Is It Safe to Wash Socks Together with Underwear?
Discover whether you can wash socks with underwear. It turns out you need to separate items if any have traces of blood or vomit.
Many people separate their laundry to protect themselves from bacteria.
You can listen to the article as a podcast if that's more convenient for you.Why is it believed that underwear shouldn't be washed with socks?
When clothes tumble in the washing machine, they rub against each other. There’s a belief that bacteria from socks can transfer to underwear and vice versa. This supposedly increases the risk of infections, including new and dangerous ones caused by harmful microorganisms moving from the floor to intimate areas.
What types of bacteria are found on underwear and socks?
Microbes can accumulate on any clothing, coming from the human body and the surrounding environment.
Typically, underwear, socks, and even T-shirts host similar microorganisms:
- parasites;
- Candida fungi;
- Citrobacter;
- Corynebacteria;
- Acinetobacter;
- Propionibacteria;
- Staphylococcus aureus;
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Most of these microbes are harmless, but some can cause infections, especially in individuals with skin wounds.
When should underwear and socks be washed separately?
Health experts recommend separating laundry if any item is contaminated with blood, feces, or vomit. In such cases, to eliminate harmful microorganisms, wash clothes at temperatures higher than those suggested on the care label.
If you're concerned, you can adopt a method used by healthcare professionals for their work clothes: washing at temperatures above 160°F (71°C) for at least 25 minutes. Using a chlorine bleach can also help disinfect effectively.
When is it okay to wash underwear and socks together?
In most other situations, regular washing procedures are sufficient, so you can wash underwear and socks together or with other clothing. To prevent colors from bleeding or shrinking, sort items by color and fabric type. Always check the maximum recommended washing temperature indicated on the label.
How to further protect underwear and socks from germs during washing?
Some microorganisms can survive inside the washing machine, accumulating over time and transferring back onto clothes. This can cause unpleasant odors.
To reduce these risks, clean your washing machine every 30 cycles by running an empty wash with half a cup of bleach added to the detergent compartment.
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