Coronavirus Can Transmit Through Clothing, Hair, Beard, Shoes

Be Careful: Coronavirus Can Transmit Through Clothing, Hair, Beard, Shoes

Coronavirus Can Transmit Through Clothing, Hair, Beard, Shoes. Although it is not yet clear how long SARS-CoV-2 (a virus that causes COVID-19) can live on clothes, experts advise attention when washing and handling clothes. Special care should be taken by people living in areas where suspected or confirmed by Coronavirus infection. Continue reading to learn why disinfection is important for safety measures.

What does Studies Say About Clothes Hygiene of Coronavirus Patient?

A laundry worker in the Northeastern Chinese province of Jilin has reportedly infected a dozen others with the coronavirus. Recent research has also shown that changing rooms can be infested with germs such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc., so laundry workers might be infected by those clothes, an epidemiologist said of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to locals of her neighbouring (A laundry worker in the Northeastern Chinese province of Jilin), the virus spread from the woman to her husband, three sisters, other family members, and then to close people who came in contact with her. This means that changing rooms, duty stations, laundry rooms, health workers as well as health and safety workers can be major sources of transmission of the coronavirus.

Health workers, health and safety workers, media personalities, transportation workers, security persons, and business people have been reported to be infected, while the number of infected people is increasing day by day in developing countries around the globe.

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Important to Know about Clothing

Now the most important thing we need to understand is to pay attention to personal hygiene, keep the clothes separately in the room, or safe place after coming back from office, which means proper utilize laundry hygiene practice. Wash clothes thoroughly with soap and keep them in the sunlight for at least 5-7 hours and then reuse them. It has not clear how long the virus can survive in clothes (studies have been going on), but research has shown that the virus dies when dried in the sunlight for 5-7 hours.

If you work as a healthcare provider, or a waste management worker, and work with coronavirus infected person,  it is important to pay special attention to personal hygiene and other safety measures, including laundry. Also, if you live in an area where the coronavirus has spread, you should be very careful when returning home from outside. Coronavirus can transmit through clothing, hair, beard, shoes.

Cleaning or disinfecting clothes depends on the level of risk of coronavirus. If you think your clothes have been infected with the virus, wash them safely as soon as you get home following the WHO protocol, making foam of soap or detergent for at least two minutes. After washing, dry in the sunlight for at least 5-7 hours. Wear a mask and rubber gloves when washing clothes. If you are washing your clothes, put a mask on your face and gloves on your hands. Rinse with warm water as much as possible.

If you maintain a physical distance while outdoors, the coronavirus is less likely to stay in your cloth, therefore, physical distance (two meters), hand hygiene (frequent hand washing), and respiratory hygiene (covering the mouth and nose with tissue paper, handkerchief, mask, or elbow) are the leading measures to prevent coronavirus so far. Coronavirus can transmit through clothing, hair, beard, shoes.

Don’t wear watches, rings, earrings, or nose rings when you go out.

Hair, Beard, Shoes, Slippers May others Sources to Transmit COVID-19

The virus can also be transmitted from your hair, beard, shoes, slippers, etc. So pay attention to your hair and beard. Always keep them clean. Shoes and sandals can also carry the virus, according to a new study from China. When you reach home from outside, you should wash your shoes and slippers with hot water or dip them in soapy water for 5 minutes and wash them clean and dry them in the sunlight.

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How to Wash Clothes

1. Wash clothes with soap or detergent only. Bleach or detergent can be used too. Follow the product description and guidelines of WHO about washing potentially infected clothes. Soak the cloth in a solution containing quaternary ammonium before washing.
2. Prepare hot water about 60-90 degrees Celcius which is recommended by WHO. High temperatures of water can damage clothes or shrink if there are fragile fabrics, so be sure to read the care labels of clothing.
3. Wash clothes with soap or detergent. Bleach or detergent can be used. Follow the product description and guidelines for washing potentially infected clothes.
4. Soak the cloths in a solution containing quaternary ammonium salts before washing.
5. Let the clothes dry completely. Disinfect the laundry basket with 0.1% sodium hypochlorite or any other household disinfectant, which should be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
6. Wear gloves and a face mask when doing laundry. Immediately wash the hands with hot water and soap after removing the gloves from the hands. If you do not have gloves, then wash your hands immediately after washing, and during washing, do not touch your face.

Washing Clothes in the Laundry House

Not everyone has a washing machine at home. But even if there is a laundry facility in the house or apartment or public service, where you live, you still have to follow the guidelines listed above.

The following precautions should be taken when washing clothes in such public places.

– Keep yourself 6-feet (2-meters) away from other people.

– Wear disposable gloves and face mask, and do not touch the face.

– Disinfect laundry and dryer surfaces.

– Fold the clothes during taking back at home.

– Immediately wash your hands after reaching home and apply hand sanitizer. Disinfect laundry baskets or use disposable laundry bags.

Conclusion

Coronavirus can transmit through clothing, hair, beard, shoes. It has not yet clear how long SARS-CoV-2 viruses can live in various clothing materials. But SARS-CoV-2 viruses cannot survive at temperatures above 70 degrees (158*F). Bleach and other household disinfectants can be used to neutralize viruses. Therefore, take precautions is an important way to be safe.