Yes. Please stop. Your washing machine is not a biohazard containment unit. It’s a drum that eats your socks.
Unless you’re actively coughing directly into your pillow while you sleep, most of the virus on your fabric is from your hands. You touched your face, then you touched the blanket. Gross, but normal.
Here’s the tiny print that matters: The amount of virus that transfers from fabric to your hands is tiny. Like, “pile of dust” tiny. And your immune system is already fighting that specific strain. You won’t reinfect yourself.
The Real Danger You Should Worry About
Don’t stare at your blanket. Stare at your light switches. And your phone. And the TV remote. Those hard surfaces are where the flu throws a real party.
How Long Can The Flu Virus Live On Fabric – OJVZ
On a hard surface, the flu can live for 24 to 48 hours. Some strains hang out for a full week if nobody wipes them down. Fabric is the guest who leaves after the appetizers. Hard surfaces are the ones who crash on your couch until Tuesday.
So, if you’re going to obsess over something, obsess over that grimy TV remote. I promise it’s dirtier than your favorite hoodie right now.
