How to Disinfect Laundry After Dallas Coronavirus Infection

3/17/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO uses the Esporta Wash System to disinfect laundry for those affected by COVID-19 in Dallas

Communities across the nation are taking action to prevent the spread of the contagious Coronavirus. As you may already know, this virus can progress into the COVID-19 disease that causes severe respiratory problems.

This disease is mainly spread through airborne droplets released by the sneezing and coughing of an infected person. It’s also believed to live on other surfaces for up to three days.

This means that we may catch the virus if we pick up the microbes with hand contact and then touch vulnerable body entry points such as the mouth, eyes, or the nose.

Can Clothing and Other Textiles Carry Infectious Agents?

Surfaces can harbor contagious microbes, however not much has been studied about Coronavirus living on clothing, linens, and other fabrics. However, if you are caring for someone suspected of or confirmed to have COVID-19, Harvard Medical School's Coronavirus Resource Center suggests handing clothing and linens that have blood, stool, or bodily fluids on them with gloves. Keep them away from your body, and launder them thoroughly.

For this reason, fabrics that a COVID-19 patient has come into contact with should be treated carefully and washed with care.

SERVPRO Procedures for Cleaning Soft Goods Potentially Impacted With COVID-19 Agents in Dallas

In the event of damage caused by flood or fire, soft goods need special care to be restored back to its original state. In the case of a flood or other water damage, the soft goods will become contaminated with bacteria. We use the patented Esporta System for recovery in such events for textile restoration and decontamination.

We expect the Esporta System to have the same results with pathogens from viruses as well. Cleaning all linens and clothing (especially in a care facility) can be a big job.

Concerns with patient and careworker safety is why we offer Esporta Wash System services to effectively sanitize soft goods and assist with the workload necessary to prevent the spread of viral pathogens.

Standard washing machines have limited disinfection capabilities and are prone to cross contamination. The Esporta Wash System is designed to remove up to 99% of contaminants while also avoiding cross contamination.

The Esporta Wash System:

This method has been scientifically proven to be more effective in the sterilization of soft goods. This is made possible by taking the front-load washing machine design a step further with a cage design.

It separates items into individual compartments that methodically pass through the detergent-rich water. Hydraulic pressure works with detergents to effectively flush the fibers of contaminants. The computerized process optimizes the wash cycle and facilitates quality assurance.

The Esporta Detergents:

A three stage process means a more thorough cleansing. Here’s how it works.

• Stage 1: The emulsifying detergent disarms bacteria of its food sheath layer. This allows for deodorization and removal of harmful organic matter.
• Stage 2: Next, the detergent breaks down inorganic material while also dissolving and removing contaminants.
• Stage 3: The final stage is sanitization with the use of hydrogen peroxide to kill molds and bacteria.
• (Fabric softening step optional).

Not only was this process designed to have superior cleaning power, it also uses an eco-friendly and hypoallergenic formula. This means less harm to the planet and no irritants to sensitive skin.

Esporta Wash System Tests:

Esporta technicians take quality seriously. This system has been tested for effectiveness.. A third party laboratory conducted testing on items after washing. It was found that after being processed by the Esporta Wash System, bacteria levels dropped low enough to be considered food grade safe.

ATP monitoring measures the amount of organic material (Adenosine Triphosphate) present in the contaminated object. In one case a raw sewage contaminated comforter measured 6,000 RLUs (Relative Light Units). A post-cleaning reading showed a new result of 10 RLUs (the safety standard for food preparation). A pair of moldy shoes had a reading of 621 RLU and after Esporta processing, this level dropped to an extremely sterile level of 4 RLUs. This proves the decontamination procedures to be highly effective.

Why SERVPRO Is Equipped to Handle Fabric and Textile Cleaning and Disinfection in Dallas

We caution the public to be skeptical of any claims that a product or service prevents or cures the 2019 Coronavirus. No product has been proven to cure or prevent this particular virus strain.

We also want to inform you that one Esporta cleaning will not prevent future contamination. If another contamination occurs, we would need to sanitize the soft goods over again.

While there is no guarantee that all COVID-19 pathogens can be eliminated, SERVPRO believes the Esporta Wash System to be safe and effective at ridding soft goods of infectious microbes. This textile cleaning has been completed without damage to the items.

SERVPRO North Irving is also prepared to provide disinfection and biohazard cleanup in Dallas for buildings and structures.

SERVPRO’s Commitment to Public Health:

• SERVPRO professionals are trained in adhering to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.
• SERVPRO is performing all cleanup and bioremediation in accordance with the guidelines provided by the CDC and local authorities.
• SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning agent, SERVPROXIDE, is an EPA-certified, hospital-grade disinfectant that has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) on hard, non-porous surfaces.

SERVPRO is continuously checking in for the latest updates and instructions from the Center of Disease Control. We urge our community to stay informed and comply with directives from the CDC.

SERVPRO is committed to doing our part for public health in the greater Dallas area. We’re here to help sanitize areas affected by the Coronavirus, especially in the remediation of treatment areas for COVID-19 patients.

We are prepared to conduct safe removal, secure transport and decontamination of soft goods 24/7. Please reach out to us with any sanitation concerns or questions you have about our cleaning process. Call us at (972) 986-7677 anytime.