The company is currently awaiting approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to market Protex as effective at destroying the novel coronavirus. But the pandemic has created an interest in antiviral fabrics, and enterprising companies are responding. Textiles treated with chemicals aimed at destroying SARS-CoV-2 particles (SARS-CoV-2 is the official name of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19) are turning up in everything from face masks to men’s dress shirts.

They also reported that the virus remained infectious for 3–7 days on glass, stainless steel, and plastic surfaces, and less than 2 days on wood and cloth. Their findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is highly sensitive to heat. After increasing the temperature to 70°C (158°F), the virus became inactive within 5 minutes.

The Bottom Line

Not everyone has a washing machine in their home. However, those who use laundry facilities can still follow the guidelines listed above. Data suggests that COVID-19 can remain viable and infectious on polyester fabric for at least three days. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) writes that COVID-19 is primarily spread through droplets in the air. This has guided the development of public health protocols, which include remaining at least6 feet away from others and wearing masks while in public.

Precautions, such as physical distancing, quarantining, and self-isolating, can help reduce the risk of direct transmission. However, respiratory droplets can fall on objects and surfaces. SARS-CoV-2 can enter a person’s body if they touch these surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. Geng Y, Wang Y. Stability and transmissibility of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the environment. Journal of Medical Virology. 2023;95(1):e28103. doi:10.1002/jmv.28103 Disinfect laundry baskets with 0.1% sodium hypochlorite or one of these household disinfectants, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved.

An Infectious Disease Specialist Weighs ln

By taking their uniforms home, workers run the risk of contaminating their home environment, including the washing machine, because unlike in-house or industrial laundries, there is no segregation of laundry based on designated soiled and clean areas,” she noted . “If nurses and healthcare workers take their uniforms home, they could be leaving traces of the virus on other surfaces.” He gives an example of how antiviral fabric might reduce the chance of infection for someone who touches a contaminated surface. “If someone sneezes on a bench, then you sit on it and wipe your hands on your pants and then touch your nose, that’s a big area where we can see [Protex] working. It’s prevention in day-to-day life.”

The material was described as polyester, & they weren’t wrong about that. I would have described it as plastic & horrible. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Interim guidance for products including or adding efficacy claims for use on porous materials in non-residential settings. The designs look amazing & the cotton clothing might be better but I won’t be chancing it again, which is such a shame.Researchers at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) in the United Kingdom applied model droplets of another coronavirus called HCoV-OC43, which is structurally similar to the COVID-19 spike protein. The National Health Service (NHS) of the U.K. has reportedly recommended industrial laundering of health care practitioner’s clothing. If this is not possible, washing and drying uniforms at home is the next best practice. Disinfection requires the use of chemicals that kill germs. Disinfecting hard surfaces and textiles after cleaning them can further reduce the risk of spreading infections.