Home washing machines fail to remove important pathogens from textiles

Hospital and food-industry laundering practices

• Many commenters are surprised and critical that healthcare staff often wash scrubs/uniforms at home, noting this is common in the UK and elsewhere, especially outside OR/ER or sterile areas.
• Others say some hospitals (past and present) do provide central laundry and even tailoring, but privatization and cost-cutting have shifted uniforms and their cleaning onto staff.
• Surgical scrubs are frequently cited as an exception that are centrally laundered.
• Comparisons to restaurants are mixed: some report full uniform laundry (especially in hotels or higher-end kitchens), others say only aprons are provided and staff wash their own clothes.
• Several argue employers, not individual staff, should bear responsibility for uniform hygiene, especially in healthcare.

Washing machines, temperatures, and (non-)sterilization

• Many note domestic machines are designed to clean, not sterilize, and that expecting full pathogen removal is unrealistic outside specialized settings.
• Discussion centers on 60°C cycles: some say 60°C for long enough should be effective; others stress many pathogens survive 60°C, and quick or “eco” cycles often never reach or hold that temperature.
• Commenters tie poor decontamination to energy/water-efficiency pressures: short cycles, low water, and “60°C equivalent” eco modes that actually run cooler.
• Some point out dryers (especially hot “sanitize” cycles) and desiccation are more damaging to pathogens than the wash itself, though this can damage clothing.

Detergents, additives, and maintenance

• The thread dissects the study’s use of common UK detergents (biological and non-biological) and notes that performance likely varies by product and dosage.
• Several suggest adding bleach, oxygen-based cleaners (OxiClean-like), or dedicated “laundry disinfectant/sanitizer” when uniforms are contaminated.
• Others propose TSP or similar strong builders, while also noting environmental tradeoffs.
• Machine hygiene matters: periodic boil/hot cycles, leaving doors open, and cleaning filters/sumps are described as essential to prevent biofilms and odors.

Study design and interpretation

• Some think the main takeaway is straightforward: healthcare workers’ uniforms shouldn’t rely on home laundering because practices, detergents, and machines vary and can fail.
• Others criticize the paper as methodologically weak: tiny sample of modern European front-loaders, some likely faulty heaters, unclear drying conditions, and limited detergent characterization.
• It’s repeatedly noted that textiles are only one possible vector among many for hospital-acquired infections, not conclusively the main source.

Policy and behavioral responses

• Suggested systemic fix: require staff to change at work and use industrial hospital laundry; relying on individuals’ home procedures is seen as unreliable.
• Some downplay risk for the general public, arguing everyday clothes don’t need sterilization and that over-sterilization might have downsides, while agreeing healthcare is a justified special case.