How Should I Do My Laundry Now?

As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, our everyday lives have changed with more families placing more emphasis on hygiene and household cleaning—laundry included.

In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, it seems that washing your clothes and linen has become a crucial part of our lives. But, how should you do your laundry now? How would you ensure that your clothes are adequately clean?

As a professional laundry service provider in Singapore, we will share with you hygiene measures that you can consider when washing your clothes.

How does COVID-19 Spread?

Research findings show that the virus can be transmitted through direct contact with the droplets of an infected person (released through coughing and sneezing) and touching contaminated surfaces where the virus can live for a few hours or even up to several days.

While COVID-19 is more stable on smooth surfaces—glass, plastic, and metals—as compared on wood and cloth, a study reported that it can still remain infectious for less than 2 days on textiles.

The good news? Some disinfectants can kill it and exposing them to high temperatures can deactivate them, keeping them from spreading further.

So, how does this translate to laundry and dry cleaning?

How to Properly Wash Your Clothes During COVID-19

You can launder your clothes the same way you would wash a regular load during a pandemic.

Health experts say that no special detergent or bleach is required, but that you should use the warmest water setting possible and make sure to dry them completely. The same is true for washing the clothes of someone positive to the virus. Below is a more detailed list of guidelines:

Pre-soak your clothes for at least 20-30 minutes and wash as per normal.
When using bleach, be sure to read the instruction to avoid damaging certain clothing items during laundry.
Use the warmest water setting possible but check your care labels. WHO(World health organisation) recommends water temperature from between 60-90°C (140-194°F) but always remember to read your care labels, otherwise, you can damage or shrink delicate items!
Dry your clothing completely!
After the laundry, disinfect all the surfaces in your laundry area that may have been contaminated, including the door pull, the inside of your machine, as well as your laundry baskets.

What About Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services in Singapore?

Laundromats and dry cleaners remain open during the circuit breaker period in Singapore, being considered as an essential service. When taking your clothes to the dry cleaners, take the following precautions:

Prepare your dirty laundry before leaving your home to minimise the amount of time you spend outside.
If possible, go at a time when there’s likely fewer people in the dry cleaners. We encourage people to visit dry cleaners during midday and especially during midweek!
Practise social distancing.
Wear disposable gloves and disinfect the surface of your machine before and after use.
Wash or disinfect your laundry basket before putting back the fresh laundry.
Wash your hands with soap and water immediately when you get home.

You can avoid going to the laundry and dry cleaning facilities in Singapore altogether by requesting a home pickup.

At Presto Drycleaners, our Toa Payoh headquarters remain open. We also offer laundry home pickup services for your safety and convenience.

Call us at 6354 3277 or send us a message on Whatsapp at 9228 3061.