ASHLEY QUEEN, JESSICA Ek
American Cleaning Institute, Washington, USA

Abstract

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI) serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. With a continued effort in promoting public health and safety, its experts have convened discussions across the industry to determine the best recommended practices for effectively cleaning laundry.
In this article, we intend to provide recommendations based on standard wash temperatures utilised in the United States and guide consumers on how to appropriately adjust laundry routines when a member of the household is sick or has a weakened immune system.

CLEANING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
The global pandemic has opened the door for the world to singularly focus on one thing: how to best stay healthy when surrounded by infectious disease. The reality that has been presented is that public knowledge on how to properly clean varies due to a number of factors. Much of the focus when it comes to reducing exposure to (potential) pathogens has been on personal hygiene and surface cleaning, disinfection and sanitisation. However, this falls short in considerations of practices to bear in mind while laundering clothing, linens and similar soiled textiles. Given the current high level of interest, there is an opportunity to fill in gaps and expand knowledge of regular cleaning practices that consumers can employ to mitigate and prevent the spread of infection, practices that will likely be employed for the foreseeable future.

LEVELS OF LAUNDRY
Bearing in mind consumer understanding and awareness, ACI created a laundry level guide: a scale for identifying best laundry practices for better health depending on household circumstances. This is based on the idea that there is routi ...