In a situation of possible contagion, not only should we wash our hands continuously, we must also take precautions with our clothes.

Cleaning our clothes in circumstances where a pathogen, i.e. an infectious microorganism, may be present in the environment is very important if we want to protect ourselves from contracting a disease. According to experts, Many viruses, bacteria and fungi can reach our clothes, and although most of them do not have the capacity to harm us, it is good to take into account some preventive measures.

This is what epidemiologist and anesthesiologist Oscar Andrés Tuberquia, who especially emphasizes, adding that “the habit of washing clothes or shoes with soap and water when you get home is not a bad idea for everyday life; since we do not live in a sterile bubble, there are thousands of pathogens in the environment that could potentially make us sick.”

The problem, according to the expert, is when an emerging agent appears in the environment that our body does not know and, therefore, does not know how to combat once it is inside us.

This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) places so much emphasis on handwashing, since these microorganisms affect us when we touch infected things and then touch our face. The WHO states that there are viruses and bacteria that can live for hours or even days on our clothes, hence the importance of always washing them with soap and water, since detergent has the property of destroying these agents.

Preventive measures

How should we treat our clothes in the presence of an infectious agent?

1. If we leave home and have been in places with a large crowd of people, once we get home, it is best to take off our clothes and put them directly in the washing machine or in the laundry bucket. If possible, we are advised to wash them immediately.

2. We should always wash our hands, since there is a possibility that we can pick up an object or touch a contaminated surface and then run our hands over our clothes.

3. If we leave the house, but we have not been in places with many people, perhaps in an office, we can store our clothes separately from the unused ones, to use them later.

4. If we suspect that we have been in contact with someone who is probably sick, the best thing to do is to wash our hands and, once at home, wash our clothes with soap and water. If possible, we could add a little bleach to the wash, but we must be careful with this liquid, as it tends to damage clothes.

5. If there is a vulnerable person at home, that is, someone suffering from a serious illness, or an elderly person, we must take all precautionary measures to ensure that they do not have any contact with possibly contaminated clothing.

6. As for shoes, it is also worth cleaning or washing them with soap and water if we have traveled on public transport or worked outdoors.

The nurse and master’s degree epidemiologist, leader in infection control and prevention, María Eugenia Peña, recommends having a place near the door to change clothes. She also emphasizes that we take preventive measures when we are on the street: “These are simple things but we should always keep in mind, no matter if we are in danger of getting infected or not; we should not hold on to railings, for example, we should wash our hands every time we touch surfaces that have been touched by other people, and, once at home, put the used clothes in the washing machine and let them dry well.”

The expert stresses that water and soap are enough to keep any garment free of infectious agents: “Although the measures seem simple, we should always keep them in mind under any circumstances,” he concludes.