Anyone else wipe down their FL washer gasket w/ disinfectant?

In best case situation all healthcare laundry would be done in barrier laundry systems. This is where washing machine is built into a wall and one side is "clean" other "dirty". Thus freshly washed laundry doesn't come into contact with surfaces that are "dirty" on soiled side. Tunnel washers are similar in this respect as soiled wash goes in one side, and clean comes out the other.

Using side or front loading H-axis washer/extractors is another story.

Generally no, laundry workers aren't going to remotely attempt "clean catch" loading nor unloading of washers or even dryers when done manually. Load sizes are just too large and ergonomics just wouldn't work.

Or,

As have said, germ reduction from items freshly laundered is further enhanced by heat from tumble drying and or ironing. Two or all three processes are normally enough for any laundry including healthcare. Places that do healthcare laundry can apply for certification from certain accrediting groups. This indicates their processes and procedures meet whatever requirements to return safe product.

Wiping down door boot/washer door surface is fine if it makes you happy. But just as with any other surface germs will alight onto same within moments afterwards Within an hour or so you'll have another colony of germs growing and spreading.


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Post# 1148720 5/14/2022 at 19:35 (727 days old) by superocd (PNW)
Checkrate/Likes If you think about it, your dirty laundry touches the gasket as you load it, as you unload, your clean clothes does the same. I have been wiping my gasket whenever I wash "contaminated" laundry like work clothes. Is this going too far? I always think of hotels, hospitals, etc keeping the door surfaces from contaminating clean laundry. Obviously their FL machines have no gasket but the surface around the drum gets contact with dirty/clean laundry, do they worry about surface contamination?

Post# 1148723 , Reply# 1 5/14/2022 at 19:50 (727 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes 4 No!! I do too many sanitize, hot, and warm water washes. I don't have any odor or mold issues.

Post# 1148729 , Reply# 2 5/14/2022 at 21:03 (727 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes 1 In best case situation all healthcare laundry would be done in barrier laundry systems. This is where washing machine is built into a wall and one side is "clean" other "dirty". Thus freshly washed laundry doesn't come into contact with surfaces that are "dirty" on soiled side. Tunnel washers are similar in this respect as soiled wash goes in one side, and clean comes out the other. Using side or front loading H-axis washer/extractors is another story. Generally no, laundry workers aren't going to remotely attempt "clean catch" loading nor unloading of washers or even dryers when done manually. Load sizes are just too large and ergonomics just wouldn't work. Or, As have said, germ reduction from items freshly laundered is further enhanced by heat from tumble drying and or ironing. Two or all three processes are normally enough for any laundry including healthcare. Places that do healthcare laundry can apply for certification from certain accrediting groups. This indicates their processes and procedures meet whatever requirements to return safe product. Wiping down door boot/washer door surface is fine if it makes you happy. But just as with any other surface germs will alight onto same within moments afterwards Within an hour or so you'll have another colony of germs growing and spreading.

Post# 1148739 , Reply# 3 5/15/2022 at 00:48 (726 days old) by SudsMaster (SF Bay Area, California)
Checkrate/Likes I've noticed the Neptune 7500 front gasket gets a little grungy after a while. So I just wipe it down with a good soap. I've thought of using a bleach solution but that could adversely affect the rubber.

Post# 1148741 , Reply# 4 5/15/2022 at 03:43 (726 days old) by iej (.... )
Checkrate/Likes 2 No. Definitely not! My machine never has any issues with mould and I could do without adding more chemicals to my environment. Also I�m not sure that typical disinfectants are very effective against that kind of mildew like stuff anyway. Run your machine on a hot wash, full of towels once in a while and the problem simply doesn�t occur in my experience. Also from what I can see some machines are more prone to it than others. The other issue seems to be using cool / lukewarm washes and certain eco detergents that are practically food. In terms of laundry hygiene, in normal residential laundry there aren�t any issues with bacteria or viruses that will survive a normal wash cycle. Hospital laundry is an entirely different issue due to the possible presence of high risks and systemically eliminating very hospital specific risks like Clostridium difficile (C. diff) and MSRA that are problematic in healthcare settings with lots of people around, many of whom may have weakened immunity. As described above the usual approach is barrier washing machines. The machine is usually part of a wall between two rooms. One side is the �dirty� area and the other is the �clean area.� The two don�t get cross contaminated. Clothes / bed linen are loaded by staff wearing full PPE on one side. The machine completes a full cycle to sterilise them and they are taken out by staff on the other side who can then handle them as clean, processed linen - they can be tumble dried, ironed etc as normal clean laundry. This machine is used in a lot of health care settings here where they�ve a need for local laundry: You can install several side by side for bigger facilities but they�re an ideal size for handling a specific facility locally like a high risk ward or a care home. They also have cycles and chemicals for very specific risks. They usually have other building precautions too like air pressure differentials, double air locked doors and a lot of staff protocols aims PPE etc The data logging is a big deal for quality management as they can keep record of exactly how each cycle performed. Automated bed and trolley washers, a bit like giant dishwashers, are also becoming a lot more common. This post was last edited 05/15/2022 at 06:24