Virucidal activity of household laundry detergents and additives in simulated wash cycles

In this study, we evaluated the antiviral performance of domestic laundry detergents and additives to provide information for selecting a suitable product for reducing viruses on textiles during viral infections at home.

Three laundry heavy-duty detergents (HDDs)-universal solid, regular liquid, and compact single-dose liquid-and a laundry additive (hygiene rinser) were tested for their efficacy using a suspension test and lab-scale laundering against two viruses: enveloped modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and nonenveloped murine norovirus (MNV). All HDD detergents effectively inactivated MVA at 30°C (titers reduced below quantification limit), whereas the hygiene rinser at 20°C exhibited lower efficacy, with 2.19 log10 reduction after 30 min. Notably, at low temperatures, HDD solid effectively reduced the MNV titer (5 log10 reduction after 30 min).

Laundry detergents, including HDD liquid detergents, can inactivate MVA at 30°C. However, for complete inactivation of nonenveloped viruses like norovirus, detergents containing bleach, like the universal solid, are required.