category, quartenary disinfectants, is extremely effective in all water temperatures, but is less available than the other products. The Amway company manufactures Pursue, which is specifically formulated for laundry. Label directions should be followed. Many household cleaners contain the effective disinfecting ingredients, but are not recommended for laundry purposes. Lets talk a moment about diapers. After collecting and soaking diapers in a chlorine or borax solution, wash diapers in your washing machine using plenty of hot water, detergent and bleach. For best results, use fabric softener in the final rinse. Although some people consider chlorine bleach a harsh ingredient to use on baby’s clothing, tests show that babies are much more sensitive to unremoved bacteria in diapers than to the ingredients used in laundry products. What about potentially medically contaminated clothing? Chicken Pox, Measles, Mumps, Hepatitis A and B, Herpes, AIDS, Legionaire’s Disease and Meningitis are all bacterial or viral infections. They can be transmitted from person to person contact or contact with body fluids. However, transmission of any of these diseases from inanimate objects such as clothing, is believed to be extremely rare, if not impossible. Normal laundry procedures using a high temperature (from 140-158 degrees Farenheit) wash cycle, a normal bleach concentration followed by machine drying (212 degrees Farenheit for 20 minutes) kills any virus in question (even the AIDS virus !) Again, it is unlikely that the virus is still thriving in the garment in the first place. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac are a different story and clothing can be contaminated with the plant sap. Many times individuals with Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac re-expose themselves by wearing contaminated clothing again without laundering or dry cleaning. This is mostly true of outer-wear, such as jackets, hats and gloves that normally do not need cleaning after each use. If you or a family member has been exposed to one of these plant poisons, then launder or dry clean outer-wear. Cornell
Cooperative Extension Yates Association |
