John Myers
Disinfect laundry – in times when pathogens are rampant, now and then a must! However, conventional washing is not always enough for stubborn germs or odors. Here you can find out how to get your clothes hygienically clean.
Why disinfect laundry?
Washing clothes and the like at 30 degrees Celsius saves energy and therefore resources. But the low temperature has a major disadvantage: Many pathogens survive in lukewarm water – including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The germs can multiply in the washing machine and spread to other items of clothing. If someone in a multi-person household is ill, the risk of infecting other people increases.
Before washing: the right laundry organization
Before you disinfect laundry, you should organize your clothes and the like well:
To keep clothes as hygienic as possible, you should separate your laundry properly and wash the laundry regularly – and not only when the laundry baskets are overflowing.
Extremely dirty clothes, as well as underwear, bed linen, towels, and cleaning rags, are to be collected in a separate laundry basket so that the germs do not spread to the rest of the laundry.
Possibly contaminated clothing and reusable fabric masks must also be kept away from the rest of the laundry – this also applies to all clothing or laundry of sick people.
Baby clothes are also to be stored separately.
Damp clothes or wet towels don’t even belong in the laundry basket, this is where germs thrive. So let it dry first or wash directly.
How to disinfect laundry
How to disinfect laundry? Here are the most important tips:
If you want to disinfect laundry in the washing machine, a wash cycle at least 60 degrees Celsius is necessary. Most germs are only killed above this temperature and the laundry is then hygienically clean.
Underwear, bed linen, towels, and cleaning rags should therefore always be washed at 60 degrees. Likewise, contaminated clothing, provided the fabrics can withstand such a high temperature.
More environmentally friendly economy programs with mostly lower temperatures or 30-minute quick programs are not suitable for laundry disinfection, nor are standard programs at 30 to 40 degrees. However, for conventional clothing – and if everyone in the household is healthy – lower temperatures are sufficient.
What to disinfect laundry with?
For laundry disinfection, use a heavy-duty detergent with bleach – the added bleach accelerates the killing of germs. Heavy-duty detergents are available in the form of powder, granules, beads, or tablets.
You can also use a hygiene detergent for laundry to disinfect. This can also be a tried and tested remedy for strong odors.
How to disinfect washing machine?
Regardless of whether the flu virus is circulating or someone in the household is sick, you should occasionally disinfect your washing machine. Especially if you don’t wash regularly at higher temperatures. Because over time, other germs can accumulate in the machine due to dirt, sweat or grease, and mold can form. We therefore recommend washing at 60 degrees once a week.
If your washing machine allows hot washes from 90 degrees, you should also use this from time to time – if necessary, clean the washing machine while it is idling without clothes.
For additional disinfection of the washing machine, you can use washing machine cleaners or descaler tabs in addition to hygiene detergents. Citric acid, baking soda and baking powder are ideal home remedies for removing limescale.
After the wash: More tips for better hygiene
To keep the washing machine – and the laundry – hygienic, here are a few more tips to keep in mind:
To prevent the formation of germs, hang up the fresh laundry immediately after the wash and do not leave it in the lukewarm residual water for hours.
Leave the washing machine and the detergent compartment open for a while after washing to allow air exchange and the residual water to evaporate.
Regularly clean the laundry drum door separately, especially the inside. You can also use hygiene wipes or a hygiene spray to help with this.
Clean the lint filter every two to three months.
