Washing Undergarments After a Fungal Infection

Step 1 - Separate the laundry

• Keep infected undergarments away from the rest of the household's laundry.
• Do NOT share towels during or after infection.
• Handle them with clean hands or disposable gloves if possible.

Step 2 - Wash at high temperature

• 60°C (140°F) minimum - this is the key step. Fungi survive at 40°C (104°F), so a cold or warm wash is not enough.
• Use a standard full wash cycle, not a quick wash.
• If your machine has a "sanitize" or "hot" cycle, use it.

Step 3 - Add an antifungal booster

• White vinegar - add 1 cup to the rinse cycle. It's mildly antifungal and helps neutralize spores.
• Borax - add half a cup with your detergent.
• Laundry sanitizer (e.g. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer or similar) - follow the product instructions.
• Tea tree oil - a few drops added to the wash has antifungal properties.

Step 4 - Dry completely and quickly

• Do not leave damp clothes sitting - fungi thrive in moisture.
• Tumble dry on high heat if the fabric allows.
• If line drying, dry in direct sunlight (UV light helps kill fungi).
• Make sure they are fully dry before wearing or storing.

Step 5 - Clean your washing machine

• Run an empty hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar or a machine cleaning tablet after washing infected items, so spores don't linger in the drum.

Additional Tips

• Cotton underwear is preferable during and after infection - it breathes better and dries faster.
• Consider discarding underwear that is old, worn thin, or difficult to wash at high heat (e.g. delicate lace fabrics), and replacing with fresh ones.
• Repeat this washing protocol for bed linens and towels too, as they can also harbor fungal spores.
• Don't wear the same underwear two days in a row until the infection is fully resolved.

Using the Undergarments Cycle for Fungal-Infected Clothes

Before You Start

• Load only the infected undergarments - don't mix with other clothes
• Check what temperature the undergarments cycle uses on your machine

The Key Issue

What to Do

1. Select the undergarments cycle on your machine
2. Manually increase the temperature to 60°C if your machine allows it - this is the most important step
3. Add your regular detergent
4. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment (acts as antifungal booster)
5. Run the full cycle

If You Cannot Change the Temperature

• Run the undergarments cycle as normal
• Then run it again at the highest temperature the fabric can handle
• OR add a laundry sanitizer (like Dettol Laundry Sanitizer) to the wash - these work even at low temperatures and are widely available in India

After Washing

• Dry immediately - don't leave wet clothes in the drum
• Dry in direct sunlight if possible - UV rays kill remaining spores
• Make sure completely dry before wearing

For You in Tehran

Laundry Sanitizer Options Available Locally

• وایتکس (Whitex/bleach) - diluted bleach works well if your undergarments are white/light colored
• مایع ضدعفونی لباس (laundry disinfectant) - available at most larger pharmacies
• سرکه سفید (white vinegar / سرکه سفید) - very easy to find at any supermarket, add 1 cup to the softener compartment
• آب اکسیژنه (hydrogen peroxide) - available at pharmacies, add half a cup to the wash

Your Machine Settings

1. Select the undergarments cycle (لباس زیر)
2. Set temperature to 60°C if possible
3. Add regular detergent + one of the options above
4. Run full cycle

Drying

• Tehran summers are very hot and sunny right now (July) - perfect for drying in direct sunlight on your balcony
• Sun exposure for 1-2 hours will kill any remaining spores
• Make sure fully dry before storing or wearing