Does Hot Water Kill Germs In Laundry

Hot water and detergent together attack oils and grime.

Does hot water kill germs in laundry. Flu bug going around your child s school. Getting rid of germs in laundry. Even the centers for disease control and prevention provides only a vague recommendation. If you re using cold water gerba recommends washing your hands after you handle wet clothes especially if you re washing children s clothes.

You need water that s between 140 and 150 degrees to kill germs said tierno. If you want to guarantee that your clothes will smell clean and fresh the next day run them in hot water. Using hot water 60 degrees is the best option will make many detergents more effective at tackling bacteria hosting oils and grime. Read and follow the clothing and soap or.

Washing clothes in hot water is a great defense. Washing clothing or linens of someone who is ill can spread the germs throughout the entire washer whether you use hot or cold water. Freezing temperatures don t kill germs but it makes them dormant until they are thawed. For deep decontamination you can soak laundry in a mixture of oxygen bleach and water for approximately half and hour before placing in a regular wash.

Hot water washing is not necessary for all household laundry. Hot temperatures can kill most germs usually at least 140 degrees fahrenheit. Unfortunately using hot water alone for laundry does not kill all germs and bacteria. Most of the hot water people use is not hot enough.

If you aren t already doing your laundry in hot water it might be time to start. When it comes to molds that cause skin or respiratory infections or organisms that cause colds flu and stomach. Even it hot water doesn t kill much bacteria it does help to get your dishes and clothes cleaner thus ridding them of potential hosts for bacteria. Most bacteria thrive at 40 to 140 degrees fahrenheit which is why it s important to keep food refrigerated or cook it at high temperatures.

It is also recommended to use oxygen bleach where possible. Anything below a hot cycle of 140 degree fahrenheit won t do much against bacteria says dr. To kill the germs in your laundry wash your clothes on the hot cycle then put everything in the dryer for 45 minutes. Hot water is the best option for clothes that have been lived in workout pants socks and boxers for starters.

That oil and grime that you rinse away with the water contains bacteria or could otherwise host bacteria. And no it doesn t matter how hot you set the water temperature on your machine. Just got off an airplane. Only a disinfectant like chlorine bleach pine oil or a phenolic disinfectant will sanitize the laundry and the washer.