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How to do your laundry during a pandemic. 

In light of recent events, hygiene has become the trending topic across the world. 

The outburst of coronavirus also dubbed, COVID-19, has made cleaning agents such as hand sanitiser, toilet roll and antibacterial wipes rare commodities in supermarkets across the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 is one of the most highly infectious diseases of this century. Due to the severe level of its contagiousness, a nationwide lockdown is now in full effect and multiple platforms such as WHO and the NHS continuously advise that the public should take multiple precautions to ensure the continuation and enforcement of good hygiene. Now, whilst all the advice around washing your hands for 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer and covering your mouth when coughing remains valid……….what about our clothes? 

The novelty of COVID-19 means that research on the virus is ongoing, so scientists and microbiologists are still not certain as to what objects the virus can survive on, and how long for? According to microbiologists, it is better to play it safe by maintaining good hygiene on items of clothing. So, whilst the longevity of the virus on clothing items remains unclear; it is wise to extend the level of cleanliness we attach to our hands onto our clothing, especially when we embark on essential trips outside of our homes.  

Here are some recommendations on how to clean your clothes in quarantine/isolation: 

-        The government recommends that you do not shake dirty laundry in order to minimise the possibility of the virus dispersing through the air. 

-        Wash the items in accordance to manufacturers instructions and wash all dirty items in the same load. 

-        If you do not have a washing machine wait a further 3 days after your 7 day or 14-day isolation has ended in order to take your laundry to a public launderette. 

-        Another recommendation when in isolation is to reuse clothing to reduce the need for laundry. 

-        The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice is to wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry and then to discard after each use. If no gloves are used it is advised to wash hands immediately after laundry. 

-        Clean and disinfect laundry baskets/bags or line your laundry bags with bin bags that can be disposed of after use.  

How to protect yourself at a public laundrette? 

-        Collective anxiety during this crisis is at an all-time high, so if you are going to a public laundrette, here are a couple of handy tips to keep safe and minimise the any stress felt. 

-        A recent study by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease revealed that Coronavirus can survive on some hard surfaces for up to 2-3 days. 

-        Consider using alcohol-based wipes to sanitise the door/washing machine handles and surfaces you come in contact with whilst doing your washing. If possible avoid staying in the laundrette while your washing is on, come back to collect it when the cycle is complete. Practice social distancing whilst in the laundrette. Finally avoid touching your face until you’ve been able to wash your hands. 

We hope this smol guide has provided some answers to your questions, we encourage you all to continue to stay safe, practice social distancing and stay at home as much as you possibly can.

 smol things make a big difference 😉

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