Do a good job of disinfecting and cleaning daily-use items.
- Introduction.
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Introduction: Towels, toothbrushes, undergarments, and clothing are articles that come into intimate contact with the human body every day; they should follow the “one person, one item” principle—do not share or mix-wash.
Ancient and modern insights: According to The Book of Rites, "The crown is rinsed, the ashes are rinsed, and the clothes are rinsed—and then rolled in grey ash." In ancient times, people beat clothes with wooden sticks in flowing river water to clean them—a method that naturally minimized infection risk due to continuous water renewal.
- Do a good job of disinfecting and cleaning daily-use items.
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Modern practices: Today, many people wash clothes casually, tossing underwear into washing machines for mixed loads. This practice increases the risk of disease transmission. Commonly transmitted conditions include fungal skin infections, typhoid fever, cholera, bacillary dysentery, viral hepatitis, scabies, and trichomoniasis.
Towel hygiene: Do not share towels among family members. Wash towels frequently, boil them regularly, air-dry them often, and disinfect them weekly. Soak washed towels in a 1:200 dilution of disinfectant for 15 minutes, then thoroughly rinse off residue and air-dry. Alternatively, disinfect by microwaving for 5 minutes (if towel material permits) or steaming in a pressure cooker for 30 minutes. Close-fitting garments are best hand-washed using mild soap powder. When no disinfectant is used, always wash innerwear and outerwear separately.
✵Health benefits:
1. Prevent infection: If someone has an infectious condition—such as conjunctivitis, dermatophytosis, sexually transmitted infections, or gynecological infections—avoiding shared towels and separating laundry helps prevent cross-contamination.
2. Reduce bacterial transfer: Do not mix socks and underwear during washing, as this minimizes transfer of foot- and groin-associated bacteria to undergarments.
Tips: Clothes returned from dry cleaning should be aired thoroughly until all chemical odors have completely dissipated.
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