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The potential impact of washing machines on laundry malodour generation
Author(s) -
Stapleton K.,
Hill K.,
Day K.,
Perry J.D.,
Dean J.R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/lam.12050
Subject(s) - laundry , dimethyl trisulfide , contamination , chemistry , food science , chromatography , dimethyl disulfide , pulp and paper industry , waste management , organic chemistry , biology , engineering , sulfur , ecology
A multidisciplinary approach has been adopted to investigate and identify the source of malodour in washing machines and the potential for cross‐contamination of laundry. Four washing machines were olfactively graded, and the number of colony‐forming units (CFUs) bacteria was determined in four specific locations. Then, samples of terry‐towel and fleece were washed, without the use of detergent, in the machines, and the occurrence of malodour over a 52‐h period was assessed. Analysis of the scrapings from the four locations in the two malodorous machines identified a plethora of volatile organic compounds ( VOC s) by either olfactory detection or mass spectral identification post‐gas chromatographic separation. In addition, microbiological analysis from the swabs from the four locations within all four washing machines was carried out. Quantitative analysis of VOC s from 66 microbiological isolates from either the washing machines or fabrics was carried out. In total, 10 VOC s were identified: dimethyl disulfide, 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol, 2,4‐dithiapentane, dimethyl trisulfide, 2‐tridecanone, indole, 2‐phenylethanol, isovaleric acid, isobutyric acid and 1‐undecene. Significance and Impact of the Study The data presented in this study highlight that the environment and odour of the washing machine can lead to cross‐contamination of laundry.