Kako prati rublje tijekom pandemije COVID-19
Moram znati
- Odjeća može nositi virus koji uzrokuje COVID-19, ali vjerojatno već radite sve što trebate sa svojim rubljem
- Postoje stvari koje možete učiniti kako biste dodatno smanjili rizik, čak i kada se brinete za nekoga tko je zaražen virusom
Mnoge klice, uključujući koronavirus koji uzrokuje COVID-19, mogu se prenijeti putem kontaminirane odjeće i ručnika.
Nažalost, ne znamo koliko dugo koronavirus COVID-19 može preživjeti na tkaninama, stoga se isplati poduzeti nekoliko mjera opreza.
Dobra vijest je da te mjere opreza nisu preteške, osim ako se ne brinete za nekoga tko je zaražen ili spada u kategoriju visokog rizika.
Na ovoj stranici:
- Kako prati rublje tijekom pandemije
- Ubija li sušilica viruse?
- Može li UV svjetlo ubiti viruse?
- Ubija li Steam viruse?
- Koji proizvodi za čišćenje ubijaju viruse?
- Kako se pere maska za lice?
- Trebate li dekontaminirati svoju perilicu rublja?
Hoće li vaša perilica rublja zaštititi COVID-19?
Ako imate posla s malo zaprljanim predmetima koje smatrate niskim rizikom (tj. niste došli u kontakt s poznatom infekcijom), tada su vaša trenutna perilica rublja i uobičajeni deterdžent za rublje izvrsni alati u borbi protiv prijenosa.
Kombinacija deterdženta, tople vode, miješanja, ispiranja i centrifuge koja je sastavni dio vaše postojeće rutine pranja vrlo je učinkovita u onesposobljavanju, uklanjanju i ispiranju virusnih opterećenja.
Prema Nacionalnoj zdravstvenoj službi (NHS) u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu, gdje imaju mnogo više slučajeva nego mi u Australiji, "normalno pranje odjeće smanjit će rizik od prijenosa klica".
Čak i ako imate dodatnog razloga za zabrinutost – na primjer, možda ste došli u kontakt s virusom – ne morate puno mijenjati svoju rutinu pranja rublja da biste bili sigurni. Prema NHS-u, "u određenim situacijama odjeću treba prati na temperaturama višim od normalnih i s proizvodom na bazi izbjeljivača kako bi se rizik prijenosa sveo na najmanju moguću mjeru."
Kako prati rublje tijekom pandemije
Evo kako oprati svoju odjeću i druge predmete kako biste smanjili rizik od izlaganja bolesti COVID-19.
Peri na najtoplijem programu koji preporučuje tvoja etiketa za njegu
Iako obično preporučujemo pranje u hladnoj vodi, toplina je jedan od najboljih načina da se virusi onesposobe. Ako perete ručno, neka bude najtoplije što možete podnijeti.
Operite odjeću visokog rizika na 60°C ili višoj
Opasnu odjeću idealno bi trebalo prati na 60°C ili višoj.
Odjeća koja je bila izložena tjelesnim tekućinama – poput krvi, povraćanog sadržaja, znoja i fekalija, uključujući odjeću koja se nosi preko otvorene rane i zajedničke ručnike – može lako širiti viruse. To znači da svoju opremu za vježbanje, ručnike, donje rublje i posebno pelene za višekratnu upotrebu i odjeću za bebe trebate prati na 60°C ili višoj.
Jako zaprljane predmete i odjeću korištenu u pripremi hrane treba prati odvojeno i nemojte ponovno nositi svoju smrdljivu odjeću za teretanu – stavite je ravno u pranje, čak i ako još uvijek vježbate sami.
Nemojte dijeliti ručnike
Dijeljenje ručnika higijenska je horor priča i jedan od najlakših načina za širenje bakterija s osobe na osobu. A to uključuje i ručnike za ruke – čak i ako ste upravo oprali ruke potrebnih 20 sekundi.
Temeljito osušite rublje nakon pranja
Virusi se lakše šire preko mokrih površina nego preko suhih, stoga provjerite je li vaše rublje potpuno suho nakon pranja kako biste smanjili rizik od kontaminacije.
Ubija li sušilica viruse?
Nije nužno, ali može, ovisno o tome koliko vruće može postati. I dok obično zagovaramo sušenje na liniji ako je moguće, ovo je trenutak kada bi odgađanje sušilici moglo biti od koristi. Unatoč blagom svojstvu sunčeve svjetlosti ubijanja klica, vrući zrak u vašoj sušilici učinit će puno bolji posao u onesposobljavanju virusa.
Može li UV svjetlo ubiti viruse?
Da, može, iako postoji nekoliko različitih vrsta UV svjetla s različitom učinkovitošću protiv virusa kao što je SARS-CoV-2. UVC je najučinkovitiji u zaustavljanju virusa, a koristi se u nekim zdravstvenim ustanovama za dezinfekciju površina i opreme. Također se može koristiti za uništavanje štetnih bakterija u pitkoj vodi, a UV sterilizatori su zgodan alat za putnike i planinare.
Sunčeva svjetlost također sadrži UV svjetlost, iako je uglavnom UVA i UVB. Ove vrste UV svjetla manje su učinkovite u onesposobljavanju SARS-CoV-2, iako vam definitivno mogu izazvati gadne opekline od sunca. Dakle, dok sunčeva svjetlost – poznata i kao sušenje rubova – ima blagi antivirusni i antibakterijski učinak, ne možete se pouzdati u to da će uništiti COVID-19 na vašoj odjeći ili u vama.
Ubija li Steam viruse?
Pod određenim okolnostima, da, a para se koristi za uništavanje virusa u autoklavima.
Međutim, para u autoklavima koristi se u kontroliranom okruženju pod pritiskom i na visokim temperaturama i nije jasno bi li para iz perilice rublja s funkcijom pare bila učinkovita protiv SARS-CoV-2 ili bilo kojeg drugog virusa na mekim materijalima poput odjeće . Dakle, iako sigurno ne bi škodilo koristiti postavku za paru ili dezinfekciju ako je vaša perilica za rublje ima, savjet stručnjaka, uključujući Centri za kontrolu bolesti u SAD-u, ostaje da je pranje u vrućoj vodi najučinkovitiji način borbe s COVID-om -19 u praonici.
Eterična ulja koja ubijaju viruse
Iako postoje neki dokazi koji upućuju na to da su neka eterična ulja učinkovita u razgradnji nekih virusa s ovojnicom kao što je gripa, istraživanja su vrlo ograničena. Iako je Sars-CoV-19 također virus s ovojnicom, trenutačno nema dokaza koji bi sugerirali da eterična ulja imaju bilo kakav učinak na njega i ne preporučuju se u liječenju ili prevenciji.
Koji proizvodi za čišćenje ubijaju viruse?
Deterdžent za pranje rublja
Poput sapuna, vaš tipični deterdžent za pranje rublja odlično razgrađuje i uništava koronaviruse. Za redovito svakodnevno pranje, vaš uobičajeni deterdžent u toplom pranju trebao bi biti savršeno dovoljan da uništi virus na vašoj odjeći.
Ako ste došli u izravan kontakt s virusom ili se nalazite u visokorizičnom okruženju, također biste trebali nastojati prati u najtoplijoj vodi koju vaša odjeća i perilica rublja mogu podnijeti (trenutačno shvaćanje je da su temperature iznad 60°C dovoljno da COVID-19 učini neaktivnim) i razmislite o korištenju izbjeljivača s kisikom ili prelasku na deterdžent koji sadrži izbjeljivač.
Izbjeljivač
Bleach is one of the best household cleaners to use with any virus, and laundry-specific oxygenated bleach is a powerful antiviral tool in the laundry, particularly for clothing that may have come into contact with the virus.
Follow the dilution instructions on the bottle and not only will bleach help keep your whites their whitest, but according to the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, it may help render viruses inactive in the wash. Many laundry detergents already contain colour-safe bleaching agents, so check the box or bottle in your laundry, and if yours doesn't, consider switching to one that does.
Do not use chlorine bleach in your washing machine, it can damage and discolour fabrics, and never mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaning products as this can create toxic gas.
Like bleach, Hydrogen Peroxide is also a powerful disinfectant, and will do a good job of sterilising surfaces but may not be suitable for use on clothing.
Alcohol
Ethanol in concentrations greater than 65% will effectively render most coronaviruses inactive. While ethanol has limited uses in the laundry, it's the basis for most hand sanitisers which, in the absence of soap, are recommended for keeping your hands virus free.
Does vinegar kill viruses or bacteria?
Vinegar is a popular, cheap and natural surface cleaner. White distilled vinegar contains 5% acetic acid, a compound that can dissolve dirt, debris, and grime, but it only has limited effectiveness as a disinfectant. It can't kill all germs, and this includes SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
How do you wash a face mask?
If you wear a face mask (or gloves for that matter), then you should change it often. Face masks can quickly build up large viral loads as they have warm, moist air (your breath) constantly moving through them. Think of wearing a contaminated mask as the same as holding a damp cloth soaked in germs to your mouth and nose and you'll see why it's a problem.
Fabric masks should be washed in hot water, and dried thoroughly before you wear it again. Disposable masks are strictly single use, so throw them away (responsibly) after use.
Extra precautions for someone with COVID-19
Doing the laundry safely is particularly important if someone in your household might have the virus (confirmed or suspected), is in a high-risk category (such as those with a compromised immune system), or is a frontline care worker who is likely to come into contact with the virus.
The above washing practices are effective in rendering contaminated clothing safe (and you should consider all clothing, towels and linen used by these groups as contaminated), so it's fine to combine contaminated clothing with your regular clothes in the machine, but there are a couple of additional precautions you should take.
Handle contaminated clothing with care
The United States' Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing gloves when handling contaminated clothing, particularly if it has come into contact with bodily fluids. Dispose of gloves safely after loading the washing machine (the CDC has an excellent guide on how to remove gloves safely).
Whether you're wearing gloves or not, be mindful of keeping your hands away from your face during the entire process, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds afterwards.
Wash hot and with bleach
Wash contaminated clothing in hot water – ideally 60°C or above (provided it won't damage the fabric) – and use a bleach-containing detergent, or if washing whites, then add bleach to the wash itself (following the manufacturer's recommendation) for the best virus-destroying performance.
Store contaminated laundry separately
While you're fine to wash contaminated clothing together with other items (unless it's heavily soiled), keep it in a separate hamper until laundry day. And on the subject of laundry hampers, do use one rather than the 'floordrobe', so contaminated clothes are put away safely. You should use a washable or disposable liner for that hamper, and change it when you wash.
Give flicking the flick
Do not shake out contaminated laundry – it can release viruses and other germs into the air. Carry contaminated clothing carefully and load your washing machine gently.
Sanitise contact surfaces
Once the laundry's on, clean and sanitise any surfaces you've had contact with in the course of doing the laundry using bleach or household disinfectant. This includes the door and control panel of your washing machine, the laundry doorknob, and of course the hamper you've kept contaminated clothing in (and throw the hamper liner in with the wash too, if it's reusable).
Change clothes early and often
If you're a frontline health worker or have likely come into contact with the virus during your day, then change clothes as soon as possible or at least as soon as you get home, and treat what you were wearing as you would other contaminated clothing. This minimises your exposure if your clothes do happen to have the virus on them.
Do you need a washing machine with a sanitise program?
For most of us, a regular wash with hot water and detergent will do a perfectly good job of getting your laundry clean and virus-free.
A sanitising washing machine is a washing machine with a special program that uses super-heated steam or water to kill off germs and bacteria in your clothes, sterilising them and leaving them smelling better.
They tend to be more expensive than regular machines and unless you're a frontline health worker, immunocompromised, or have a bad reaction to dust mites and the like (which sanitising programs kill as well) then your current washing machine's just fine.
Do you need to decontaminate your washing machine?
The same combination of hot water, detergent and agitation that releases viruses from your laundry and flushes them away should keep the insides of your washing machine virus-free.
While you can use bleach to sanitise the doors and controls, you shouldn't use it undiluted inside the machine at all (other than oxygen-based bleaches as part of a wash cycle, following the manufacturer's instructions), as it can potentially damage rubber seals and hoses.
There are several commercially made antibacterial washing machine cleaners available, many of which use an oxygen-based bleach to kill most of the microbes that may have gathered. While this might give your washing machine a good spring clean, clearing out scrud and helping it work (and probably smell) better, it's worth noting that viruses and bacteria are two different things, so they may not help protect against COVID-19 anyway.
Can you carry the COVID-19 virus inside on your shoes?
Da. Shoes can and do pick up all sorts of nasties (not just coronavirus), but you can consider them low risk because you typically don't put them on the dining table or in your mouth – you're already naturally treating them as dirty.
You can keep shoes clean the same way you clean and sanitise hard surfaces (wipes are good for this, and you can dispose of them after), but you can also kick them off outside so as not to track the virus into your home.
Can you still use dry cleaners, laundromats or shared laundry facilities?
Even in the age of social distancing, doing the laundry is a fairly low-risk activity. You're more at risk from someone coughing near you than you are of infection from touching surfaces, so a few simple precautions are all that's needed to protect yourself and others.
Sanitise hard surfaces
Treat communal laundry facilities the way you would if you were doing the laundry for a COVID-19 carrier at home, and sanitise hard surfaces – controls, washing machine lids and door handles – on your way in and out.
Practice social distancing
Stay 1.5 metres away from other people, and don't linger while you're waiting for your laundry to be done – sit outside in the fresh air or go for a walk instead.
Wash your hands on entry and exit
Use soap and water, or failing that, use hand sanitiser – just as you would when visiting any other establishment.
If you're self-isolating, then stay self-isolated
It should go without saying that if you're quarantined or self-isolating you shouldn't venture to the laundromat. Once your self-isolation has ended, you should still wait a couple of days before doing the laundry, because the virus can survive on clothing for a little while and this will reduce the risk of turning laundromat patrons into patients.