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ECDC launches new clothes washing guidance as parents prepare to send their kids back to school

Byjay.evans@mobas.com

May 4, 2020
  • Parents sending their children back to school in June are concerned about infection with the news that virus can live on clothing for up to 48 hours.
  • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control suggests washing clothing in a bleach containing Sodium Hypochlorite to ensure virus is eliminated
  • ACE for Whites is the only laundry product in the UK that contains bleach with Sodium Hypochlorite

Many parents are apprehensive about sending their children back to school following such a strict lockdown, in fear that their children may become infected and potentially infect those around them. With the recent news that the virus has the ability to live for up to 72 hours on some surfaces, but recent studies have shown that it can survive for up to 48 hours on clothing. With this in mind, what can parents do to ensure their children’s safety and the health of those that they make contact with?

A new report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)* offers guidance for washing clothes, including cleaning at 60-degress or more to ensure the virus is controlled. The report also suggests the use of a bleach containing Sodium Hypochlorite in your daily wash to eliminate the virus, which may be lurking on clothing,

ACE for Whites is the only laundry product in the UK with bleaching agents that include Sodium Hypochlorite. This is good news for concerned parents planning to send their children back to school in June, as it offers a reassuring solution to combat the virus and one less concern as the road out of isolation keeps slowly moving.

Shirley Peet, Marketing Manager for ACE products in the UK comments: “The ECDC guidelines are really useful to understand how the virus survives and how we, as parents especially, can prevent further spread of it around our homes and communities. We were delighted to see some guidance on the washing of clothes, something often forgotten in difficult times like a pandemic. ACE for Whites has always been a leading, innovative product, thanks to the extensive work that went into its development. We are delighted that this science, and the hard work of the ACE team, can now provide some reassurance to worried parents, and those who care for, or live with, vulnerable people.”

ACE for Whites can only be used on whites but would be a great addition to the wash of children’s clothing as they return to school, such as white school shirts and PE kits. This will also prevent greying and removing even the toughest of stains too. ACE also have a product for Colours that contains bleaching agents. Although this does not contain the Sodium Hypochlorite mentioned in the report, the Colours product will protect children’s coloured clothing, if washed at 60-degrees to kill the virus, and prevent damage to the material, and colour fade, which could potentially arise from frequent washing at higher temperatures.

Peet continues: “All clothes worn by children should be washed at 60-degrees or more, if you are not using an appropriate bleach-based product, washed and dried thoroughly, daily, to prevent any chance of infection by someone else in the household. We have always championed parents with the advice and guidance on our website. We will continue to provide support throughout this pandemic, to ensure parents have all the tools they need for a safe, clean and healthy home.”

ACE have produced a video detailing how to disinfect materials on the YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=80m_8aDYNsA&feature=youtu.be and for further cleaning tips, please visit www.acecleanuk.co.uk/. ACE for Whites and ACE for Colours liquids are available in Morrisons, The Range, Home Bargains, Poundland, Co-op and some local convenience stores. ACE for Colours can also be found in Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.