Energy-efficient washing machines can be a RESERVOIR for MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT PATHOGENS

[zooks]

This is about a German hospital but IMO could be relevant to those who share washing machines in apartments buildings or laundromats.

Two years ago my building put in energy efficient machines and a tenant who discovered massive amounts of mold in different parts of the machine such as inside below the drawer where detergent is added. Both of us found all sorts of disgusting crud inside the rubber seal where water did not drain. These were not problems with the old top loading machines

Both of us took photos and the company cleaned out the machines, and advised tenants to leave the doors open but tenants still shut them when not in use. I personally no longer use them.


snip

Energy-efficient washing machine in a German hospital acted as a 'reservoir for multidrug-resistant pathogens' and passed on 'pneumonia-like bacteria' to several babies in intensive care

The washing machine in question was used to wash babies' socks and tiny hats and researchers found that it was fostering bacteria in trapped water

Low temperature washes are not hot enough to kill all microorganisms

None of the babies became infected but their clothes were contaminated

Experts call for eco-friendly machines to be redesigned to make them safer


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7512847/Energy-efficient-washing-machine-German-hospital-acted-pathogen-reservoir.html

[mopinko]

1. i had a neptune front loader. they were notorious

for funky smells from the water that it used for ballast.

i have a bosch now, and it gets a bit funky if i dont do laundry for a long time. but it has an extra sanitary setting, and i make sure to use that for the first load. it's what i usually use for linens, anyway.

but in a hospital? what the actual fuck?

[zooks]

7. Not a scientist but I would have thought that boiling hot water

is essential to kill germs,and that killing germs would take priority in a hospital.

[Seedersandleechers]

2. My Ex daughter-in-law

who lived with my son in NYC would run a cycle of bleach water before using the machine for her clothes.

[zooks]

4. Costly but good idea however doing that would not touch the mold

under and around the drawer

[Eppydoodle]

5. Manual instructions

I suppose they never followed the manuals that say to leave the detergent tray open a crack as well as wiping the inside gasket gap dry, and leaving the front door open. No mold that I can see in mine following those instructions!

[zooks]

8. Tenants are notorious for not reading signs.

[Eppydoodle]

11. Beeping

Maybe in new machines they should add a continuous beep that goes off if the door is shut when the machine is not running to force people to leave them open

[zooks]

12. great idea!

[mucifer]

6. Best to leave the door open after washing

[zooks]

9. The problem is that when a number of people use the machines many

don't care enough to follow even simple intructions

[JCMach1]

10. Yet another reason to hate Front Loaders

How do I hate them, let me count the ways...


"These were not problems with the old top loading machines"