Basic recommendations to treat your clothes and protect yourself from the coronavirus

 Basic recommendations to treat your clothes and protect yourself from the coronavirus

Since the coronavirus came into our lives, many of us have experienced unusual situations that we never thought we would experience, such as confinement in our homes. The expansion of the virus has left all kinds of situations but, above all, questions from the population, because the virus can maintain its infectious capacity for days raises concerns and many doubts. Above all, for those who try or are forced to lead a more or less normal life, coming into contact with all kinds of materials. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) does not consider contaminated surfaces to be as important a vector of transmission as person-to-person contagion , they insist that they be disinfectedThe surfaces are fine. There are many doubts , but if something that worries, is if the virus remains on our clothes when we come from the street or if we are in contact with someone at risk.

In recent days all kinds of tests have been done to see how the virus behaves in different materials, including tissues. The good news is that it seems that, both on clothing and on paper, being porous surfaces , the virus would be "hijacked". Now, the fact that the virus remains attached and cannot be recovered (therefore, you cannot be contaminated), does not mean that it is totally inactive . Like any other pathogen, it could stay on the surface for up to three days . Therefore, it is recommended to follow some recommendations to avoid risks.

1. Use long programs and hot water in the washes, avoiding washing with very large loads.

2. Use liquid detergent , preferably, since it penetrates the fabrics better and retains the dirt in suspension better, eliminating it better.

3 . In cases of extreme dirt or contact with chemical products, use a special disinfectant product for clothes (bleach).

4. If there is a sick person at home, remember also to ignore those messages that circulate around that say that “you have to wash your clothes at more than 90º and dry them in the sun to“ kill ”the virus because with the washing machine it is not enough ”: they are false. Following hygiene rules with infected people is very important (and those who have been in contact with them), but they do not require washing programs or special actions. Try to have the patient occupy a room separate from the rest of the family. If it can be your own bathroom, the better; If not, it is convenient to take extreme hygiene and disinfection (with bleach and using gloves and a mask if possible) of your clothing and what that person touches.

5. Do not take exceptional measures with  zapa cough . IRTA-CReSA advises you to leave them at the entrance when you get home and, if you want, to wipe them with a damp cloth with a dilution of household bleach.

The key is in ourselves, and experts never tire of insisting on the same thing: the most effective thing is for people to stay at home as much as possible and, above all,  to wash their hands .