How to Wash Potentially Infectious Laundry
Recently, we've had a number of phone calls on this issue, so we thought it would be good to write a blog about it.
When caring for an animal with a known or suspected infectious disease, bedding, blankets, towels, clothing and other washable materials can all become contaminated.
Having a simple laundry regime in place can help ensure these items are appropriately disinfected and cleaned before they're used again.
Keep infectious laundry separate
Where possible, use separate or dedicated bedding, towels, clothing and other washable materials for animals with a known or suspected infectious disease.
Keep these items separate from your normal laundry and avoid mixing them with bedding or materials used by other animals.
Once used, handle them as potentially contaminated and avoid unnecessarily shaking bedding or clothing before processing.
Simple step guide to dealing with contaminated laundry
Step 1: Remove gross contamination
Before soaking or washing, remove any obvious organic material such as faeces, vomit, blood or other debris.
Step 2: Pre-soak with Safe4 Disinfectant
Prepare Safe4 Disinfectant at a dilution of 1:50 and fully immerse suitable contaminated bedding, towels, clothing or other washable textiles.
Leave them to soak for 30 minutes before washing. We recommend using our clear unfragranced disinfectant.
This provides a separate disinfection stage before the normal laundry process.
When treating clothing or unfamiliar fabrics for the first time, test the diluted Safe4 solution on a small, inconspicuous area first to check for colourfastness and fabric compatibility. Always follow the garment or manufacturer's care instructions.
Step 3: Wash with Safe4 Laundry Liquid
Following the pre-soak, wash the items using Safe4 Laundry Liquid, following the recommended dosage and appropriate care instructions for the fabrics.
For an additional level of reassurance, Safe4 Laundry Liquid has been independently tested to EN 13727:2012+A1:2013, demonstrating bactericidal activity against MRSA at 60°C with a 5-minute contact time under dirty conditions.
Where fabrics allow, a 60°C wash therefore provides the conditions under which this efficacy has been demonstrated.
Step 4: Dry thoroughly
Once washed, dry all items thoroughly before reuse.
Keep clean laundry separate from contaminated items and don't return dedicated bedding or materials to general use.
Summary of protocol
For suspected or confirmed infectious cases:
Separate → Remove gross contamination → Spot test unfamiliar fabrics → Pre-soak in Safe4 Disinfectant at 1:50 for 30 minutes → Wash with Safe4 Laundry Liquid → Dry thoroughly
Having dedicated materials and a straightforward process makes it easier to manage potentially infectious laundry consistently.
Always follow Safe4 product instructions and check that fabrics are suitable for the recommended soaking and washing conditions.