Perfect Laundry Hygiene

Perfect Laundry Hygiene - Protection Against Hidden Microbes, Keeps Your Clothes and Machine New and Clean Hayat Kimya A.Ş., operating in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, entered the home care products market in 1987 and continues its journey as a global player in the industry with confident steps. Hayat Kimya A.Ş., which bases its product range on innovation, has accelerated its work in the sector with the Hayat Kimya Research and Development center established in 2012, and was selected as Turkey's best Research and Development center in the chemistry sector in 2015. In addition, the company extends its global footprint by distributing the Bingo brand, which ranks among the sector's leading products in the home care category, to different parts of the world through a strong export network. The Bingo quality brand, an ambitious mark in the powder detergent category, continues to meet consumers in different parts of the world. In Turkey's powder detergent market, products for whites, colors, and colors & whites, as well as fragrance-free variants are found on store shelves. The main raw materials affecting stain performance in powder detergents are considered to be surfactants, enzymes, and bleaching agents. While surfactant and enzyme contents are present in all Bingo Matik powder detergents, bleaching agent content is found in the highest proportion in the Bingo Matik Ultra White formula, which is specifically designed for whites. In powder detergents, sodium percarbonate and TAED are typically used as the bleaching mechanism. This bleaching mechanism is effective against colored stains such as tea, coffee, wine, and fruit juice, while also supporting white garments to maintain their whiteness over an extended period. Additionally, in our recent research and development work, it has been observed that this level of bleaching agent in the Bingo Matik Ultra White formula supports antifungal and biofilm-preventive properties even at lower temperatures such as 40°C. Within the scope of this study, details on the product's properties, particularly regarding antifungal effects and prevention of cross-contamination, as well as protection of both the machine and textiles even at lower temperatures, have been provided.

Introduction

While the primary purpose of laundry washing is to remove stains and dirt from textiles, the removal of microbial contamination and malodorous substances from textiles and washing machines is also an important goal of the washing process. Industrial and institutional laundry uses standardized procedures employing temperatures of 60°C and above and strong bleaching agents to ensure textile hygiene. However, domestic laundry washing procedures are typically variable, with consumers choosing their own washing procedures according to their personal preference. With the aim of achieving greater energy savings in washing machines, washing temperatures have been reduced in recent years in Europe (40°C instead of 60°C). When it comes to laundry, two important contamination sources must be considered. The human body serves as the primary source. These are microbiota found on the skin or skin pathogens that can be transferred to textiles during wearing or use. Additionally, textile products soiled with potentially contaminated materials serve as a source of other microorganisms associated with humans. Parts of the washing machine that are difficult to reach and remain wet, such as the folds in the rubber gasket, are susceptible to biofilm formation where microorganisms such as fungi colonize. Biofilm associated with fungi can cause technical problems in washing machines. Fungal biofilms can form on surfaces such as pipes, filters, and equipment, potentially causing blockages, corrosion, and reduced efficiency. Additionally, biofilms can reduce water flow, increase energy consumption, and shorten equipment lifespan, thereby reducing machine efficiency. Fungal biofilms can also release spores, which can cause health problems in those exposed to them.

Combating Mold Formation Related to Biofilm in Washing Machines

The biofilm concept refers to a population or community of microorganisms adhering to a surface and showing changes in their physiology resulting from different gene expression. Biofilms can form on biotic or inert surfaces and can derive from a single species or consist of multiple species. Filamentous fungi can also form true biofilms, and these systems are a significant issue for health and related industries. There are observations of Aspergillus niger forming biofilm in laundry environments. The necessity to remove or eliminate microorganisms in home environments is not justified solely for the purpose of reducing infection risk. It also encompasses other negative microbial outcomes such as odor formation. After single wash (Figure 1) and 10 consecutive washes (Figure 2), the antifungal efficacy of Bingo Ultra White at 40°C washing on biofilm-related fungi (Aspergillus niger) in the folds of the washing machine's rubber gasket compared to bleach-free detergent is evident. Bingo Ultra White demonstrated more than 2.5 times greater antifungal efficacy against mold in the gasket after a single wash compared to bleach-free detergent, while after 10 consecutive washes, Bingo Ultra White nearly completely prevented mold formation. [caption id="attachment_150661" align="aligncenter"] Figure 1. Single wash at 40°C with bleach-free detergent and Bingo Ultra White, percentage reduction of mold quantity in the rubber gasket.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_150662" align="aligncenter"] Figure 2. 10 consecutive washes at 40°C with bleach-free detergent and Bingo Ultra White, percentage reduction of mold quantity in the rubber gasket[/caption]

Prevention of Growth and Cross-Contamination of Skin-Related Fungi

The microbial population associated with laundry is a mixture of skin-related, environmentally-found, and washing machine-sourced microorganisms. In this regard, it is assumed that the washing process causes the transition of the microbial population on textiles from primary contaminants (e.g., skin bacteria) to secondary contaminants (e.g., biofilm-related environmental bacteria). If Candida albicans is in contact with body areas where Candida infections are commonly observed, such as skin and mucous membranes, it can potentially spread through insufficiently decontaminated textiles. To prevent transmission of Candida albicans through contaminated textile products, it is important to ensure that textile products are properly cleaned and decontaminated using appropriate detergent. Although cotton can serve as a suitable environment for fungal growth, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has demonstrated that washing textiles with Bingo Ultra White removed Candida from the fabric (Figure 3). Additionally, research has shown that laundry washing not only reduces the number of microbial cells on textiles but can also significantly inoculate microorganisms that may be present in the washing machine onto the laundry. It has been demonstrated that Bingo Ultra White prevents microbial transfer from washing machines to textile products (Figure 4) and maintains textile cleanliness (Figure 5).

Conclusion

Research has shown that soiled laundry not only poses potential health hazards but can also lead to unpleasant odors and technical problems in washing machines. Given the current trend toward energy efficiency in domestic appliances, the use of lower washing temperatures should be balanced with the effectiveness of washing hygiene, which is significantly affected by temperature profile. Regular use of Bingo Ultra White at 40 degrees has been shown to provide adequate protection during the washing process. In this way, it helps prevent unpleasant odors and protects both textiles and washing machines. References Bloomfield, S. F., Carling, P. C., Exner, M., Gould, D., & Nath, K. J. (2017). Infection prevention and control in the home: why we need to do more. Journal of Hospital Infection, 97(4), 339-343. Bockmühl, D.P. (2017) . Laundry hygiene—how to get more than cleanJournal of Applied Microbiology 122, 1124--1133 Borrego, A., Ferreira, J. P., Reis, C., Ribeiro, M., & Fernandes, I. (2017). Microbial contamination in washing machines and associated risks for human health. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(18), 15209-15225 El-Sherbiny, G. M., Mohamed, E. A., & Abdel-Rahman, H. A. (2018). Antifungal efficacy of some bleaching agents against clinical isolates of dermatophytes. Journal de Mycologie Médicale, 28(4), 675-681 Fittipaldi, M., & Codony, F. (2019). Microbial contamination of washing machines and the role of Candida in laundry hygiene. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(10), 1814. Gao, S., Wang, S., Jiang, D., Feng, J., & Li, J. (2020). Peroxycarboxylic acids: a promising class of fungicides. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 68(4), 1111-1120. Gattlen, J.,Amberg, C., et al. (2010). Biofilms isolated from washing machines from three continents and their tolerance to a standard detergent, Biofouling: The Journal of Bioadhesion and Biofilm Research, 26:8, 873-882, DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2010.524297 Priegnitz, B. E., Wargenau, A., Brandt, U., Rohde, M., Dietrich, S., Kwade, A., et al. (2012). The role of initial spore adhesion in pellet and biofilm formation in Aspergillus niger. Fungal Genet. Biol. 49, 30–38. doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2011.12.002 Rose, L., Rogan, M., & Kopecki, N. (2019). Laundry and healthcare: an evaluation of infection control in linen services. Healthcare Infection, 24(1), 23-29. https://doi. org/10.1071/HI18042 Sandifer, Q. D., Walker, J. T., & McLaughlin, J. B. (2016). A review of microbial contamination of laundered fabrics and laundering effectiveness. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 120(4), 982-993 Whitehead, K., Eppinger, J.,Srinivasan, V., Ijaz, M.K.,Nims, R.W.,McKinney, J. Potential for Microbial Cross Contamination of Laundry from PublicWashing Machines. Microbiol. Res. 2022, 13, 995–1006. https://doi.org/10.3390 Dr. Ö. Özlem İbrahimoğlu Karamık Senior Researcher, Biotechnology Hayat Kimya Research and Development Gülşah Acar Senior Researcher, Innovation, Detergents Hayat Kimya Research and Development Ahmet Ergün Head of Detergent Research and Development Hayat Kimya Research and Development