Many people often think that bacteria only exist in damp, dirty places... However, the reality might be beyond your imagination; they can appear everywhere, such as on clothes, bookshelves and food. So, is there a way to kill bacteria on clothes? Which ingredients will carry out this responsibility effectively? Let's find out with Cleanipedia!
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How long do germs live on clothes? Germs like bacterial spores, depending on their type, will have a lifespan that varies at different levels. Sometimes their life cycle is measured in minutes, sometimes it extends to millions of years; but what about germs that live on clothes? Is there an antibacterial method that can eliminate this existence? If bacteria are formed from external factors, then so are germs, the level of germs growing on clothes will be influenced by several factors such as: - Cloth material: cotton is a material in which germs tend to grow and linger the longest. Because cotton has the ability to absorb water up to 65%, this is a good condition for germs to hide. In contrast to cotton, polyester due to its poor water absorption, germs cannot survive long on this material. Degree of fabric cleanliness: New, clean fabric, the rate of germs, bacteria will appear very little. Meanwhile, old, worn-out, dusty clothes can breed germs abundantly. - The lifecycle of germs: Since they are microorganisms with an unlimited lifespan, no matter how clean your clothes are, there will still be some germs lingering on them (Of course, keeping them clean will minimize the spread of these germs to harm your health). In addition, to know when germs, bacteria can live on the surface for how long to find the most standard way to kill bacteria, don't forget the following figures: Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Living life ranges from 7 days to 7 months. - Flu Virus: It survives in the environment for about 24 to 48 hours. Cold Virus: They can survive up to 7 days, but lose the ability to infect people after 24 hours. Salmonella and campylobacter: Known to be able to survive up to 50 days on dirty surfaces, but there are also cases where they only live less than 4 hours. Norovirus and clostridium difficile: Some studies have revealed that they can live for at least 8 hours and up to 5 months.
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Does washing clothes kill viruses? Many people choose to wash clothes as an effective way to kill bacteria and mould on clothes. Does it work? The answer is yes, if you apply correctly and don't forget the notes when implementing: What temperature should you wash clothes to kill bacteria? It is best to wash clothes at temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius and above? Use high bleaching solutions or combine with antibacterial detergent to help control the growth of viruses. Because these specialised products can kill up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria even at 20 degrees Celsius. Especially, soaking them in this detergent mixture is the most effective advice for you. If unfortunately, you are sick, wash your clothes as well as the surfaces around the house immediately to prevent the spread of germs to family members.
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Common types of bacteria present on clothes: Like other germ-killing methods, to achieve effectiveness, in addition to always keeping everything clean, you need to know the cause of harm, as there are many different types of bacteria that typically cling to clothes: - Norovirus can live on fabric surfaces for up to 12 days. You should wash contaminated clothes as soon as possible and remember to wash these items separately from other clothes. - E. coli: The lifespan is even longer, lasting several weeks, and this type of bacteria appears in contaminated food and drink. To avoid spreading, wash your clothes more frequently. - Salmonella: Like E.coli, Salmonella enters the body through contaminated food sources. This can easily transmit among your family members if you don't regularly clean the house and personal clothes. When washing clothes, you should still apply the rule of separate laundry for contaminated clothes.
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Can a dryer kill germs on clothes? Most of us think that the heat of the dryer is the most effective way to kill germs, because bacteria can't withstand high temperatures. Fortunately, that idea is CORRECT! If the home dryer doesn't provide a suitable temperature for your clothes, just hang them up and take them directly outside, under the sunlight. The UV rays from the sun will help sterilise your clothes.
As simple as that, Cleanipedia hopes that this article will help you better understand about killing germs on clothes efficiently at home to protect the health of all family members. Don't forget to visit Cleanipedia every day to update on more news and knowledge!
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