How do I clean flood-soiled clothing?
Sort soiled clothes. Do not shake dirty clothes near clean laundry or surfaces. Cover surfaces with clean paper or other clean material when working with clean clothes.
Commercial dry-cleaning is effective in reducing harmful bacteria. Before taking clothes to the cleaners, allow garments to dry slowly at room temperature or outside. Do not hang near a stove or heater. Make sure it is dry before you take it to the cleaners. Shake and brush to remove as much soil as possible.
For washable clothing, wash as soon as possible. Rinse several times before washing . A cold-water soak with an enzyme product is helpful. Hot soapsuds may set rust-colored stains. After rinsing with cold water, wash in hottest water that is safe for the garment. Add a disinfectant to the wash water. To sanitize clothing, 2 tablespoons of liquid chlorine bleach per washer load is needed. Brightly colored fabrics that fade when chlorine bleach is used at higher levels can generally be successfully sanitized with a lower level. Before putting away clean clothing, make sure you have disinfected the storage area.
Publications
News
The tornado in Lowndes County and widespread flooding in north Mississippi have triggered a variety of helpful “boots on the ground” to provide needed care and guidance.
It’s National Love Your Pet Day, so give those four-legged family members extra special treatment. More noggin’ pats and extra-long walks are in order. But be careful with the treats. Some human foods can be harmful to pets. For dogs, that includes chocolate. (Photo/video credit: MSU Extension/ Brian Utley)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – First responders and disaster experts know that good intentions can lay the foundations for disastrous conditions after hurricane winds and floods subside.
Through the Mississippi State University Extension Service, Anne Howard Hilbun conducts disaster response training for citizens and emergency workers. She is an instructor with the MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- After nearly 3 feet of rain in two days caused historic flooding and widespread damage in Louisiana and southwest Mississippi earlier this month, volunteers from Mississippi State University are assisting in relief efforts.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi State University leaders realized the importance of instituting a standardized response system to assist with all types of catastrophes that might strike the state.
Six months after Katrina, the MSU Extension Service Center for Government and Community Development began training university employees, as well as local emergency management officials, 911-call-center operators, and elected and appointed officials.
Listen
Your Extension Experts
