How should you wash socks if you have fungus?

It is easy to get infected with nail fungus, but it is difficult to get rid of it. Even multi-month therapy is not always successful, and the reason may be hidden in re-infection.

Few people realize, but the source of mycelium is often ordinary socks. To prevent the progression of the disease and not infect other people, they need to be washed correctly.

About how to do it right wash socks for foot and nail fungus, we will tell you in the article.

Washing rules

Doctors recommend completely updating your hosiery after starting treatment.. However, it takes about six months until complete recovery, and not everyone can afford to buy a new pair every day.

From the moment therapy starts, the fungus loses its activity, so it is enough to limit yourself to proper washing of socks.

Basic recommendations:

1. Do not store worn socks in the dirty laundry basket. They should be washed immediately after your shift.
2. Do not wash socks with other items of clothing.
3. It is prohibited to process the socks of a sick person and a healthy person in the same wash cycle.
4. After completion of treatment, you must follow the washing rules applicable for illness for another 3 months.

Following these recommendations will help prevent the spread of infection and infect your household.

Which is correct?

Socks for mycosis can be processed either manually or in a washing machine. In this case, you need to act carefully, following the rules of antiseptics. This is the only way to completely get rid of the infection and prevent its spread.

In the washing machine

Socks of a sick person are loaded into the washing machine only on the condition that the processing takes place at maximum temperatures.

This can be a “wash with soak” mode or an “antibacterial” mode.. If there is no such program, then they independently set the temperature to 90 degrees.

It has been proven that at a temperature of 70-75 degrees, the fungus that causes mycosis of the nails dies in 15 minutes. If washing is carried out at high temperatures, then after its completion additional processing of the washing machine is not required.

In addition, modern devices are often equipped with a steam treatment function, or technology for destroying microbes with silver ions. In this case, no measures aimed at destroying fungal spores are required.

If necessary, you can use specialized compounds. Among them:

1. Dr. Tan Antibacterial. Price for 450 g – 250 rubles.
2. Dr. Beckman. Price for 250 g – 240 rubles.
3. Korean disinfectant Sandokkaebi. Price for 450 g – 156 rubles.

You can purchase these products in departments with household chemicals and on the Internet.

Manually

Hand washing socks for nail fungus has some features, including:

1. It is necessary to carefully work out those places that were in contact with the affected area.
2. It is recommended to pre-soak the products for 1-2 hours in antiseptic solutions.
3. For washing you need to use regular washing powders. Products for treating children's things contain a lower concentration of surfactants, so they will not be able to destroy the fungus.
4. It is necessary to wash at the highest possible temperatures.
5. Socks should be boiled at least once every 3-4 washes.
6. After washing is completed, the basin is treated with a disinfectant composition, for example, white.

Boiling

Boiling allows you to process things efficiently. Fungi are afraid of high temperatures, so socks can be boiled. When boiling, the fungus will be destroyed in 3 minutes.

• fill a suitable container with water;
• add soda, soap or washing powder to it, stir thoroughly until the detergent is completely dissolved;
• place socks in the basin;
• boil for 5 minutes, periodically immersing socks in water;
• rinse and dry the items.

In soapy solution

Laundry soap has disinfecting properties. To destroy the fungus, it is not enough just to wash your socks with it. To eliminate the mycelium, you will need to soak in a soapy solution.

Algorithm of actions:

• soap is grated;
• dissolve it in hot water;
• soak socks;
• add boiling water from the kettle;
• leave for 1-3 hours;
• wash socks as usual.

You don’t have to dissolve the soap in water, but simply moisten your socks and lather them. For complete disinfection, the couple is left in this form for 4 hours.

In bleach

Chlorine has pronounced antiseptic properties.To destroy fungal flora, socks must be treated for at least 20-30 minutes.

Mode of application:

• dilute 50 mg of bleach in 1 liter of water;
• soak socks for half an hour;
• Rinse the pair thoroughly.

In an acidic solution

Fungi die when exposed to acids. Therefore, you can use vinegar to destroy them.

Mode of application:

• dilute 50 ml of vinegar with a concentration of 9% in a liter of water;
• soak socks in the solution for 20-30 minutes;
• wash with soap;
• rinse the pair.

Washing your socks in vinegar too often can cause the fabric to become thin. Therefore, periodically you need to resort to other methods of disinfection.

Special means for disinfection

There are many specialized products that can destroy fungal flora. The most effective are:

1. Alaminol. Socks are soaked in the solution for 20 minutes. A product with a concentration of 5-10% is suitable for processing things. Price for 1 liter – 350 rubles.
2. Avestil. A solution with a concentration of 2.5 to 5% is required. Leave socks in it for a period of 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Price for 1 liter – 380 rubles.
3. Chlorhexidine. It is a clear liquid with concentrations of 0.05%, 0.2% and 0.5%. The solution is sold at the pharmacy. It is used to disinfect the skin and mucous membranes, but if necessary, the product can be applied undiluted to socks. The duration of exposure is 30 minutes. Price for 100 ml – 15 rubles.

Antiseptics

The following compositions have pronounced antiseptic properties:

1. Megadez. This aldehyde allows you to destroy not only fungi, but also microbial flora. It is often used to disinfect medical instruments and clothing. The cost of 1 liter of product is 500 rubles. Socks are soaked in it for 15-20 minutes.
2. Spray Dezavid. It has a wide spectrum of action, so it allows you to destroy most representatives of the fungal flora. The composition is applied to socks for 30 minutes, after which it is washed in a soapy solution. The cost of the bottle is 200 rubles.
3. Mycostop. An antimycotic that is applied to the nails during treatment. It does not leave stains on clothes, so it can be used on socks. Leave the composition on the fabric for at least 3 hours. It will work even after drying. The cost of the spray is 250 rubles.

Medicines are sold at the pharmacy. Professional antiseptics can be purchased in online markets.

Features of drying and ironing

After washing socks, fungal spores may remain on them, which will lead to re-infection. That's why Items should be dried separately from other items.

You can place them on stationary batteries. This will further warm the fabric. However, this drying method is not suitable for white socks.

Iron socks after every wash. After finishing the treatment, additionally pass the iron over the surface of the ironing board.

What happens if you do not disinfect the things of a person suffering from mycosis of the nails and feet?

If you do not subject your socks to additional treatment, it will be difficult to cope with the infection.

Firstly, a person will constantly infect himself, so medications will be ineffective. Secondly, it will act as a spreader of the disease. Healthy people may suffer from this.

The fight against fungus must be comprehensive. Proper washing of socks is an important element of the overall treatment regimen. If after 6 months of continuous therapy it was not possible to cope with onychomycosis, you should consult a dermatologist.

Important Tips

To ensure that washing socks for nail fungus is as effective as possible, The following recommendations must be followed:

1. If it is not possible to immediately start washing socks, then they are stored separately from other things, wrapped in a plastic bag.
2. When soaking socks in laundry soap, choose a bar with a 72% mark.
3. Not all socks can withstand bleach treatment. It is used only for washing white or strongly colored items. Wool and silk socks are not disinfected in this way.

Conclusion

The socks of a person suffering from nail fungus should be washed daily. Dirt and high humidity are ideal conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic flora. If you ignore the rules for washing and disinfecting products, it will be difficult to cope with the disease.