Yes, the Coronavirus Can Live on Your Clothes—Here's How to Protect Yourself (2024)

SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets from an infected person talking, sneezing, or coughing. Those droplets can also end up on different surfaces.

Contaminated clothing (or other materials) is not listed as a main transmission method, but the virus can last on your clothes for a few hours up to a few days. Read on to learn more, including what you can do if the virus is on your clothes.

Scientists have looked at the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to survive on different materials, including clothing, for different periods of time. For example, some research found that the virus can last on non-porous surfaces—including glass, porcelain, or stainless steel—for a few days to a few weeks.

The length of time has varied for clothes. One study found that while the viable virus was present on the skin for up to four days, on clothing, the virus survived for less than eight hours.

Another study looked at the survival rate of the virus on different clothing materials most commonly used in healthcare worker clothing. Scientists used a model coronavirus called HCoV-OC43, which has a very similar structure and survival pattern to SARS-CoV-2. They added droplets of the virus to polyester, polycotton, and 100% cotton. They found that HCoV-OC43 lasted:

• Six hours on polycotton
• 24 hours on 100% cotton
• Three days on polyester

Other factors affecting how long the virus remains on a surface are temperature and humidity or moisture. Higher temperatures and drier surfaces keep SARS-CoV-2 from surviving. However, lower temperatures and wetter surfaces can allow the virus to be detected up to 48 to 60 days later.

How Often Should You Wash Your Clothes?

If nobody in your household has tested positive for COVID or displayed any symptoms, you can clean your clothes as usual. However, if you've been out in public in crowded areas, it's probably a good idea to machine wash the clothes you wore outside when you get home.

Encouragingly, the De Montfort University Leicester study showed that washing clothes in hot water in a washing machine using detergent eliminated the virus. If you have any concerns about potentially having the virus on your clothes, a hot water wash with detergent can get rid of it.

If someone in your household has confirmed or suspected COVID, extra precautions must be taken when washing their clothes. Use the same precautions when washing the towels and bed linens they came into contact with.

Washing a sick person's dirty laundry with non-sick people's items is safe. However, if handling dirty laundry from someone who has COVID:

• Wear gloves and a mask.
• Wash your hands after handling dirty laundry.
• Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.
• Finish up by cleaning clothes hampers or laundry baskets according to guidance for surfaces.

The American Chemistry Council has compiled a list of products—including detergents—that can be used against emerging viral pathogens and COVID. The Environmental Protection Agency has also put together a list of disinfectants that can help to work against the virus.

Can You Wash Your Clothes by Hand?

No recommendations have been issued to suggest you shouldn't hand-wash clothes at home. However, you'll get a much higher temperature if you use a machine—and a high temperature is part of the CDC's machine-washing recommendations.

The virus that causes COVID can last on clothing, depending on the material, from a few hours to a few days. It can also remain on other surfaces for days, weeks, or months. You can eliminate or reduce the presence of the virus by washing clothes at a high temperature and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces.

Also, remember that it's important to follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID. That means getting vaccinated and boosted, social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and washing your hands regularly, among other things.