Most of the time we don’t give much thought to making sure our clothes and linens are really clean. We throw them in the washer, add detergent and maybe a little bleach if necessary, wash, and dry. The kilowatt slaves and chemicals do their job.
But what if the routine gets disrupted? The kilowatt slaves quit? The commercial detergent and bleach run out? And what if someone in the house is really sick and we need to get that laundry really clean? Or what if we just want to take an extra measure of precaution?
One other way of sanitizing items is to use an iron or steamer. If using an iron, make sure you have distilled water in it and the steamer setting on. The iron alone only sanitizes the surface; steam penetrates the fibers. For this reason, steamers are also great for sanitizing surfaces that can’t be laundered, like furniture and mattresses. Of course, make sure whatever you’re sanitizing is clean—you don’t want to set in any stains.
How can you be sure this method is effective? According to the CDC, influenza viruses are killed at 167°F.[1] Most steamers and irons easily reach 200°F or more. Steam and high heat also kill bacteria and dust mites.
After laundering the sheets and linens as best as possible and letting them dry (in the sun, if that’s an option), drape them over a clothesline or shower rod in the bathroom and fill the steamer with water. Once the water is heated and the steamer is ready, move it around in a regular pattern to sanitize the sheets and other items. Let everything dry completely before putting them on the bed or away in closets.
Links to related posts:
The Difference Between Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sterilizing
[1] “Influenza (Flu): Cleaning to Prevent the Flu, Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/images/multi-language-pdfs/contamination_cleaning_english_508.pdf (accessed 11 December 2020).
8 june 2023
Hospital Bed linens as well as bandage materials (much the same thing) were often boiled in a pot of clean water to sanitize them back before commercial washing machines and *tide*. . An old German Hausfrau technique was daily airing out of the bedding before remaking it reduces the body moisture left behind and so reduces the growth of bacteria there. Also sunshine on the porch railing or clothes line works well to sanitize sheets, just remember there are effectively 4 sides to that blanket that needs sunning.
ReplyDeleteAll good points. Thank you!
DeleteIf you are prone to losing power, and have a wood burning (or coal...sorry Joe) you might want to get a set of flatirons or "sad" irons that can be heated on the stove's surface. You can sometimes find them at thrift shops or antique stores, but if the latter, expect to pay more.
ReplyDelete