From washing hands for 20 seconds to coughing and sneezing into our elbow to implementing social distancing, we’ve all heard the health recommendations designed to keep us safe and reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. However, lately, we’ve been fielding questions about laundry – particularly washcloths and towels.
If no one is sick in your household, we recommend what we always recommend, wash your washcloth after each use. When washing your hands, germs spread more easily from wet skin than from dry skin, so drying your hands completely is an important step. In these uncertain times, do not share towels and wash hand towels daily, keeping them clean and rotated.
Here is what the Center for Disease Control recommends if you are caring for someone who may be sick with COVID-19:
Clothing, towels, linens and other items that go in the laundry:
Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from an ill person and then discard after each use. If using reusable gloves, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other household purposes. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.
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- — If no gloves are used when handling dirty laundry, be sure to wash hands afterwards.
- — If possible, do not shake dirty laundry. This will minimize the possibility of dispersing virus through the air.
- — Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items.
- — Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces. If possible, consider placing a bag liner that is either disposable (can be thrown away) or can be laundered.