Ironing knickers to reduce UTI

[goudacheese]

My mum told me to always iron the crutch of my knickers to kill bacteria. Just wondering if others do and whether it really does prevent infections. I've never had a UTI but this could just be coincidence.

Surely this isn't necessary to use every single wash? More uneccessary waste and crap going into the ecosystem.

That stuff is getting in our waterways causing all sorts of problems. Just iron the stuff and spare us all your chemicals.

Have used cotton knickers for over 40 years, washed at 30 (!), dried by hanging up inside. I even wear them at night. Never, ever had an issue. Because of misleading packaging and the lack of cotton now available, I briefly used some synthetic ones for a few weeks. Suddenly started getting issues. Ditched the new knickers, all fine again.

So for me it’s pretty clear. Just use cotton, all the rest or it about temperatures etc is complete bollocks!

I do mine(100% cotton, occasionally silk) as I had recurrent thrush at one point. I was looking at a tube of canestan in my cupboard a couple of days ago, and feeling glad I haven't actually had to use it recently.

A friend took up ironing her socks after struggling to get rid of athlete's foot.

So I'd definitely do it for recurrent fungal infections. I don't know if it will do anything for bacteria, but it's probably worth a try.

@IOnlyWantSexMoneyPowerAndRevenge Idk, I hope not. I thought the wastewater treatment facilities would remove anything harmful before releasing it back into the environment.

If laundry sanitisers are harmful so too would be other products like household cleaning products, disinfectant, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, dishwashing liquid, dishwasher tablets, any medicated creams or lotions on your skin being washed off in the shower, deodorants, anti persperants, perfumes, hair dyes, sunscreen, etc. etc. etc. Also, the fibres from any clothing, bedding etc. that are made with synthetics (micro plastic) and the chemicals used to dye clothes etc. too. The list goes on.

I don’t know why it showed my post. I was quoting @IOnlyWantSexMoneyPowerAndRevenge

@Scalottia I am using it from the recommendation of a doctor for a medical condition a member of my household has. I respect other people’s right to privacy so I will not elaborate further.

It has been incredibly helpful and I do not feel bad about using it. Plenty of people regularly use fabric softener in the rinse cycle and most people don’t take issue with that. Fabric softener would have far more harmful chemicals. Canesten is a medicated cream in Australia too. It’s a fairly trusted brand.

Wastewater treatment removes a lot, but it doesn't remove all soluble waste, because they don't distill the water.

Synthetic fibres and cleaning bobbles in some toothpastes and facial cleansers are contributing to plastics in the environment,. Laundry sanitisers and any other product you wash away will be a greater pollutant in water than something like furniture polish, which won't be going down the plug hole.

The doctor that helped my mother recover from years of UTIs recommended to stop taking baths and swimming, and only shower instead.

“ Steam your Gussets Ladies” is crying out to be the name of a book.

I imagine your underwear lasts about two weeks max though.

What health issues would decrease if we all washed our pants at 60°?

Unless someone has an infection or is immunocompromised, there's really no need.

A hot wash at 60 degrees is equally effective.at killing bacteria.

And a lot less fiddly 🙂

It helps.
Same with BO bacteria, the heat kills it.

I do remember reading somewhere that putting your knickers in the microwave with a bowl of water kills bacteria that causes thrush though. Thrush is much more persistent and infectious .

Oldie here. This is an Olden Days thing from back before washing machines and bio washing powder. Knickers were not washed to today’s standards or changed as often as they are today.

Wearing worn knickers inside out, handwashing with soap and not always being able to get them properly dry before rewearing them made ironing the gusset a very good idea indeed. Also the quality of sanitary wear was not great.

And they say kids today have it tough…

Going commando as much as possible is probably fresher.

My gran used to boil wash everything and always ironed everything including bedding, knickers and socks.

Modern washing powders and the washing cycle sort out the bacteria nowadays but I suspect in days of yore ironing pants with tea towels and handkerchiefs was a good idea.
Not as completely batty as it sounds. Nowadays it's just luck and drinking enough water.

Thrush is fungal, not bacterial.

I’m in my 60s, never ironed my knickers (haven’t ironed anything for about 15 years) and have never had a UTI.

Yes but it kills the fungus

This is not true. Any bacteria anywhere on the knickers can get its way into the urethra. Bacteria move around easily with body movement.

No, modern laundry detergents do not "sort out the bacteria" at 30° or 40°.

I wash underwear at 60 degrees.

Just buy it a little on the large side.