Laundry Bacteria In Your In Your 'Clean' Clothes: Are You Using The Sick Laundry Cycle?

Bacteria in your laundry ‘clean’ clothes

Most of us wash our clothes at low temperatures and with mild detergents. We also like to believe that if our clothes smell nice, they are clean. However, this might not be true.

We all think that using milder detergents and low temperature cycles will preserve our clothes and they will last longer.

Recent studies have shown that harmful bacteria do not get killed when we use low temperature washing cycles. This also makes the average spin cycle a breeding ground for infectious bacteria and germs.

A leading health hygiene expert, Dr. Lisa Ackerley feels that awareness needs to be raised about the ‘sick laundry cycle’ and how thousands of infectious bacteria and microorganisms thrive on our supposedly ‘clean’ clothes. Dr. Ackerley advocates that the average laundry cycles produce visibly clean clothes but they are not hygienically clean. She says that the trend of reducing temperature and water volumes coupled with the use of milder detergents reduces the efficacy of the laundering process.

Dr. Ackerley believes that we need to re-evaluate our laundry hygiene. As per a study, the laundry clean clothes when thoroughly examined for microbes were found to have an average of 0.1 grams of fecal matter on each pair of clean knickers.

The sick laundry cycle does not only refer to the inadequate removal of bacteria from laundry clean clothes. It also refers to the cross contamination arising from mixing different types of clothes in the laundry. Mixing bacteria-infested clothes with other laundry items involves swishing the germs around and this in turn creates a bacterial soup. When different laundry items are mixed together in a cycle, there is a high risk of transferring bacteria from soiled underwear onto items such as tea towels that are used for wiping dishes.

These include facecloths, towels, underwear, nappies, and bed linen. Bacteria do not just come from infected clothes in the laundry cycle. Many times, the interiors of the washing machine also act as a breeding ground for bacteria. There is a gradual build-up of bacteria in the interiors of the washing machine. These bacteria are transferred to the water and clothes in subsequent wash cycles.

A study has found that there are close to one million bacteria in just about two table spoons of wash water from the washing machine. These bacteria find optimum conditions for thriving when low temperature cycles are run. The favorite thriving places for these infectious bacteria are hideaways such as the door seals and detergent drawers of the washing machine.

The sick laundry cycle is even worse if someone is unwell in the house.

Breaking the Sick Laundry Cycle

The best way to break a sick laundry cycle is to wash clothes in bleach and hot water. However, this is not the best alternative, especially for intimate wear and colored clothing. By following the tips suggested below, you will not only be able to break the sick laundry cycle, but will also ensure that you and your family are less susceptible to germs, skin rashes, and allergy attacks.

Listed below are some tips that can be adopted to reduce the growth and spread of infectious bacteria:

• Empty the washer as soon as the laundry is done: Bacteria thrive in wet, moist places. Therefore, make it a habit to take out the clothes from the washing machine within 30 minutes of the completed cycle. If the clothes have been left in the washer for an hour, it is best advised to rewash them. It is ideal to wash clothes in warm water which kills germs. You should also make a deliberate effort not to overload the washer so that the detergent can penetrate the fabric of all the clothes. You must also wash your hands after removing wet clothes. The dryer’s heat should kill most of the remaining germs.

• Wash undergarments separately: Fecal matter from undergarments is supposed to be the primary source of bacteria in a washer. Undergarments should therefore be washed in a separate cycle with hot water and color-safe bleach. You must also try to run an empty cycle in the washing machine using just bleach. This will help in washing away any bacteria that might be thriving on the inner walls of the washing machine.

• Wash your bedding in hot water: Beddings, sheets, and pillows have the maximum number of dust mites which are responsible for causing allergies. It is recommended that you wash your bedding at least once a week in hot water at a minimum of 130º F. Merely washing bedding in warm water will not kill the allergens.

• Air out your washer after the laundry cycle: Bacteria need a wet surface to propagate and numerous bacteria and molds are almost always present in the air. These molds find an ideal breeding ground inside a dryer which is moist. Exposure to molds causes wheezing, itchy eyes, congestion, and might even trigger an asthmatic attack. To prevent this proliferation of bacteria inside a dryer, always prop the door of the dryer open once the laundry cycle is completed. This will help in keeping the machine dry at all times.

• Opt for unscented detergents: We all like clothes that smell nice. However, detergent companies mix loads of chemicals to add the scent to the detergent. These chemicals might irritate the skin. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington found that a popular detergent emitted 13 volatile organic compounds, five of which are considered toxic. Exposure to such chemicals can trigger migraine and asthma attacks.

• Ventilate the laundry room: Care should be taken to adequately ventilate the laundry room as moist heat from the dryer can increase humidity levels which in turn trigger the growth of molds. When the dryer is running, it is recommended that you leave a fan on or open a window. This will help reduce the allergens.