Ringworm Laundry Advice

You are fighting a ringworm infection. The infection hit you hard and you are still taking treatments for it. Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus, also known as Tinea corporis, that appears anywhere on the body except the hands and feet 2. A type of ringworm called Tinea capitis can infect your scalp 1. In addition to taking treatments for the infection, you must clean your bedding, towels and any other fabrics that have come into contact with your infected skin. Failure to clean these fabrics can lead to a reinfection.

Washing Ringworm-Exposed Fabrics

Wash all bedding (sheets, pillowcases, comforter, mattress padding and other items on your bed), towels, clothing and other exposed fabrics using a hot cycle and regular laundry detergent. Wash bedding and towels separate from your clothing. Follow any washing instructions on your clothing related to water temperature. Some clothing can't be washed in hot water. If it can be washed in warm water, use that setting. If washing in cold, dissolve any powered detergent first in hot water and then pour it in so the detergent won't clump on your clothing.

If other people are living in your house, do not wash their bedding or other fabrics in with your bedding and garments. Try to use the same bedding to keep from having to wash a large amount of ringworm-infected sheets, pillowcases and other bedding.

Drying Clean Fabrics

Dry your bedding, towels and other fabrics on the warm or hot setting. If no dryer is available, dry them on a clothesline or drying rack. Do not store the fabrics damp.

Sanitizing Ringworm-Exposed Items

For non-fabric items including hair brushes, combs, razors and other accessories, wash in hot, soapy water and dry them with a paper towel. If any of the items are disposable, throw them away instead of washing them.

Clean your shower, bathtub and any areas you touched with a germ-killing cleaner that has a sanitizer. Don't forget about floors and the handles on kitchen and bathroom sinks.

Purchase a can of spray sanitizer to disinfect the air in house as an added germ-fighting measure.