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Sanitizing Laundry

When I was at the CleanMed 2010 conference a couple of weeks ago in Baltimore, a nurse asked me how she could sanitize the clothing she wore at the hospital without using chlorine bleach.

I personally have never been concerned about killing germs on my clothing, but I could see how she could be, so I started doing some research.

One of the first things I came across was an article from the New York Times, published a decade ago, about germs in the laundry. The research team of Dr. Charles Gerba, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona,

randomly visited 60 homes and washed a sterile washcloth in their machines. One-fifth of the machines contained E. coli, while a quarter were contaminated with fecal matter.

The laundry, Dr. Gerba contends, is becoming less clean. Fewer Americans wash clothes in hot water, and only 5 percent use bleach, he said. Wash cycles are only 20 minutes, while the average drying time is only 28 minutes. Dr. Gerba found that some salmonella and hepatitis A survive through laundry — including the dry cycle — and remain on clothes. ”We have no idea how well we clean clothes,” he said.

Dr. Gerba’s own laundry machine yielded E. coli, prompting him to change his own washing habits. SCIENTIST AT WORK: CHARLES GERBA; On Germ Patrol, at the Kitchen Sink

Hmmm, I’ve never had reason to believe that harmful micro-organisms were in my laundry, but I do wash in warm water (not hot) and don’t use bleach. This is one of those times when taking an action that benefits the environment (saving energy by using warm or cold water instead of hot) may not be good for your health.

So, if you want to sanitize your laundry, how could you do it without toxic disinfectants?

You could add tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract to the wash. Both have disinfectant properties. I found many websites that say grapefruit seed extreact is becoming a disinfectant and sanitizing agent in hospitals and clinics (though the government requires products sold as disinfectants registered with the EPA, so I’m not sure about this–maybe someone working in a hospital could post a comment about their first hand experience with this).

Or you could get one of the new washing machines with a “sanitize” cycle, that disinfects while you wash. Many models have them now. Look for a NSF certification that ensures that “at least 99.9% of organisms are removed when the washer’s sanitazation cycle is selected and there is no carryover of organisms between loads after sanitization cycle is used.

Hanging laundry outdoors in the sunshine will do it too, as ultraviolet rays kill germs.

You can also use oxygen bleach. According to the Natural Choices website, “The oxygen bleach Natural Choices uses is sodium percarbonate which is made by treating natural soda ash with oxygen. In this process the soda ash picks up oxygen and releases it when added to warm or hot water. The released oxygen is what does the cleaning, stain removal and sanitizing.” Oxygen does kill micro-organisms. Hydrogen peroxide also can be used to provide sanitizing oxygen. We use it in our chlorine-fee swimming pool to kill bacteria and algae.

Mothers who use cloth diapers on their babies face this question daily. Traditionally, diapers have been presoaked with vinegar or borax to disinfect.

Any other suggestions?

The major thing I am running into researching this is lack of test data that shows how well each of these methods actually work to disinfect. So I can’t give a definitive answer at the moment, but the above is what is being recommended.

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Make Your Own Laundry Soap/Detergent

While searching for something else, I came across this great page about making your own laundry soap/detergent. It’s so good I had to share it with you.

If you’re interested in doing this, this page has 10 recipes and more than 200 comments from people who have made these recipes and others.

Most use bar soap (please use more natural soaps than the recommended brands), washing soda, borax, and other natural ingredients. You can make it unscented or add essential oils–as much or as little as you like.

TipNut: 10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes

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Built It Green

Though this website is oriented to the needs of the San Francisco Bay Area, it contians much general information on green building that is useful anywhere. Their free downloadable Green Building Guidelines are an excellent place to start if you are designing new construction or a remodel, and the AccessGreen Directory is full of green building products.

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Building Green

A huge amount of information on green building and green building products, compiled and commented on by people who know this field. Their free-access GreenSpec directory contains entries to "more that 1,800 environmentally-preferable building products with descriptions, manufacturer information and links to additional resources." All listings are screened and written by their experienced staff. Also take a look at their article "What Makes A Product Green?" . They also publish a the well-regarded Environmental Building News and have much more information on their site. This site is pretty nuts-and-bolts, geared more to professional architects and builders, and gives more information that you may need or want to know as a homeowner, but it is a great resource for anyone interested in green building.

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Bugs ‘R’ Done

Highly effective indoor and outdoor insecticide and repellant that kills and repels disease-carrying cockroaches, flies, mosquitos, fleas, ants and fire ants. Contains "pure orange peel oil, nature's own botanically-derived insecticide. In combination with four other ingredients… widely used by other industries to safely add flavor and aroma to many food, beverage and cosmetic products…all named by the U. S. Food & Drug Administration as 'GRAS,' Generally Regarded as Safe in human foods…bears a warning free EPA-approved label in EPA's least hazardous category IV. It is labeled both for use around food, children, and pets anywhere inside and outside homes, schools, and restaurants." This product kills pests while still being safe for humans and the environment by taking advantage of a unique characteristic of insects. "Unlike man, the breathing passages of …insects are waterproofed by a wax lining. The food-grade ingredients in BUGS 'R' DONE soften and dissolve this wax lining, clogging the passageways and quickly leading to the insect's death. Human users, animals, and birds all are unaffected as is the environment." Comes in a recyclable plastic bottle.

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Boxwood Design Studio

Custom-embroidered items for the home made from undyed, durable, absorbant, luxurious linen. Choose from a generous-sized apron, napkins and napkin rings, handkerchiefs, laundry bags and shoe bags, guest towels, and accent pillows. Embroideries include initials, names, addresses, monograms, and charming graphic designs.

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Bountiful Gardens

Operated by the non-profit group Ecology Action, they are the only source for all Biointensive and Grow Biointensive™ books, pamphlets, and videos, which teach gardeners the sustainable techniques of growing organic soil while gardening. Training materials in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Swahili, and other languages. They also carry basic organic gardening supplies, non-toxic insect controls, and fine tools. Untreated open-pollinated seed of heirloom quality for vegetables, herbs, flowers, grains, green manures, compost and carbon crops. Also Biointensive organic seed. They specialize in rare and unusual varieties, medicinal herbs and super-nutrition varieties.

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Fragrance is Hazardous to Your Health

A new study done by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics shows that many popular fragrances contain secret chemicals not listed on the labels, and that some of these chemicals are associated with hormone disruption, allergic reactions, and other negative health effects.

In addition, perfumes and other scented products–including shampoos, lotions, cleaning sprays, air fresheners, and laundry products–contains volatile scent ingredients that can react with other substances in indoor air to generate potentially harmful secondary air pollutants such as formaldehyde.

This report is packed with information about the harmful effects of fragrances that go far beyond individual allergies or sensitivities.

There are many safe, unscented products on this blog and on Debra’s List. So there’s no need to be exposed to toxic fragrances if we choose not to.

Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance

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Botanic Gold

A "nontoxic multi-use botanical soap…the most powerful chemical free all-purpose cleaner available anywhere…has over 1000 uses…a silky golden non-toxic liquid soap powerful enough to completely free your home from all toxic cleaning chemicals including your everyday laundry detergent, dish washing soap, floor cleaners, and more…It can also be used for bathing, washing your hair, and even brushing your teeth…Ingredients: Purified water, fatty acids, folic acid, minerals and enzymes derived from edible and seed bearing plants."

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Drain Pipe Repair

Question from yellowflowers

We have a 3-4″ PVC drain pipe under our house that has come apart. With research, the only choice that I believe we have is to use toxic PVC Cement to glue it back together. I can’t seem to find any concrete information about how long it will take it completely cure and stop off-gassing. We plan to take the oppportunity to get out of the house for a while once it is glued… but how long should we (including a small child) avoid the area?

Debra’s Answer

The solvents in PVC cement are very volatile and should evaporate fairly quickly. Exactly how long it takes depends on the amount of heat and airflow.

Heat will make the cement outgas faster, an exhaust fan will help remove fumes from the area.

I suggest contacting the manufacturer to find out how long it takes to completely cure. They should have that information.

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ARE TOXIC PRODUCTS HIDDEN IN YOUR HOME?

Toxic Products Don’t Always Have Warning Labels. Find Out About 3 Hidden Toxic Products That You Can Remove From Your Home Right Now.