Is That Washing Machine Really Clean?
We wash our clothes with the expectation of getting them clean. Why else would we put ourselves through such a tedious ritual week after week? It turns out that “clean” may be a relative term, at least when it comes to the state of the washer.
Washing machines can be a reservoir for bacteria. The good news is this probably isn’t an issue—unless someone in the household is fighting an infection. If someone is sick, it may help prevent further infection by sanitizing the laundry—that is, drying it on high, line-drying it outside or using bleach or laundry sanitizer. Let's look at ways to get the germs out of our laundry, and why we should.
An Unlikely Hiding Place
Hospitals have numerous places where bacteria can hide and breed—sinks, drains, toilets and bathtubs, just to name a few. But a recent case study has added washing machines to that list. A hospital in Germany searched for over a year for the source of drug-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca bacteria being found on children in multiple wards. The investigation finally led to a domestic-grade washing machine that had been used to launder the children’s clothing.
Unlike the other machines used in the hospital, this one had been manufactured for home use, so it didn’t wash hot enough to sanitize the clothing. As a result, it became a haven for bacteria, distributing pathogens from sick patients onto any clothing (including newborn socks and hats) that cycled through. None of the 27 exposed children fell ill, thankfully, although the issue did extend their hospital stays. But the case makes an interesting point about home machines, doesn't it?
The Washer at Home
You might have already considered the implications this has on your washer at home, but the situation isn’t as dire as it seems. Unless someone in the household is fighting an infection, most won't have anything to worry about. Most of the bacteria on our clothes come from our skin microbiome, so they’re harmless. As long as clothes come out stain-free and smelling nice, we can usually consider them “clean.”
But what if someone in the household has something infectious? That may be cause for concern. Time reports that most home washers are perfect for spreading illnesses like colds and the flu. You can even expose yourself by handling wet clothes as you transfer them to the dryer. Fortunately, there are some precautions we can take to keep infections from spreading between loads.
How to Sanitize Your Laundry
Bleach is good for sanitizing clothes and sheets, but can only be used on whites. For broad use, try Lysol Laundry Sanitizer. Both options will kill 99.9% of germs in each treated load. If you aren’t able to sanitize your laundry in the wash—perhaps there's a family member who is sensitive to chemicals—you can reduce the chances of infection by drying the clothes on high heat. You can also line-dry them outside and let the sun’s ultraviolet rays work their germ-busting magic. This is a tried and true trick for sanitizing cloth diapers but it still applies today to the rest of the laundry.
So yeah, it's true, that washing machine might not be as clean as we'd like to think, but that doesn’t mean it’s not doing its job. Take special precautions when someone in the household is sick, but don’t go wild trying to keep things sanitized when everyone’s healthy and likely to stay that way. Those clothes are clean—relatively speaking.
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