The Truth About How Coronavirus Affects Your Laundry
The top 4 questions you need answered from the CDC regarding your laundry and the coronavirus.
Q: How long can Coronavirus live on your clothes?
The CDC says that “Current evidence suggests that novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings.”
Right now there isn’t enough information on the exact time coronaviruses can live on fabric but if we look at other viruses such as influenza virus we know that they are able to live for up to 4 hours on soft fabrics such as clothes.
Q: Should I change my clothes when I come home after being outside?
We recommend changing your clothes immediately when you come home and have some “home clothes” around that you can change into. The reason for this being you don’t want to spread germs that you’ve unknowingly picked up from being outside.
Q: How do I do my laundry if someone in my house or I get sick?
If someone in your household falls ill, you are able to wash their clothes with your own, according to the CDC, but do not shake the dirty laundry as particles from the laundry are able to spread. Wear protective gloves if possible while handling the laundry and dispose after each wash. If gloves are not available wash your hands after touching dirty laundry. If your washing machine has a sanitizing option, we recommend using it before and after each wash to kill the virus. The CDC recommends washing your clothes at the highest possible temperature for each wash in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation for your clothes. Don’t forget to wash the hamper or laundry bag the dirty laundry has been sitting in as well. If you are sharing towels and linens with other people or pets in your household we recommend washing them as often as possible.
Even if you are not sick, we recommend washing at the very minimum towels and sheets that are being used frequently at home. Since mostly everyone is working from home the amount of clothing being worn is probably significantly less.
Q: What products should you use to do your laundry?
According to the CDC, these EPA registered disinfectants are safe to use against emerging enveloped viral pathogens.
To keep up to date on the coronavirus, please visit the official CDC website.
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Is it safe to go to the laundromat at this time?
The CDC says that the coronavirus “can be spread mainly from person-to-person and between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). It can also be spread “through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.”
The CDC recommends limiting unnecessary non essential trips at this time but good hygiene is extremely important as well. Laundromats are considered one of the few essential businesses that can stay open during this time and for good reason.
We recommend if you have to go to laundromat following these guidelines :
- Going at a quiet time
- Keeping a safe distance (CDC recommends 6 feet) from other patrons
- Wiping down surfaces with a disinfecting wipe or spray – the virus can stay on hard surfaces for unto 3 days
- Wearing gloves if possible while handling dirty laundry
- Using the sanitizing option on the washing machine if it has one
- Not touching your face while doing your laundry
- Washing your laundry bag/hamper that carries the dirty laundry
If you have access to a Laundry pickup and delivery service, it is recommended to use professionals to properly disinfect your laundry. Laundry services follow high cleaning standards which are able to keep them safe and do your laundry efficiently. If you are able to, request a no contact delivery with the driver/ handler and have them leave the laundry at your doorstep/ lobby. Always ask if the driver/ handler is using gloves and ask for your laundry bag to be washed as well.
Let We Deliver Laundry handle all of your laundry needs at this time For further reading, see how the coronavirus affects your laundry. To stay up to date on the coronavirus, visit the official CDC website.
Ensuring your laundry is safe isn’t new for us
Press Play and take a look at a practice we’ve always done to keep your laundry safe, which is now more important than ever. Our Sanitizing Option on our machines that we utilize before and after every wash. Let us handle your laundry with the utmost safety and care at this time.
Top 8 tips for handling your laundry at this time
With everything that is happening right now how you take care of your laundry is even more important than ever before. We have compiled the Top 8 Tips for handling laundry according to the CDC.
- Wipe down surfaces with a disinfecting wipe or spray – if you are in your laundry room at home or at a laundromat. Novel coronavirus can stay on hard surfaces for unto 3 days.
- Wash your laundry bag/hamper that carries the dirty laundry
- Not touching your face while doing your laundry
- Wear gloves if possible while handling dirty laundry
- Do not shake the dirty laundry as particles from the laundry are able to spread
- If your washing machine has a sanitizing option, we recommend using it before and after each wash to kill the virus
- Wash your clothes at the highest possible temperature for each wash in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation for your clothes
- If you are sharing towels and linens with other people or pets in your household we recommend washing them as often as possible
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