Kitchen cloths are one of the items we use most on a daily basis. Whether for drying hands or cleaning the countertop, this item ends up accumulating large amounts of dirt that can pose a real risk. The moisture that accumulates after use can cause mould and other elements harmful to health to appear. Putting them in the washing machine is one of the most common solutions to this problem, however, it is an action that cannot be taken lightly. This is explained by a chemical engineer and social media content creator with over a million followers, who assures us that, in order to carry out this task, it is necessary to follow a protocol.
In depth
‘People have criticised putting dirty mops and cloths in the washing machine, but is this right or wrong? Cross-contamination in the washing machine can occur and is very common, but it is not wrong to wash dirty mops and cloths in the washing machine if you follow a hygiene protocol,’ the expert begins by explaining. If we follow the advice, we will get clean cloths that are like new. shares in a TikTok video the correct way to wash cloths in the washing machine, avoiding cross-contamination.
- Do not mix them with clothes or towels for personal use.
- We should wash them at 60 degrees Celsius with one or two tablespoons of sodium percarbonate together with the detergent.
- If your washing machine does not have a hot water option, soak them in hot water and sodium percarbonate for an hour and then wash them as normal.
- If they are very dirty or stained, soaking them is the best option.
Benefits of sodium percarbonate
As the chemical engineer explains, sodium percarbonate releases active oxygen, which not only removes stains but also kills bacteria. If you use it together with detergent in a wash cycle at 40 degrees Celsius or higher, it also improves the hygiene of the wash. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination between items, for example, between underwear and other clothes. ‘Keep in mind that most front-loading washing machines like this one have an internal heating element, meaning they heat the water even if they don’t have a hot water hose connected. And if the washing machine is top-loading, there is always the option of pouring hot water on top, so there are no excuses.’
