Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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New antimicrobial laundry product kill germs on fabrics uses same technology as Covid-killing spray
A new laundry product that eliminates germs and odour-causing bacteria on clothes between washes, reducing the spread of disease and keeping clothes and other laundry fresher and safer for longer, provides up to one month's (or five wash cycles) protection against bacteria and germs on laundry.
Working in washes as low as 30 degrees, the product, from biotech cleaning company Zonitise, uses the same antimicrobial technology proven to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 after six weeks on surfaces, as tested by two of the world's leading laboratories.
Significant trials have proven that the antimicrobial protection of just 50ml of the product per full load of washing can protect for up to one month, keeping clothes and bedding smelling fresher for longer, but also massively reducing the risk of carrying germs on clothing home from work.
Zonitise's Antimicrobial Laundry Additive provides a constant barrier of protection on clothing, preventing germs from harbouring and being transmitted on fabrics, reducing the risk of disease being spread through bacteria on items such as clothing and bedding.
The Zonitise Antimicrobial Laundry Additive is hypoallergenic, non-bleaching, non-toxic, 100% free of perfumes and dyes, eco-friendly and suitable for any machine washable fabric. As well as being eco-friendly, it kills bacteria at much lower temperatures compared to traditional washing (60 degrees Celsius plus is normally required to effectively kill germs), making it more energy efficient - but the unique point is that it continues to protect laundry in between washes.
Zonitise also released Zonitise Surface, a spray which can give up to 60 days of protection against germs and harmful pathogens on all surfaces and touch points it is applied to, including SARS-CoV-2. Also launched in January was Zonitise Skin, an alcohol-free hand sanitiser that gives up to eight hours constant protection from Coronavirus and 99.999% of bacteria, after being applied to skin without drying them out.
Zonitise is a biotech and microbial control company, specialising in antimicrobial protection against bacteria, viruses, mould, mildew, and odours. Its mission is to reduce cross contamination risk on surfaces, touch points and fabrics to keep people healthy. Zonitise antimicrobial coatings are used across the UK and have been professionally applied in many locations since the pandemic started last year. Zonitise protected surfaces can be found in many places including London City Airport, Gatwick Airport, schools, hotels, NHS health centres and even public transport. The coating has a proven efficacy to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 virus that comes into contact with any treated surface or touchpoint.
"With the UK beginning its return to normality it has been great to launch the UK's first Antimicrobial Laundry Additive," says Edward Tennent, antimicrobial consultant and director at Zonitise. "Our main focus with this product is infection prevention, especially in the healthcare sector. However, we took the decision to make the product available to anyone as an additional layer of protection on our clothing against the virus and many other harmful germs we may come in contact with. We have all been sanitising our hands and protecting surfaces to help reduce the spread, and now we can add a protective barrier to our clothes to ensure a safe return to the high streets, pubs, restaurants, gyms and other places that have been dearly missed over the last year.
"Traditional laundry detergents clean clothes, but they are not as effective against germs and other bacteria, which can remain and multiply on clothes and laundry between washes.
"The antimicrobial fabric technology in Zonitise Antimicrobial Laundry Additive binds to the clothes and remains active between washes. The technology essentially pops the outer cell membranes of micro-organisms that come in touch with it like a water balloon, effectively destroying unwanted microbes so they can't cause odours and fabric damage, but also helping reduce the risk of bringing home any harmful germs your clothes come in contact with."
1st April 2021