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Laundry Tips for Dealing with COVID-19

LAUNDRY TIPS

As new information comes out about the COVID-19 crisis and as the numbers of the positive test results rise, people are looking for better ways to protect themselves and their families from the virus. 

Cleaning surfaces and washing hands are important tactics for staying healthy, and clean clothes are also important. How can you stay safe while getting your clothes cleaned during a pandemic? How should you handle your laundry if you’re sick? What if you’re a medical professional or caregiver for a sick person? Take a look at some laundry tips for dealing with COVID-19.

Washing Your Clothes

For the most part, you can wash your clothes the way you normally do. Just like soap and warm water will kill the virus on your hands, detergent and water will most likely kill any virus that’s on your clothing. 

If you’re not sick yourself and haven’t been exposed to anyone who is, you probably don’t have to take any special precautions when doing laundry at home; just wash your hands after handling dirty laundry. 

However, if you work in a medical setting, are a caregiver for someone who is sick, have been exposed to someone who is sick, or are showing symptoms yourself, it’s best to take some extra precautions. Wear gloves while handling your dirty laundry, and choose the hottest water setting that your machine allows. 

Using a Laundromat or Shared Laundry

A significant percentage of Americans don’t own their own washing machine and dryer. In cities where citizens have been instructed to stay home, laundromats are considered an essential business, so you should be able to find one that’s open (though some may close or reduce their hours) and you should be able to go out and do laundry. Shared laundry rooms, such as those in many apartment buildings, should also remain open. 

However, it’s important to consider that you could be putting yourself at risk of exposure by using shared laundry rooms or laundromats. While the virus is not thought to live long on clothing, it can live longer on plastic and other hard surfaces like the chairs, folding tables, and equipment at the laundromat or in a shared laundry room. 

If you have to use these facilities, use good judgment and take precautions. Bring disinfectant wipes so that you can clean surfaces before touching or using them. Bring your own hand sanitizer as well. If you’re a person with risk factors, consider asking a friend or family member to do your laundry, or hiring someone to do it for you rather than risk exposing yourself. If you feel sick or have tested positive for COVID-19, you should definitely have someone else do the laundry – or just put it in a bag and let it wait until you’re no longer infectious.