What is Laundry Hygiene?
Laundry hygiene is all about banishing those pesky germs from your clothes and fabrics, breaking the cycle of cross-contamination, and keeping your loved ones safe and healthy. This is especially crucial in places like hospitals, where cleanliness is paramount. But, it’s also vital to practice good laundry hygiene at home too.
While it may be easy to spot and remove stains and dirt, ensuring that all those nasty germs are gone is a bit trickier. It’s essential to remember that just because something appears clean, it doesn’t mean it’s hygienically clean. That’s why it’s important to adopt proper laundry hygiene practices, such as using hot water and effective detergents, washing clothes separately, and avoiding overloading the washing machine to ensure that your laundry is thoroughly disinfected.
By following these simple yet effective steps, you can rest assured that your clothes and fabrics are free from any lingering germs, and you can enjoy a clean and hygienic home environment.
What are Potential Sources of Contamination?
When we wear or use fabrics, we unknowingly transfer germs from our skin onto them. The amount of germs that are transferred can vary depending on which part of our body comes into contact with the fabric. For instance, our armpits tend to emit a lot of germs, especially when we’re hot and sweaty, while our underwear is also a prime spot for germs to linger.
Aside from germs from our own bodies, external factors can also contribute to the germ count on our clothes and fabrics. For example, contact with raw food, animals, or sick individuals can all lead to the transfer of germs onto our clothing and other fabrics.
In addition to germs from our skin and external environment, our washing machines themselves can also harbour germs that can contaminate our laundry. As we load our laundry and water into the machine, germs can form biofilms that adhere to the surfaces of the machine, especially in plastic parts like the detergent drawer. These germs can then detach during the rinse cycle and contaminate the clothes we’re washing.
Best Practices for Specific Types of Laundry
1. Bedding and Linens
Your bedding is your haven of comfort and relaxation, but did you know that washing your sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers every 7 to 10 days is essential to maintaining their freshness? Neglecting this routine can lead to the accumulation of unwanted filth such as dead skin cells and dirt. Conversely, washing them too frequently can cause premature wear and tear.
To preserve the colour and elasticity of your bedding and extend its longevity, it’s a smart idea to rotate in another set during washes. This way, you can always have a fresh set of bedding to slip into, without the worry of washing them too often. If you have decorative bedding such as quilts or throws, they can be washed less frequently, around every 3 months.
Duvets, comforters, pillows, and mattress pads are other bedding essentials that require regular cleaning. Although they should be washed less often than sheets, they still should be cleaned every 3 to 6 months to keep them hygienic and fresh. Mattress toppers should be taken to the dry cleaner every 6 months to ensure they remain in good condition.
2. Towels and Washcloths
When it comes to towels, taking care of them properly is essential. One of the most important steps in this process is often washing your towel. It’s recommended to wash your towels after every three to four uses to ensure they stay fresh and clean unless you’re using copper-infused antimicrobial towels since these towels contain self-sterilising, anti-bacterial properties, which reduces washing frequency unless you notice dirt on them.
Washing dirty towels with other laundry items is not ideal as it may cause the towels to not get as clean and damage their delicate fibres due to tangling with smaller items. If you have luxury towels, it’s even more important to take special care when washing them. With that said, here are some helpful tips to ensure your towels are washed properly and come out looking fantastic.
1. Prevent Colour Bleeding: To avoid colour bleeding, separate light and dark towels into two different loads.
2. Proper Washing Machine Loading: It’s essential to avoid overloading the washing machine when washing towels. Overloading can prevent the machine from spinning properly and lead to poor cleaning.
3. Optimal Detergent Usage: Using too much detergent can cause soap build-up on the towels, leading to an unpleasant odour. Use the recommended amount of detergent according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Bleaching Towels: If you want to whiten your white towels or remove tough stains, you can add bleach to the wash. Be sure to follow the instructions on the bleach bottle to avoid damaging the towels.
5. Water Temperature Selection: Using the hot water setting while washing white and light-coloured towels can be quite effective. The heat from hot water can help to brighten and revitalize the colours, resulting in a cleaner look. On the other hand, dark-coloured towels should be washed with warm water, which can help to maintain the colours and remove bacteria without causing any damage.
6. Drying Your Towels for Maximum Fluffiness: After washing, remove the towels from the washing machine and give them a good shake to remove excess water. Then, hang them on a clothesline or put them in the dryer.
3. Baby Clothes and Cloth Diapers
Washing baby clothes requires a gentle touch and special attention to ensure that the clothes are properly cleaned without damaging the delicate fabrics or irritating your baby’s sensitive skin. Here are the steps to follow when washing baby clothes:
1.Sort the Clothes: Separate the baby clothes according to colour, fabric type, and care instructions. Wash whites separately from coloured clothes to prevent colour bleeding. Separating fabrics like cotton from delicate fabrics like silk or wool helps to avoid damaging the delicate items.
2.Pre-treat Stains: Before washing, pre-treat any stains on the clothes. You can use a stain remover or a mixture of baking soda and water to create a paste and gently rub it onto the stains. Let the pre-treatment sit for a few minutes before washing.
3.Use a Gentle Detergent: Choose a mild, baby-safe detergent that’s free of fragrances, dyes, and other harsh chemicals. Read the label for the recommended amount of detergent to use based on the load size.
4.Wash in Cold Water: Use cold water to wash baby clothes. Hot water can damage delicate fabrics and shrink clothes. Using cold water also helps to remove any germs or bacteria without damaging the clothes.
5.Use a Gentle Cycle: Set the washing machine to a gentle cycle to prevent clothes from getting twisted or stretched during the wash cycle. Avoid using fabric softeners as they can irritate your baby’s skin.
6.Air Dry: Dry the baby’s clothes by hanging them on a clothesline or laying them flat to air dry. Avoid using the dryer as it can shrink or damage delicate fabrics. Direct sunlight can also fade colours, so it’s best to dry clothes in the shade.
4. Gym Clothes and Athletic Gear
Washing your gym clothes and athletic gear may seem like a daunting task, but with a few simple tips, you can keep them looking and smelling fresh for your next workout. To start, allow your sweaty clothes to dry out before washing them, and turn them inside out to promote airflow and prevent bacteria growth. It’s also best to avoid washing them with heavy or linty items, and instead use the delicate or gentle cycle with cold water.
Consider using protective mesh bags for sports bras to prevent damage to the fabric. Use only a small amount of detergent and avoid fabric softeners or bleach, which can cause lingering odours. For best results, air dry or use a low-heat dryer cycle and never use liquid fabric softeners or dryer sheets when washing workout gear. If you still notice any unwanted odours, try adding white vinegar to the wash cycle for a natural, effective solution. Follow these tips, and your gym clothes and athletic gear will stay clean, fresh, and ready for your next workout!
5. Pet Bedding and Clothing
Cleaning your pet’s bedding is important for both their health and hygiene. The first step is to remove any loose debris, hair, or dirt from the bedding by shaking or vacuuming it. Then, check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if the bedding can be machine washed or if it requires hand washing. If machine washable, use a mild detergent and wash on a gentle cycle with warm water. If hand washable, fill a tub with warm water and add a mild detergent.
Let the bedding soak for a few minutes, then gently scrub with a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly and squeeze out excess water. Allow the bedding to air dry completely before putting it back in your pet’s sleeping area. It’s recommended to wash your pet’s bedding at least once a week to maintain cleanliness and avoid any unwanted odours.
Final Thoughts
Good laundry hygiene is essential for maintaining cleanliness and preventing the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses. By adopting a few simple practices discussed in this blog we can ensure that our laundry is hygienic and safe for use.
As individuals, it is our responsibility to practice good laundry hygiene to protect ourselves and those around us. Let us take a pledge to implement these practices and make hygiene a part of our daily routine. Together, we can create a healthier and safer environment for ourselves and our communities.
Author Bio:
Rory Donnelly – Rory is the R&D Director and passionate entrepreneur, fascinated by the workings of the human body and natural solutions for common health problems. He’s single-minded in his aim to make Copper Defence a brand that’s recognized across the globe, by partnering with global brands to make these high-tech materials easily accessible for everyone. If you’d like to get in touch, email Rory at Rory@copperclothing.com or visit copperclothing.com for copper-infused clothing, pet accessories and more.