Scalding, Dust Mites and Lice, and Your Washing Machine

Abstract

To the Editor. As part of routine anticipatory guidance, it is suggested that pediatricians counsel parents to keep tap water temperature below 120°F.1 In a recent article,2 a panel of injury prevention experts agreed that lowering hot water temperature was one of four of the highest priority strategies. This recommendation is supported by the fact that there are annually about 5000 hot tap water scalding injuries to children in the United States, according to the Burn Foundation.3Two problems with turning down the hot water temperature do occur. First, if one is interested in killing dust mites or lice in bedclothes or other fabrics, water at 140°F or more is required.4Furthermore, many automatic dishwashers will not operate properly at temperatures below 140°F. Detergent will be left on dishes and glasses (“etching”) and the dishwasher will eventually become plugged by the retained materials. Only in recent years have dishwashers become available with a feature that thermostatically heats the incoming water to higher temperatures.5 At present, Kenmore is the one washing machine manufacturer that produces a model with a similar feature.What is the solution to the problem? Memry Corporation6 of Brookfield, Connecticut, makes a device that attaches to faucets and automatically shuts off when the water temperature exceeds 120°F. Placing these devices in areas where children are likely to come in contact with hot water should provide the required safety without sacrificing the need for water at high temperatures for the dishwasher and washing machine. The price of these devices is not excessive (about $12 for sink faucets, $25 for tub faucets, and $14 for showerheads). Nonetheless, cost might be a problem for indigent families.For families without automatic dishwashers, the lower hot water temperatures could be used. Higher settings could be used for the times when hot water cycles are required for eliminating lice and mites from clothing. There would, of course, be the potential for a scalding accident while the higher setting was in place or if one forgot to turn down the higher setting after raising it.