40 or 60 degree wash?

[drsoo]

DH is a paramedic and insists his uniform is perfectly fine at 40 degree wash. We use Fairy non bio detergent. Should it be 60? I’m concerned he’s going into a lot of sick people’s homes but I suppose on the other hand a lot of medical emergencies are not infectious. I suppose there are germs and so on in nurseries, schools, supermarkets… What would you say, 40 or 60 degree wash?

60 degrees with bio powder.

We can’t use bio as we all have sensitive skin.

60 degrees

60 defo

NHS advice is 60.

60

Ex nurse said one of the reasons infections worse than used to be because they don't wash uniform in hospital anymore.

They leave it up to staff.

I would do 40 but I would use antibacterial laundry cleanser in the wash

What fabric and what does the label say?
You could do 40⁰C with laundry sanitiser if the fabric isn't supposed to be washed at a hotter temperature.
At the end of the day how will he know what machine setting you have used?

Apparently biological detergent doesn’t work at high temperatures as the heat kills the enzymes.

Thanks all. If I put it on I always do 60 but didn’t know if 40 would be enough! We’ll stick with 60

60 for non bio if you really need it clean.
40 for bio.
Above 40 with a biological would kill the enzymes that can kill bacteria. Still cleans, just not as antibacterial as a lower temp.
But yes, hotter for a non bio

60 is what you need to santise clothing. Anything below won’t kill bacteria he picks up while working around sick people.

I wash everything at 30 if I'm drying in the sunshine. If it's winter i will do towels and bedding at 60. I'd treat uniform with potential bodily fluids the same as towels.

I would do 60, or 40 with a disinfectant in there too. Also wash separately from rest of the family's clothes

At a minimum bio detergent. Add an extra rinse if it might irritate sensitive skin, although I think the fragrance in non-bio is more irritating than any biological function.

I used to live in US where non-bio is rare, but biological detergent "Free & Clear" (no-fragrance and no- dye) was the choice for sensitive skin. Suited my allergic baby well, but Fairy non-bio in UK brought him out in hives.

If the label says 60, 60 it should be. Ditto if it should be tumble dried.

The enzymes are for stain removal not killing bacteria. To kill bacteria you need to wash at 60 or add a disinfectant.
Bio is best at 40 or less because there's no point doing it hotter because it will kill the enzymes and stop it working as well.

separate wash at 60
any detergent will do

but tbh HE should take care of his work scrubs.

He does, usually. We’ve been doing them on 60. Whoever picks up the laundry basket. He wondered today if 40 would be enough/fine

If the label says 60, 60 it should be. Ditto if it should be tumble dried.

The label temperature is a maximum. Suitable for tumble drying still means you can line dry.

what does the workplace's infection control manual say?

60, bio, and laundry cleanser. Do a second rinse if you have sensitive skin.

Those saying that 60 degrees kills the enzymes in the bio detergent are missing the fact that it takes a long time for the washing machine to heat to 60 degrees. Plenty of time for the enzymes to do their job before they get denatured.

It’s a 60 degree separate uniform wash.

Yes, but the temp and quick drying in a tumble dryer will reduce any lingering dangerous bacteria faster than drying on an airer indoors over several days. UV in sunlight is also beneficial as an alternative, but sunshine and good drying conditions outdoors is not reliable where I live...

Really they should be laundered at work. If DH is covered in blood do you have to soak that out? I think that’s really risky to put in the household wMachine.