As more and more people are being impacted by the COVID-19 virus, the question of how to properly home wash protective clothing potentially exposed to the virus, has been raised.
Adhering to the manufacturer’s laundry instructions is generally enough to render the virus inactive.
There is no need to use disinfectants as they could negatively affect the protective properties of the clothing.
The following instructions are in concert with the health authority directives for anyone handling potentially exposed clothing.
• Recommendation that anyone handling potentially exposed clothing wear disposable gloves. If gloves are not available, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, after handling. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• IMPORTANT - Do not shake the dirty clothing.
• Launder using commercially available home laundry detergents, according to the laundry instructions on the care label in the clothing.
• Use a warm setting allowed by the garment label. Run a second rinse to help remove any residual materials that may not have been removed during the first rinse. The heat of the water, the agitation in the wash cycle, as well as the chemicals in the detergent work to help render the virus inactive.
• Transfer the clothing to the dryer and DRY COMPLETELY on a low setting. The additional exposure to heat will further help render the virus inactive.
• Clean and disinfect hampers or other collection devices that have come in contact with the clothing.
NOTE: Because these are protective garments, standard protective clothing wash requirements must be followed. Those requirements include:
• Wash separately from other garments
• Wash in soft water
• DO NOT use bleach, starch, fabric softeners or products containing hydrogen peroxide
• Be sure any potentially flammable or harmful materials have been removed completely