How to disinfect garments to achieve true cleanliness

The cleanliness, hygiene, and healthfulness of the garments we wear has become increasingly important for all of us. Awareness of these issues has grown a great deal recently and appearances are no longer sufficient; rather, we need guarantees that our clothing is thoroughly disinfected and therefore not harmful to our health. Learning how to disinfect our clothing effectively has, therefore, become essential.

But what are the best products and methods to use to obtain tangible, safe, and long-lasting results?

This is the fundamental question which we will try to answer by proposing solutions that are easy to apply on your favorite clothes.

Of course, it’s not just a matter of dealing with the most “visible” dirt; the real goal is, in fact, to contain the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, and mold that can hide for long periods in the fibers. There are situations where achieving this goal is particularly important: such as when one is forced to spend a lot of time in very crowded spaces, or when one has to deal with small children who are particularly exposed to the risk of infection.

But we should also consider the Covid pandemic of a few years ago: back then it was pretty much impossible to even go into a shop, let alone try on a simple garment.

In that case, for example, we at Tonello put to use our know-how, and our knowledge of the properties of ozone to create technologies aimed at safely disinfecting garments and supporting retailer businesses. In fact, with our systems we seek to achieve high hygiene levels while at the same time, maintaining the qualities of the fabrics unchanged.

But getting back to the purpose of this article: what we will try to describe are some very simple tricks that will help you achieve the desired levels of deep cleaning for your clothing without forcing you to radically change your habits.

That is why we’re starting with the washing machine.

Ah, yes, the washing machine. On a par with the TV… It’s the most common small appliance in our homes (which, unlike the TV, cannot be replaced by a computer…).

Today, the washing machine has become a global consumer ally both in striving to achieve levels of garment hygiene and safety that have been inconceivable until recently, and in safely and effectively disinfecting clothes. Indeed, the latest models allow setting very sophisticated washing and disinfecting programs.

To make the most of the washing machine’s potential, however, we need to know and follow some basic rules:

• Raise the water temperature (when the fabric isn’t afraid of heat): just washing at 60°C, can drastically reduce the number of viruses and bacteria. On the other hand, if the clothes are more delicate, you’ll need to use a lower temperature and supplement your normal detergent with disinfectants specific for different types of fabric to be washed.
• To each fabric its own additive: we can find many disinfectants on the market, designed to give optimal results for each fabric (and by “optimal” we mean that deep cleaning should not be accomplished at the expense of respecting the characteristics, qualities, composition, and colors of the textile fibers).

• It’s (also) a question of which cycle: newer washing machines allow you to set cycles explicitly dedicated to disinfecting which automatically set the highest possible temperatures for different fabrics as well as longer wash times to ensure better results.
• Drying, the final (and indispensable) touch: you don’t want to ruin all of your hard work when you’re almost done, do you? Then pay close attention to the drying process, which is crucial for disinfecting your clothes in the best way. If you use a dryer, remember that if the fabric is not too delicate, the high-temperature process can eliminate residual viruses and bacteria. However, if you prefer drying your clothes in the open air, make sure that the clothes drying rack or the clothesline, and the clothespins have been thoroughly cleansed. Remember that sunshine has a natural disinfectant effect but be sure to turn the garments inside-out and don’t expose them to sunlight for too long, as some fabrics may become damaged and discolored by too much time in the sun.

If your garments are very delicate and potentially too sensitive to the use of chemicals and you are afraid of damaging them, you can adopt some traditional or alternative, but still very effective solutions.

• Steam iron: the hot steam penetrates the fabric and helps lower or even eliminate the bacterial load in garments that can’t take overly aggressive washing.
• Vinegar and baking soda: add a little bit of white vinegar to soaking laundry to reduce odors and bacteria; using baking soda, on the other hand, will help to get rid of tough, persistant dirt.
• Dry treatments: you can use sprays or sanitizing wipes to treat clothes that should not be washed in a washing machine. This treatment will help to reduce odors and, in part, eliminate bacteria.

The question you have to ask yourself today is almost inevitable: How can I disinfect my clothes in the most efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly way, while at the same time respecting the integrity of the fibers, and therefore, without affecting the durability of the clothing, and also reduce energy consumption? You can accomplish all this by following three simple steps:

• Choose the right products: favor gentle detergents and additives, preferably organic, and certified, in order to combine effectiveness with attention to fabric texture. Therefore, prefer brands that offer products designed for sensitive skin, such as those for children.
• Disinfect the washing machine: it would be useless to disinfect any clothing items if the drum is dirty or full of detergent residue. To resolve this problem run “empty” wash cycles with vinegar added to the water, or other products especially made to clean the drum and seals. In this way, your washing machine will be able to disinfect your clothing better and use less energy.
• Avoid excesses and waste: as is almost always the case, balance is the best choice. In fact, while disinfecting your garments is certainly important, it is not something that must be done every time the garments are used. In this way you can reduce fabric wear, energy consumption, and environmental impact.

As you can see, disinfecting your clothing in an effective and sustainable way is not difficult. If you would like to let us know if this post was helpful to you or if you need more advice, please write to us – we will gladly read you! 🙂

Happy disinfecting!