Disinfecting colored clothes

[Michelle Moreland Orlando]

I have a cat that is being treated for a swollen wound on his forehead
that oozes matter. He has been on strong antibiotics and still has
this problem. Some of the infected matter has gotten on towels that
are colored. He will be going back to the vet today and will probably
have the wound lanced.

Anyway, since these are colored items, what can I wash and disinfect
them with in the washer? I have the old Lysol brown solution, but it
makes the clothes smell so strong. I used to be able to find the blue
colored fresh smelling Lysol on the shelves, but can't find it
anymore! Don't want to use clorax on the colored items that are not
safe to use the clorax to keep them from bleaching.

Any suggestions?

Michelle

[Suzie-Q]

In article <4117124f.371194970@news.texas.net>,
graywolf@texas.net (Michelle Moreland Orlando) wrote:

-> I have a cat that is being treated for a swollen wound on his forehead
-> that oozes matter. He has been on strong antibiotics and still has
-> this problem. Some of the infected matter has gotten on towels that
-> are colored. He will be going back to the vet today and will probably
-> have the wound lanced.
->
-> Anyway, since these are colored items, what can I wash and disinfect
-> them with in the washer? I have the old Lysol brown solution, but it
-> makes the clothes smell so strong. I used to be able to find the blue
-> colored fresh smelling Lysol on the shelves, but can't find it
-> anymore! Don't want to use clorax on the colored items that are not
-> safe to use the clorax to keep them from bleaching.
->
-> Any suggestions?


I have found that I can bleach most expensive towels and they won't
fade much. Of course, there's no way to know without trying. Is there
some reason your towels must be a certain color? Just personal choice?
Some of my cheaper towels completely changed color when bleached!

I bleach my towels every time I wash them, and the good ones are the
same color they were when I bought them. Just a little faded.
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://home.earthlink.net/~sme617
ICQ: 349878998

[DrClean]

"Michelle Moreland Orlando" <graywolf@texas.net> wrote in message
news:4117124f.371194970@news.texas.net...
> I have a cat that is being treated for a swollen wound on his forehead
> that oozes matter. He has been on strong antibiotics and still has
> this problem. Some of the infected matter has gotten on towels that
> are colored. He will be going back to the vet today and will probably
> have the wound lanced.
>
> Anyway, since these are colored items, what can I wash and disinfect
> them with in the washer? I have the old Lysol brown solution, but it
> makes the clothes smell so strong. I used to be able to find the blue
> colored fresh smelling Lysol on the shelves, but can't find it
> anymore! Don't want to use clorax on the colored items that are not
> safe to use the clorax to keep them from bleaching.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Michelle

Hi Michelle,

Why not get a disinfectant like Detol? These should be safe on fabric
without bleaching. If not then try a sanitiser like the ones here
www.DrClean.co.uk/Retail_DrClean/OdourTreatments.asp and the Sanifresh.
Prochem are in the USA so you may be able to get it locally.

Hope this helps.

--
DrClean
www.DrClean.co.uk
The Best Fabric Cleaning Resource on the Web

[jamie]

Michelle Moreland Orlando <graywolf@texas.net> wrote:
> Anyway, since these are colored items, what can I wash and disinfect
> them with in the washer? I have the old Lysol brown solution, but it
> makes the clothes smell so strong. I used to be able to find the blue
> colored fresh smelling Lysol on the shelves, but can't find it
> anymore! Don't want to use clorax on the colored items that are not
> safe to use the clorax to keep them from bleaching.

Hi again, Michelle,
Stain stick or similar enzymes should take out blood and pus stains.
Ordinary washing will remove most of the bacteria, and a hot dryer
will kill those that remain.

--
jamie (jamiemck@newsguy.com)

"There's a seeker born every minute."

[Vox Humana]

"Michelle Moreland Orlando" <graywolf@texas.net> wrote in message
news:4117124f.371194970@news.texas.net...
> I have a cat that is being treated for a swollen wound on his forehead
> that oozes matter. He has been on strong antibiotics and still has
> this problem. Some of the infected matter has gotten on towels that
> are colored. He will be going back to the vet today and will probably
> have the wound lanced.
>
> Anyway, since these are colored items, what can I wash and disinfect
> them with in the washer? I have the old Lysol brown solution, but it
> makes the clothes smell so strong. I used to be able to find the blue
> colored fresh smelling Lysol on the shelves, but can't find it
> anymore! Don't want to use clorax on the colored items that are not
> safe to use the clorax to keep them from bleaching.


Very hot water and detergent should disinfect them. I wouldn't worry about
the bleach, although as someone noted, you may be able to use bleach -- just
test one. You might also get some Lysol (the original kind) and follow the
directions for laundry if it makes you feel better. Still, most bacteria
will be killed by hot water and detergent. Furthermore, most bacteria need
some moisture to survive, so they won't make it though the dryer. Just the
fact that they will be diluted in the wash water and two rinse cycles will
be beneficial. You generally have to reach a threshold number of bacteria
to get an infection since your body has natural defenses that constantly
kill small numbers of pathogens. A bigger concern would be to make sure you
wash your hands after touching the cat.

[Boca Jan]

I wash all my towels and underwear (white AND colored) in bleach water. Over
about a years time I have had some minor fading in my colored underwear, but
nothing drastic. Perhaps putting 1/4 c. of bleach in the water and washing
would ease your mind.

As an FYI, I also put a splash of bleach in my dishwasher.

Boca Jan


"Michelle Moreland Orlando" <graywolf@texas.net> wrote in message
news:4117124f.371194970@news.texas.net...
> I have a cat that is being treated for a swollen wound on his forehead
> that oozes matter. He has been on strong antibiotics and still has
> this problem. Some of the infected matter has gotten on towels that
> are colored. He will be going back to the vet today and will probably
> have the wound lanced.
>
> Anyway, since these are colored items, what can I wash and disinfect
> them with in the washer? I have the old Lysol brown solution, but it
> makes the clothes smell so strong. I used to be able to find the blue
> colored fresh smelling Lysol on the shelves, but can't find it
> anymore! Don't want to use clorax on the colored items that are not
> safe to use the clorax to keep them from bleaching.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Michelle

[Suzie-Q]

In article <A%LRc.6522$5i4.964@bignews3.bellsouth.net>,
"Boca Jan" <poo_de_doo@yahoo.com> wrote:

-> I wash all my towels and underwear (white AND colored) in bleach water. Over
-> about a years time I have had some minor fading in my colored underwear, but
-> nothing drastic. Perhaps putting 1/4 c. of bleach in the water and washing
-> would ease your mind.
->
-> As an FYI, I also put a splash of bleach in my dishwasher.

I think a lot of dishwasher detergents already contain
bleach. At least, they smell like they do.
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://home.earthlink.net/~sme617
ICQ: 349878998

[Matthew A. R. Sherian]

On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 06:02:59 +0000, Michelle Moreland Orlando wrote:

> I have a cat that is being treated for a swollen wound on his forehead
> that oozes matter. He has been on strong antibiotics and still has this
> problem. Some of the infected matter has gotten on towels that are
> colored. He will be going back to the vet today and will probably have the
> wound lanced.
>
> Anyway, since these are colored items, what can I wash and disinfect them
> with in the washer? I have the old Lysol brown solution, but it makes the
> clothes smell so strong. I used to be able to find the blue colored fresh
> smelling Lysol on the shelves, but can't find it anymore! Don't want to
> use clorax on the colored items that are not
> safe to use the clorax to keep them from bleaching.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Michelle



OxiClean has worked quite well, in conjunction with Zout. You have to use
A LOT of OxiClean though. It reacts and devolves into hydrogen peroxide.