When washing lousy clothes, at what temperature and how long?

Study for the Operational Preventive Medicine Test (PMT 110). Prepare with multiple choice questions, detailed explanations, and tips for success. Master the material and be ready for the exam!

Multiple Choice

When washing lousy clothes, at what temperature and how long?

Explanation:
The key idea is sanitizing contaminated laundry by using a heat-time combination that reliably reduces pathogens while keeping fabrics safe. A wash temperature of 130°F (54°C) for about 15 minutes provides enough heat and exposure time to achieve significant microbial reduction without overly stressing fabrics or wasting energy. This balance makes it a practical sanitizing setting for typical clothes that may be contaminated. The other options either involve too low a temperature to reliably disinfect in a reasonable cycle, or mix higher heat with shorter times or longer durations that aren’t as efficient or fabric-friendly. Therefore, 130°F for 15 minutes is the most appropriate choice for sanitizing laundry in common washing conditions.

The key idea is sanitizing contaminated laundry by using a heat-time combination that reliably reduces pathogens while keeping fabrics safe. A wash temperature of 130°F (54°C) for about 15 minutes provides enough heat and exposure time to achieve significant microbial reduction without overly stressing fabrics or wasting energy. This balance makes it a practical sanitizing setting for typical clothes that may be contaminated.

The other options either involve too low a temperature to reliably disinfect in a reasonable cycle, or mix higher heat with shorter times or longer durations that aren’t as efficient or fabric-friendly. Therefore, 130°F for 15 minutes is the most appropriate choice for sanitizing laundry in common washing conditions.

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