Vol. V, No. 3, July - October 2006

Dirty Laundry Secrets

Here’s an eye-opening fact. Research shows that you’re more likely to carry fecal germs on your hands after you handle laundry than when you leave the bathroom, said Charles Gerba, PhD, a university microbiology professor. That’s because infants’ and toddlers’ clothing is often soiled with fecal material. In one study, he found E coli germs in about 20% of household washing machines. The rotavirus is also another germ frequently found in the laundry room.

Here are ways to make your laundry room more sanitary at the childcare center:

Separate articles into soiled and unsoiled stacks
Wash the articles as frequently as they are dirty so that they do not stay in the laundry area when unclean
Wash your hands immediately after handling soiled clothing
Wash soiled baby clothes in hot water with chlorine or an oxygen-based bleach alternative, which is more earth-friendly
Dry clothing on the hottest setting for at least 45 minutes, or better yet, hang outside to dry

Vol. V, No. 3, July - October 2006

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Vol. V, No. 3, July - October 2006

Dirty Laundry Secrets

Vol. V, No. 3, July - October 2006

CHILDREN'S LEARNING & PLAY ENVIRONMENTS