Punk Rooster wrote:...so many errors in your comments Bayman...
First of all, washing linen in temperatures above 60 deg C will kill them
Secondly, hotels & motels are big risks only due to the turnover of people in the rooms.
The fad for cold washing of your clothes and bedding is a significant health risk. It is sold to us as allegedly good to help save energy, but it is also relevant that if you use synthetics to make sheets etc instead of cotton or linen the fabrics will crack up if you wash them at high enough temperatures to kill bugs. Soap is less effective in cold water too, so the propaganda enhances the sale of detrergent based washing powders and solutions as well as synthetic fabrics.
This trend possibly contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in hospitals too. Another factor is the fact that hospital surfaces tend not to be wiped down daily with good old cheap methylated spirits in water as they used to be, but with various commercially marketed antiseptics less frequently.
Soap is better at killing bacteria and insects than many commercial products.
My old Microbiology Professor used to enjoy demonstrating through the semester the progress of bacterial cultures he grew in various antiseptics at various strengths. The most effective inhibitor of growth was soapy water and the next alcohol in water.
Similarly, I once had a large dog get a flea infestation which recurred after two goes with Malawash. The third time I wet him thoroughly and lathered him up with soap, and left him to stand in the shade for 15 minutes before rinsing. Result - exploded flea shells in the rinse and no recurrence.
Commercial interests have a vested interest in the cold wash, synthetic fabric, chemical treatment of everything concept - as against hot water, and less profitable soap, and cheaper alcohol based antiseptic solutions.
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:31 pm
