Influence of hydrogen peroxide on disinfection and soil removal during low-temperature household laundry

Forte-Tavčer, Petra (author), Brenčič, Katja (author), Fink, Rok (author), Tomšič, Brigita (author)

In the Water, Energy and Waste Directive, the European Commission provides for the use of household washing programmes with lower temperatures (30–40 °C) and lower water consumption. However, low washing temperatures and the absence of oxidising agents in the liquid detergents, and their reduced content in powder detergents, allow biofilm formation in washing machines and the development of an unpleasant odour, while the washed laundry can become a carrier of pathogenic bacteria, posing a risk to human health. The aim of the study was to determine whether the addition of hydrogen peroxide (HP) to liquid detergents in low-temperature household washing allows disinfection of the laundry without affecting the properties of the washed textiles even after several consecutive washes. Fabrics of different colours and of different raw material compositions were repeatedly washed in a household washing machine using a liquid detergent with the addition of 3% stabilised HP solution in the main wash, prewash or rinse. The results of the antimicrobial activity, soil removal activity, colour change and tensile strength confirmed the excellent disinfection activity of the 3% HP, but only if added in the main wash. Its presence did not discolour nor affect the tensile strength of the laundry, thus maintaining its overall appearance.

• Language: English
• Keywords: textile care, low-temperature washing, laundry hygiene, hydrogen peroxide, disinfection activity, soil removal, colour difference, tensile properties
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering; ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 27, iss. 1, art. 195
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136775
• UDC: 677
• ISSN on article: 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010195
• COBISS.SI-ID: 92268803
• Publication date in RUL: 20.05.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Molecules
• Shortened title: Molecules
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1420-3049
• COBISS.SI-ID: 18462981

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.01.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nega tekstilij, nizkotemperaturno pranje, higiena pranja, dezinfekcija, vodikov peroksid, odstranjevanje madežev, barvna razlika, natezne lastnosti