This is a question that came up at work this morning. Is it permissable to do laundry,all whites, incdluding soiled underwear(urine) with
Kitchen towells. There is a big difference of opinion. Some staff feel as long as a bleach is used it is acceptable. My thoughts are, the water temp isn't high enough to destroy bacteria and the dryer temperature, I am not sure? Any feedback would be appreciated..Thanks.
Ansford

I don't know if they should, or should not be laundered together, but it wouldn't be permissable with me. That's why we sort clothes because certain things shouldn't be washed together. So in my opinion....no siree!!!

Every site I visited (which was several) suggested cleaning soiled undergarments separate from regular clothes. As for the question of washing with bleach: The official Clorox Bleach website advises washing baby diapers separately. There does seem to be a bacteria issue even when using bleach.

Urine is sterile. Yes is smells and yes it contains toxins in it, but for all intent and purposes urine is safe to wash with other cloths.

As for soils, use a detergent and bleach.

Now if you wash socks with other whites let me assure you there are far, far many more germs in socks than in underpants soiled with urine.

Thanks for all the great information. I will take it into work tonight. I never realized that urine was sterile. This is a wonderful site,I learn something new everyday.Thanks again.
Anford

I never realized that urine was sterile, either.

When I had a few elderly people living with me I came across that problem with urine smell and you can't bleach everything. I found that if you use white vinager in the laundry it takes out the smells. 3/4 cup in wash and 1/2 in final rinse.

I use a half a cup of lysol in laundry that's soiled with urine, or whatever stinky mess. I have used it with bleach and detergent. Smells great for a long time. The bacteria is what smells. I don't wash towels with anything else, makes everything fuzzy! White towels get bleach, and colors get lysol. I should sell the stuff!