Why Water Temperature Matters

"Experts agree that in order to kill bacteria and other viruses on linen, laundry should be washed with detergent and bleach for (at least) 25 minutes in water that is heated to 160 degrees F. Studies have shown that bacteria, viruses, and even bed bugs cannot survive this water temperature or chemical mix." - American Laundry News, February 2, 2013

Water temperature in laundry does make a difference—actually, it makes all the difference in eliminating viruses, bacteria, blood borne pathogens, and bed bugs. The plain fact is this: without the proper chemical mix and water temperature, resorts, hotels, and property management companies run the risk of not controlling these issues in the linens used in their units and by their guests. As a point of reference, linens washed "in unit" will generally be processed in water at around 100 degrees F. without a significant chemical mix, and even small commercial machines typically used by most motels and resorts rarely use water approaching 100 to 120 degrees F, depending on their boiler/hot water heating systems.