Cleaning and disinfecting are two different processes. In these times of panic & fear, everyone is very much worried about the presence of viruses everywhere. One such concern is of having Viruses in laundry and disinfecting or sanitizing laundry has become one of the most demanded services.

Cleaning involves removing dirt and germs from surfaces. While cleaning may lower the risk of spreading infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria, it does not kill them.

Disinfection requires the use of chemicals that kill germs. Disinfecting or sanitizing hard surfaces and textiles after cleaning them can further reduce the risk of spreading infections.

Studies suggest that human coronaviruses, such as those responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), can remain on metal, glass, and plastic surfaces for up to 9 days. Although current research findings and guidance from public health authorities provide insight on how to reduce viral transmission on surfaces, the same is not applicable for clothing and other textiles.

The Lancet Microbe reported that the virus remained infectious for 3–7 days on glass, stainless steel, and plastic surfaces, and less than 2 days on wood and cloth. Their findings also suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is highly sensitive to heat. On increasing the process temperature to 70°C (158°F), the virus can become inactive within 5 minutes.

Practicing proper hand hygiene and disinfection protocols at home and in public can help lower the risk of indirect transmission. To prevent the spread of germs throughout your household, consider sanitizing any fabric items, including clothing, towels, bed sheets, pillowcases, and throw blankets, etc. For the best disinfecting strategy, use our laundry sanitizing tips to ensure these items emerge from the wash clean and germ-free.

Doing laundry at home

Follow these instructions to take care of clothes at home.

• Launder items with laundry soap or household detergent. Consider using a detergent that contains bleach. However, be sure to read the product description and guidelines to avoid potentially ruining certain clothing items.

• Choose the warmest available water setting. The WHO recommends water temperatures between 60–90°C (140–194°F). However, high temperatures can damage or shrink delicate clothing items, so remember to read the care labels.

• Dry clothing completely.

• Disinfect laundry baskets with one of the household disinfectants, which are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

• Wear gloves when doing laundry. Wash hands with warm water and soap immediately after removing the gloves. If gloves are not available, wash hands immediately after handling dirty clothing and avoid having any contact with eyes, nose or mouth.

Other commercial laundry sanitizers can also help kill bacteria and germs that regular detergents might leave behind. Follow the instructions on the label and try the product first on an inconspicuous area to test for colour fastness before washing. Non-bleach laundry sanitizers might be the best choice for delicate items but refer to the label for specific fabrics that are safe for use. You might also prefer professional laundry sanitising services at Fabrico.