As far as sanitation goes does it matter if you put dirty dish wash cloths in the laundry along with other soiled clothes.towels.etc - there are traces of fecal matter and urine on the soiled laundry?

Answer 1

This is an understandable concern. However there are several points to consider in this matter.

First, you do not eat the washcloths. One of the primary points to think of is that such residues are a health hazard when ingested along with other foods. Since the wash cloth is not a food item, it is a much less health hazard than would be expected.

Washing chemicals are designed to remove such residue. The surfactants in the make up of the washing powders or liquid will remove traces of waste along with the tougher body oils.

Become friends with bleach. Chlorine is antimicrobial, something that our grandmothers knew. They were not being "white" fanatics when they bleached everything, they were being sanitary. Even adding some chlorine to a cold water wash will not affect the color wash but will sanitize the load. 1/4 to 1/3 cup will take care of the problem. Be sure to add the bleach after the washer has filled. This will ensure that there are no bleach spots and won't fade your colors.

The old sort, wash, and dry formula work quite well for all laundry. Divide your wash into "whites", "colors", and "darks". The "whites" are bed linens, bath linens, and underwear. These are items that need to be washed separately any way and should be washed in hot water. Hot water is one of the catalysts for bleach to whiten. This is where your washcloths should go. And the full recommended allowance of bleach goes here. Result? white linens and sanitary washcloths.

A word about bath linens. If you have invested in colored linens, there is a concern about fading of those expensive towels and washcloths. For sanitary reasons, even if the label says no hot water or chlorine, it is wise to AT LEAST wash them separately in hot water. I use the weak chlorine and have no discernible fading of the "fancy" towels. Unless you are washing them in bleach with hot water every week, you should have no problem. Make sure that you do use the "extra rinse" cycle in your machine to remove any residue of the washing chemicals.

Also, even though you have the colored washcloths, invest in a cheap package of white washcloths. These should be your "everyday" washcloths. They will bleach nicely, clean your body beautifully and are not for the purpose of "show". White washcloths are the "socks" of the bathroom. Utilitarian, unglamorous, but utterly necessary. When your bath is done, wipe the tub. It's less work than scrubbing the tub and will keep your bath looking nice longer. After one use, in the laundry basket they go. Sanitation achieved.

The dryer phase of your laundry will take care of any residual germs that you might be concerned about. The heat from the dryer will kill germs, athlete's foot contamination, and even hidden dust mites that can survive in the wash. It is recommended that you sanitize your children's stuffed toys by this method. Simply toss the dry toys in the dryer for 30 minutes and they are freed from allergens and dust. Make sure that your wash is totally dry before you put it in the drawers.

So, short version, there is no danger in putting soiled washcloths in the laundry because of cross contamination of the rest of the laundry. Proper washing techniques will ensure that your family will not become ill because of accidental contamination.