Las washing machines Domestic today offer several automatic and customizable programs based on the specific needs we have when making the cast. High temperatures are recommended to achieve maximum disinfection Of the tissues, but it may not even with hygiene programs we will completely eliminate harmful microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria, viruses or allergens.
This is what a group of Infectious Diseases of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Leices have discovered research team (University of Montfort, Leicester, the United Kingdom). In his work, entitled Domestic laundering of healthcare textiles: Disinfection efficacy and risks of antibiotic resistance transmission (“Domestic washing of sanitary textiles: efficacy of disinfection and risks of transmission of antibiotic resistance”), microbiologists have proven that many domestic washing machines They can’t eliminate bacteria Potentially harmful Health, or washing with hot water.
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Katie Laird, microbiologist expert and one of the main authors of the work, points out in New Scientist that the problem is that “You don’t know what the machine is doing”When you start the washing machine indicating that wash at 60ºC or activating the specific program that the washing machine offers. In the tests performed with rapid and standard cycles at that temperature, they verified that half of the tested machines did not disinfect the clothes.
The biggest problems arise when using Short cycles or fast, when a large number of washing machines fails to reach or maintain enough time the temperature indicated. And this is problematic when washing tissues susceptible to carrying harmful microorganisms, or being used in sanitary environments or where hygiene is fundamental, as with the uniforms of health personnel.
The National British Health System (National Health Service) recommends its workers to have their uniforms 10 minutes at 60ºC, but a domestic washing machine It fails to disinfect Textiles is a problem that can even affect public health. In addition, researchers have discovered that the microorganisms present inside the washing machines develop DETERGENT RESISTANCEincreasing your ability to survive.
Thus, says Laird, these results suggest that using domestic washing machines to wash health uniforms could be contributing to the Propagation of infections Hospital and antibiotic resistance.
At the particular level we do not have to worry excessively Due to the disinfection of clothing and other textiles unless we work in the health field or more prone environments to be in contact with pathogens, or that we relate to immunosuppressed people or special needs. Yes, we are more interested in promoting disinfection in case of suffering allergies.
What the authors of the work recommend, to reduce the risk of harmful microbes in the casting, are used regularly disinfectants Specific for washing machines, as well as to use a 90 ° C cycle to clean the machine. In addition, they recommend carrying good general maintenance to Avoid lime accumulationwhich can affect the proper functioning of the machines heater, preventing them from reaching the necessary temperature.
And an easy way to further reduce the presence of allergens and other microorganisms in clothing, is iron it Always after. The iron temperature leaves so many doubts when applying it on the tissues.
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