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

JE Konkol, B Becker, D Paulmann, E Steinmann, D Todt, TL Meister, S Evers, A Dotzauer, M Weide, FHH Brill

Journal of Applied Microbiology | Volume 136 | Issue 3 | March 2025

Aims: 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.

Methods and results: 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).

Conclusions: 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.