Due to the coronavirus, many people are now increasingly aware of the cleanliness of the surroundings, including the cleanliness of clothing. The proper washing method will protect the body from the threat of COVID-19.
However, keep in mind, no specific research has been conducted on how the coronavirus interacts with clothing fabrics. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the coronavirus is transmitted more through respiratory droplets rather than through the surface of contaminated objects or materials. However, the CDC notes that the coronavirus can last for hours on surfaces made of fabric, including clothing.
Public health expert Carol Winner says that particles in clothing can hold respiratory droplets. These particles can dry out over time and deactivate the virus. However, the process did not happen quickly. Some scientists are still learning a lot about the virus found in Wuhan, China.
Washing Clothes Guide
There are specific guidelines that should be followed to help kill the virus. One of them is using hot water for washing and giving extra time for clothes to be exposed to hot temperatures at least above 80 degrees Fahrenheit or around 26 degrees Celsius.
The Chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University, Rodney E Rohde reiterated the importance of washing clothes with warm or hot water. You are also advised to pay attention to the detergent used.
“I suggest you wash clothes with detergents that contain bleach compounds,” Rohde said.
Sources: CNN Indonesia, Huffington Post