We were unable to identify reports of the ability of such products to inactivate viruses in general, or SARS-CoV-2, in particular. This is especially true during a viral outbreak such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic now being experienced and the emergence of mutational variants with increased morbidity or transmissibility (e.g., the Delta and Omicron variants).Ī few marketed laundry sanitizing agents have been characterized as antibacterial. To reduce the risks from pathogens and for a higher level of assurance of interrupting the spread of highly pathogenic viruses via contaminating clothing and environmental surfaces associated with the clothes laundering process, the use of EPA-registered laundry sanitizers, surface hygiene agents, and hand hygiene agents may be warranted 10, 11. Even in North America ~ 6% of laundry is still hand washed 9. Another consideration is that some types of clothing can only be hand-washed and, in some regions of the world, hand-washing of clothing is the only option available 9. The wastewater (gray water) stream may be reused in some households for landscape irrigation, flushing toilets or other purposes 8. Removal of non-inactivated virus simply transfers infectious virus from one location to another, possibly contaminating other surfaces and the waste-water stream 5. In the case of cold (20 to 23 ☌) 5 and warm water (≤ 40 ☌) 2 cycles, minimal inactivation attributable solely to heating (i.e., thermal inactivation alone, in the absence of detergent) of SARS-CoV-2 would be expected over the time course of a washing cycle 3, 6, 7. Usually, 40 ☌ or higher is recommended for eliminating bacterial and viral pathogens 2. Extent of thermal inactivation will be dependent upon the temperature of the water used for the wash and rinse portions of the washing cycle, and upon the target virus. From a virucidal point of view, it may be assumed that detergent inactivation should apply primarily to lipid-enveloped viruses 3, 4, while removal should apply to all viruses (i.e., both lipid-enveloped and well as non-enveloped). These steps include: (1) removal, through the action of the detergent and the water rinse (2) inactivation by the detergent and (3) possible thermal inactivation by the water used for soaking and rinsing. The clothes-washing process is complex, and consists of multiple steps capable of reducing pathogen load 1, 2. There are several factors to consider, however, when addressing this issue. It could be argued that laundry detergent, in association with elevated water temperatures, has sufficient microbicidal efficacy that an additional agent (i.e., the sanitizer) is not required. Laundry sanitizers have been introduced to commerce to enhance the bactericidal and virucidal efficacy of the clothes-washing process. The use of a laundry sanitizer containing microbicidal actives may afford mitigation of the risk of contamination of surfaces during handling of the laundry and washing appliances (i.e., washer/dryer or basin), adjacent surfaces, the waste water stream, and the hands of individuals handling clothes contaminated with SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, or other emerging enveloped viruses. Respiratory viruses may remain infectious on clothing/fabrics and environmental surfaces for hours to days. In hard surface studies, complete inactivation (≥ 4 log 10) of each coronavirus or influenza virus, including SARS-CoV-2, was observed following a 5-min contact time at 20 ± 1 ☌. In liquid suspension studies, laundry sanitizers containing p-chloro- m-xylenol (PCMX) or quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) caused complete inactivation (≥ 4 log 10) of HCoV 229E and SARS-CoV-2 within 15 min contact time at 20 ± 1 ☌. Efficacy was measured in terms of log 10 reduction in infectious virus titer, after 15 min contact time (suspension studies) or 5 min contact time (hard surface studies) at 20 ± 1 ☌. Virucidal efficacy was tested using standardized suspension inactivation methods (EN 14476) or hard-surface inactivation methods (ASTM E1053-20) against SARS-CoV-2, human coronavirus 229E (HCoV 229E), influenza A virus (2009-H1N1 A/Mexico), or influenza B virus (B/Hong Kong). We have explored the efficacy of laundry sanitizers for inactivating coronaviruses and influenza viruses. The clothes laundering process affords numerous opportunities for dissemination of infectious virus from contaminated clothing to appliance surfaces and other household surfaces and eventually to launderer’s hands.
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