Normal washing of clothes will reduce the risk of germs being transmitted. In certain situations clothes should be washed at higher than normal temperatures and with a bleach-based product to minimise the transmission risk as much as possible.
Washing high-risk items.
If the items you are washing are likely to cause illness (high risk), they should be washed at 60C with a bleach-based product. Items are likely to cause illness if you have someone in your home who has an infectious illness. The following items are also high risk:
clothes soiled with vomit or poo (including reusable nappies)
sports clothes
cloths used in food preparation
healthcare workers’ uniforms
shared towels
clothing worn over a wound or infected skin.
Shoes are not considered a high risk, but shoes carry a lot of germs so it is always a wise option to leave shoes outside the door.
