When you think about the germiest room in your home, “the bathroom” probably comes to mind.
You probably don’t think about germs in your laundry room. Afterall, it is the place where you clean your dirty laundry with detergents, stain removers, bleach and other chemical products. The truth of the matter is, according to some experts, a specific appliance in that room- your washing machine- may be contaminated. Read the rest of this informative article and find out how to kill bacteria in your washing machine.
What The Experts Say-
According to Dr. Chuck Gerba, microbiologist, The University of Arizona, 1 in 4 washing machines is contaminated. The results are based on a study he performed.
In addition to Dr. Gerba’s findings, microbiologist Ron Schnitzer of Sanipure Labs says that while your washing machine is cleaning the dirt from your laundry, it’s probably not removing the bacteria. Rather, washing your laundry is usually just diluting the bacteria with water. Schnitzer adds that if you wash in water that’s above 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the bacteria is indeed being killed. The problem is, the hot water temperature in most households doesn’t reach that disinfecting level. Also, the heat in the dryer isn’t hot enough to kill the bacteria either.
That means, your washing machine is likely harboring bacteria. These germs probably won’t hurt you, but young people, the elderly, and pregnant women are the most susceptible to be affected.
To kill the bacteria in your washing machine, Schnitzer recommends running it empty every two or three cycles. Pour in a cup of bleach and run it through a wash. Don’t use scented bleach or color-safe bleach.
What the Clorox Company Says-
I contacted Clorox.com and reached Cherise Dugan, Consumer Response Representative. She explained that the scented bleaches haven’t been approved by the EPA for sanitizing or disinfecting. Use only regular bleach to kill bacteria in your washing machine.
Ms. Dugan also said, to disinfect a washing machine, add 3/4 of a cup of Clorox bleach to a regular wash load. Don’t add laundry. Just run the washer empty. Use whatever water temperature you want. The bleach works well no matter how cold or hot the water is.
Resources
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5408971n
www.clorox.com