A major new scientific study has revealed that ordinary home washing machines are often unable to effectively remove potentially dangerous pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria, from textiles. This discovery may have serious implications for both public health and infection control practices, especially for healthcare workers and families living with vulnerable individuals. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, bring attention to a hidden risk in everyday household routines and call for an urgent re-examination of laundry guidelines for those exposed to infectious environments. [MedicalXpress]
For Thai families, nurses, and caregivers, the news highlights a significant but often overlooked risk: the potential for contaminated clothing to be a vehicle for hospital-acquired infections, including those resistant to antibiotics. In a country where many healthcare workers take pride in laundering their uniforms at home and family members often care for elderly or immunocompromised relatives, understanding the limitations of home washing machines becomes crucial to preventing the spread of disease.
The latest research led by infection control specialists at De Montfort University, UK, systematically tested six models of domestic washing machines using textiles deliberately contaminated with healthcare-associated pathogens. The study found that half of the machines failed to disinfect uniforms during a rapid wash cycle and a third were ineffective even during their standard settings. Alarmingly, genetic analysis of biofilms (slimy layers of microorganisms) extracted from inside 12 washers revealed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes alongside potentially harmful bacteria. The study also showed that some pathogens can adapt to survive common household detergents—further increasing their resistance to antibiotics [EurekAlert].
“Our research shows that domestic washing machines often fail to disinfect textiles, allowing antibiotic-resistant bacteria to survive. This could have a profound impact on domestic and public health, especially in families with healthcare workers or vulnerable members,” the research team was quoted as saying in a Daily Mail summary.
Home laundering has been a standard practice among healthcare staff in many countries, including Thailand, partly due to convenience and cost. However, the new findings reveal that this approach can inadvertently carry infectious diseases back and forth between healthcare environments and the home. For example, medical uniforms, contaminated during hospital shifts, may retain bacteria even after washing, creating a risk of transmission to family members or patients—especially where aged parents or young children are involved. The finding is particularly relevant in Thai households, which often include multiple generations under one roof, and where grandparent care is common.
The implications go beyond the home; the study’s lead investigator, a head of the university’s Infectious Disease Research Group, urged that laundering guidelines for healthcare workers be urgently revised. The expert suggested that only industrial washing machines, used on-site at medical facilities, may guarantee the destruction of resistant pathogens. For hospitals and clinics, rigorous protocols—including washing at higher temperatures (at least 60°C), using hospital-grade detergents, and regular machine maintenance—are crucial to break the chain of infection. According to the same research, bacteria can not only survive in the moist environment of the washing machine drum and detergent drawer but can also multiply within them, leading to the formation of stubborn biofilms [MedicalXpress].
In Thailand’s public and private hospitals, uniform laundering practices vary widely. While some modern hospitals have in-house industrial laundry services, many private clinics and small public facilities still rely on staff to wash uniforms at home. The Ministry of Public Health previously issued guidelines encouraging home laundering at temperatures above 60°C, but the new research indicates even these steps may be insufficient with older or lower-grade domestic appliances. A representative from a major Bangkok hospital’s infection control department, who requested anonymity, stated, “This new evidence suggests we need to review our own policies, especially for our outpatient staff and support workers who bring their uniforms home. Our patients’ safety could be at greater risk than we realized.”
Medical records show that hospital-acquired infections remain a significant challenge for Thailand’s healthcare system, with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria, and even multidrug-resistant gram-negative pathogens increasingly found in both urban and rural hospitals. By failing to adequately sanitize work clothes, there is a clear risk of these organisms cycling between hospital wards and Thai communities [World Health Organization].
Historically, the symbolism of white hospital uniforms has been linked to purity and cleanliness in Thai society, echoing royal and Buddhist values of hygiene and care for others. But the new findings complicate this image, revealing that the tools we trust to keep us safe—like home washing machines—may not be as effective as once believed when confronting modern microbial threats.
The researchers also highlighted growing concerns surrounding antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global crisis in which bacteria evolve to evade even the most powerful medical treatments. The World Health Organization has previously labeled AMR one of humanity’s top threats, with estimates suggesting it could claim 10 million lives annually by 2050 if left unchecked. In Thailand, AMR has been declared a national health emergency, with campaigns promoting rational antibiotic prescription and improved infection control. This new study adds another layer, showing how everyday habits could be inadvertently feeding the resistance cycle.
Looking ahead, the research team recommends a number of urgent steps for both policy makers and the public. Healthcare facilities should be encouraged to offer industrial laundry services for all staff uniforms, and the government should consider setting regulatory standards for decontamination efficacy in domestic washing machines. For families and caregivers, practical steps include using the highest possible wash temperature, selecting longer or extra rinse cycles, using bleach or hospital-grade detergents where appropriate, and ensuring machines are regularly descaled and cleaned to disrupt biofilms.
For Thai readers, these findings suggest practical actions to limit the spread of infectious and resistant bacteria at home:
- Where possible, wash healthcare uniforms and clothing exposed to illness at the highest temperature recommended by the manufacturer, ideally above 60°C.
- Use laundry detergents with proven disinfectant properties and consider adding bleach where fabric and health permit.
- Clean and descale washing machine drums and detergent drawers at least monthly, running empty high-heat cycles with cleaning agents to remove biofilms.
- If a household member is immune-compromised, elderly, or very young, consider avoiding home laundering of clinical uniforms.
- Encourage your local health facility to provide or subsidize safe hospital laundry services for staff.
- Raise awareness about the invisible risks by discussing safe laundering at your workplace and community meetings.
To learn more, see the original publication at MedicalXpress, as well as supporting articles from EurekAlert and the Daily Mail. For information on antimicrobial resistance in Thailand, visit the World Health Organization’s AMR fact sheet.