Abstract
In the Water, Energy and Waste Directive, the European Commission provides for the use of household washing programmes with lower temperatures (30–40 °C) and lower water consumption. However, low washing temperatures and the absence of oxidising agents in the liquid detergents, and their reduced content in powder detergents, allow biofilm formation in washing machines and the development of an unpleasant odour, while the washed laundry can become a carrier of pathogenic bacteria, posing a risk to human health. The aim of the study was to determine whether the addition of hydrogen peroxide (HP) to liquid detergents in low-temperature household washing allows disinfection of the laundry without affecting the properties of the washed textiles even after several consecutive washes. Fabrics of different colours and of different raw material compositions were repeatedly washed in a household washing machine using a liquid detergent with the addition of 3% stabilised HP solution in the main wash, prewash or rinse. The results of the antimicrobial activity, soil removal activity, colour change and tensile strength confirmed the excellent disinfection activity of the 3% HP, but only if added in the main wash. Its presence did not discolour nor affect the tensile strength of the laundry, thus maintaining its overall appearance.
Highlights
Among the measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from households and to reduce energy consumption, the European Commission has mandated in the Water, Energy and Waste Directive that household washing programs with lower temperatures (30–40 ◦C) and lower water consumption must be used [1]
The extreme increase in disinfection activity of 3% hydrogen peroxide (HP) in the main wash compared to the prewash and rinse can be explained by the longer contact time of 3% HP with the tested bacteria, as well as higher temperature
Since the cotton carriers of the tested bacteria were added at the beginning of the washing process, the disinfection activity of the HP in the rinse cycle was partially achieved by the antimicrobial activity of the quaternary ammonium compounds contained in the liquid detergents [34]
Summary
Among the measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from households and to reduce energy consumption, the European Commission has mandated in the Water, Energy and Waste Directive that household washing programs with lower temperatures (30–40 ◦C) and lower water consumption must be used [1]. Consumer washing habits vary [5,6], but in the last 20 years the preferred washing temperatures worldwide have been between 30 ◦C and 60 ◦C [4,5,6,7,8]. These washing methods cannot guarantee the sufficient cleanliness of the laundry and especially the sufficient disinfection of the laundry [9]. It is worth noting that any pathogen associated with human disease is likely to be found on textile clothing [10]. It is realistic to assume that potentially pathogenic microorganisms are not eliminated when infected laundry is washed at temperatures of 30–40 ◦C, especially since these temperatures are ideal for their development and multiplication [7,11,16]
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