When your family member is infected, their laundry requires special thought. This is true whether they have COVID19, a cold, the regular flu or some other illness.
Why mention it?
Our skin gives off toxins. Our breath gives off germs – meaning viruses and bacteria. That means when someone is infected these germs can be in the air around them, on their clothes and bedding. Airing and washing get rid of body toxins and viruses.
What to launder?
Clothes, pajamas, bed linens and blankets. These are all classified as “dirty”. This means contaminated or able to infect someone else. It is “dirty” in a way that isn’t visible without a microscope.
Handling contaminated clothes
Put used clothes and pajamas in a washable clothes hamper or bin. If the ill person can do it, that is best. However, if their energy and strength is low, you might need to do this task. If you do, protect yourself and your household by following these guidelines.
Guidelines
- Plan a time to do laundry when you won’t be interrupted.
- When you touch dirty clothes, wear gloves. This can be disposable gloves or reusable dish-washing type gloves. (If you have neither type of gloves to use, be extremely careful to wash your hands after handling the clothes.)
- Carry dirty clothes away from you, not letting them touch your front.
- When changing the bed put on gloves. If the person has an infectious, respiratory illness like COVID19 also put on a mask. Wear these items to remove the used linens. Never shake the sheets or blankets because that will put any germ back into the air. After you drop the dirty bedding into the hamper or washing machine STOP. Take off your gloves first, then take off your mask. Put them in their proper place, that is throw away disposables and/or wash the reusables.
- Set up your washer with detergent, etc. then add the dirty clothes. Remove your gloves and/or wash your hands. Start the washer.
- Take time to disinfect the outside surface and dials of the washing machine. Wash your hands.
- After the cycle has run, transfer the washed items to the dryer STOP. Wash your hands. Now you can set the dial for the dryer. High heat is best. Although washing the clothing is good and necessary, it is the heat from the dryer that completes the kill. If you line dry clothes, sunlight kills germs. Hang-drying in your house may not kill the germs.
Again, Why?
An ill person not only might give off germs, but they will give off more toxins through their skin. They may sweat more. They need to rest more than usual. For all of those reasons their pajamas, clothing and bedding will need more washing than usual.
For all of those same reasons, the patient needs bathing of some type. It promotes rest and healing to be washed and have clean pajamas and clean sheets.
Some people take the idea of infectious to an extreme. Humans have microbes – some helpful, some harmful. There is no need to be afraid of germs. There is a need to be cautious. Using common sense and a few tips, like the guidelines above, will cut down on the spread of infections. Your good working immune system will do the rest to keep you infection free.
Here’s another link you mind find helpful:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html