While washing your hands and social distancing is critically important during these times, that is not the only precaution individuals and businesses should be taking. Bacteria, germs, and viral matter are well-known to attach themselves to clothing surfaces and shoes. That is why knowing how to disinfect clothes and shoes is vital to ensure the safety of yourself, your family, and your customers.
While bleach is the most well-known and widely available disinfectant out there, this is not ideal for clothes and shoes, as bleach tends to discolor and destroy most fabrics. So, how to disinfect clothes without bleach? The answer is more straightforward than you think. Read on to find out how to disinfect your clothes quickly, easily, and cheaply.
1. How to Sanitize Your Laundry
When it comes to clothes disinfecting tips, the first thing you need to know is how to do your laundry in a safe and sanitary way. When washing clothes at home, it is often recommended to use a laundry detergent that contains bleach. However, if you would prefer to disinfect clothes without bleach, then you can use disinfectant detergents containing substances such as Lysol.
The World Health Organization recommends that all laundry should be set at a high temperature, ranging from 140-194 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also wear disposable gloves when doing laundry and make sure that you dry clothing completely before rewearing it.
2. How to Disinfect Clothes Without Bleach
Outside of the laundry room, there are many simple ways to completely disinfect your clothing without having to resort to using bleach. Here are some of the best clothes disinfecting tips to keep in mind:
- Disinfect your laundry basket using 0.1% sodium hypochlorite
- Apply disinfectant wipes to any surfaces where clothes will be stored, such as wardrobes and shelves
- Do not shake dirty laundry, as this will spread microbes around the room
- Use chlorine to disinfect clothes, either by soaking them in chlorine or adding chlroine to your washing machine
- Use a powerful, hot dryer to destory germs and bacteria
By following these simple tips, you can ensure safer and cleaner clothes for your entire household.
3. Best Ways to Disinfect Shoes
If you want to know how to disinfect shoes, it is worth emphasizing that putting them in a washing machine is not a good idea. Not only could it damage your washing machine, but it will likely not clean your shoes properly. One of the best shoe disinfecting tips we can offer is to invest in the kind of shoe disinfection technology used widely by hospitals and businesses, such as this.
Such tools use ozone and UVC light to quickly eradicate any germs that may be clinging onto your shoes. You can also use standard, EPA-approved disinfectant wipes to clean your shoes properly and stop tracking germs into the house.
Future-Proof Your Business in 2021
Knowing how to disinfect clothes without bleach is just one way to future-proof your business and allow it to run safely in 2021. For more tips on making your business ready for the future, make sure to read our expertly-curated Business guides today.