How to Safely Launder the Clothing of a Person with Mpox: Practices to Reduce Transmission
Mpox is an infectious disease that can spread through direct contact with lesions, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials, including clothing and bedding.
อ่านภาษาไทย
Contents
Mpox is an infectious disease that can spread through direct contact with lesions, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials, including clothing and bedding. Laundering these items correctly is therefore essential to preventing the spread of the virus. This article presents guidance on laundering the clothing of people with Mpox in order to reduce the risk of infection, covering everything from preparing the laundry and washing it to handling it afterward. This information is useful for patients, healthcare workers, and caregivers alike, so that they can care for patients safely and effectively.
Procedure
1. Preparing the Laundry
Place the laundry in a double bag:
- Inner layer: a bag made from cornstarch (dissolves in water at 60–80°C)
- Outer layer: a red plastic bag
Seal the bag tightly and place it in a fully sealed plastic bin.
2. Receiving the Laundry
- Staff wear PPE (a waterproof gown, cap, two layers of gloves, an N95 respirator, and boots)
- Collect the laundry from the isolation ward
3. Washing the Laundry
- Weigh the laundry to suit the washing machine's capacity
- Load the laundry into the washing machine and slit open the outer red bag
- Use Program 1 (for laundry contaminated with dangerous communicable diseases)
- Use sodium hypochlorite 0.5% (5,000 ppm)
- Temperature of 60–80°C
- Wash time of 60–90 minutes
Note: Staff must shower and change their clothes immediately.
Table of Laundry Chemical Quantities (in Milliliters)
| Program | Alkaline builder | Detergent | Stain remover | Alkali neutralizer (sour) | Fabric softener/conditioner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 600 | 600 | 1,000 | 300 | 600 |
| 2 | 500 | 600 | 800 | 250 | 500 |
| 3 | 400 | 500 | 500 | 200 | 500 |
| 4 | 300 | 400 | 400 | 150 | 400 |
| 5 | 200 | 300 | 300 | 100 | 300 |
| 6 | 100 | 300 | 200 | 50 | 300 |
Note: The quantities of laundry chemicals for the various types of wash are calculated for a washing machine with a wash capacity of 150–175 kilograms.
Laundering for People with Mpox Cared for at Home
CDC recommendations:
- Wash contaminated laundry separately from other household laundry
- A regular washing machine can be used
- Use ordinary detergent
- You may add a disinfectant or bleach product (sodium hypochlorite)
WHO recommendations:
- A regular washing machine can be used
- Use ordinary detergent
- Wash with hot water above 60°C if possible
- If hot water is not available, soak the laundry in chlorine
- Laundered items can be reused
Verified references
Links and relevance to the article’s main topic were reviewed on 13 August 2026. Each source supports only the scope stated in the original document and does not replace personalised medical, legal, or service advice.
- CDC: Cleaning and Disinfecting for Mpox Accessed 13 August 2026
- WHO: Mpox fact sheet Accessed 13 August 2026
- CDC: About Mpox Accessed 13 August 2026
