Do you wash keyworker uniforms after every wear (not NHS)

[ssd]

2 keyworker here, supermarkets.
I've been washing uniforms, completely, after every wear but I can hang it out and dry it no problem with this nice weather. But next week is meant to rain and drying uniforms every night will be a problem.
Also, dh read this virus can withstand 90 degree washing, so am I wasting time washing at 40 degrees? I don't want to shrink everything washing at 50 degrees or above.

Has anyone read any official advice?

[iwishiwasonhol]

supermarket worker here ,yes I am washing after each wear ,still just doing it on a 40 degree cycle

[hardyloveit]

Key worker here (care) I wash mine after every shift but next week it will be difficult to dry as my tumble dryer has packed up and it's supposed to rain here too! Some nights I finish at 10 and then start at 7. I've had to ask for more uniform so I know il definitely have at least one dry as my tunic is very thick!

[ssd]

I wonder if there's any official guidance on this, I don't mind doing it but if the virus lives on after a 40 degree wash it feels a bit pointless.

[whatnow40]

Hanging it out in the sun will kill the virus, or just spray it with dettol. Joking obviously

[Cornettoninja]

I don’t know about the temperature but given we’ve been told soap breaks down the virus membrane I would’ve though washing powder would be sufficient for a non-clinical work uniform.

Before I had my tumble dryer I would put the machine on an extra spin, hang clothes on A hanger and then hang them on door frames and curtain poles. They seemed to dry much quicker with lots of space.

You could pop the heating on for a bit of an extra blast and make sure you open your windows so the damp air has somewhere to go.

[PennyArrowBar]

I wash DHs each time it's worn. It goes straight in the machine so I don't have to touch it when it's dirty. He works as security on public transport and gets spat on, coughed at, pushed, shoved etc. It gets washed on 40° with normal detergent pods and a cap of zoflora or dettol.

It got washed like this before Corona though, because people are disgusting. And if it didn't get washed daily he'd stink

[BrooHaHa]

I don't wash DH's work clothes these days. He changes into it on site and then changes out of it before commuting home. He washes it himself.

[anothernotherone]

I work in adult social care, we don't wear uniform but atm I walk straight to the washing machine when I get in and put my clothes in and fresh clothes on. I don't shower and wash my hair immediately though so it isn't foolproof... I just feel like washing everything as soon as I get in atm.

How many sets of uniform do you have? Washing at 40 and hanging indoors won't kill the virus but washing at 40 and hanging out in direct sunlight outdoors or tumble drying will.

[PerspicaciaTick]

If soap and hot water cleans your hands effectively, then soap and hot water will surely work on laundry?

[ssd]

Washing at 40 and hanging indoors won't kill the virus but washing at 40 and hanging out in direct sunlight outdoors or tumble drying will.

Why will tumble drying kill the virus, I can't tumble dry on high as it shrinks clothes anyway.

I read on an NHS site that washing germs in the clothes in the machine spreads the germs to all the clothes. I just wish there was official guidance on what to do.

[ssd]

I've searched and there isn't official guidance on this. The tumble drying advice is from 2017 and doesn't relate to corona.
I'm disappointed there isn't official guidance out there.

[AllianceOfCorcles]

Yes definitely stripping at the door straight in washer and shower

[gamerchick]

But soap kills it, soap in the washer will do the same OP.

[ssd]

Stripping at the door here isn't practical but going straight up for a shower is. It's just hard to think we'll need to keep this up for over a year. I feel like dh especially will forget and slacken off and I can't be here all the time to remind him.

[DurhamDurham]

I'm not sure about the washing at 90 being necessary, it's not as if we can wash our hands at that temp. 40 wash will be enough as it's the soap suds which work in the wash rather than the temp. I do like to hang everything on the line outside but that's because it keeps the whites white.

[Floatyboat]

Why doesn't detergent kill the virus if hand soap does?

[Cornettoninja]

But how will the virus survive the soapy water? If it’s good enough for our hands and body then surely it’s fine for clothes

If you don’t want to dry indoors that’s fair enough but you’ll need more uniforms so you can wait for the right weather 🤷‍♀️

[ssd]

Detergent should kill the virus. There's just so much conflicting advice around. Every Google search brings up new/different information.
I'm getting too anxious over all this. I'm literally terrified by it all. I thought I was getting better the last few days but my anxiety has returned. I don't want websites to tell me how to breathe and calm down, I just want official guidance that isn't just wash your hands.

Maybe they just don't know.

That's the scary bit.

[Gingernaut]

This is where a spot of Zoflora in the fabric conditioner drawer works it's magic.

[ssd]

I will dry indoors,no choice there.

[ssd]

Is it any zoflira? I have bought that before. Is it better put in the wash at the start or in the conditioner drawer? What's the difference?

[Gingernaut]

Zoflora is just concentrated, floral scented disinfectant - adding disinfectant to either the wash or the conditioner drawers will help, but at least you won't be wandering around smelling of Dettol.

[Scruffyoak]

I use napisan on mine and hope for the best!

[anothernotherone]

sad we have been issued new covid-19 hygiene protocols at work and that's where the tumble drying or drying outdoors in direct sunlight advice comes from (big care home, special education and supported living providor now also running a 36 bed covid ward in a converted day center). However I agree that doesn't mean it's right necessarily. We've got about a hundred pages of new covid-19 procedures, which change constantly, but it's instructions and rules and flow diagrams and policies, the scientific reasoning behind it isn't included (otherwise we'd all have even more to read before starting each shift).

[ssd]

Doesn't zoflora bleach the clothes if it's a disinfectant?