Ironing after washing nursing uniforms might be the key to keeping dangerous bacteria off of them, a new study finds.
University College in London researchers looked at the effectiveness of residential washing machines. They found that machines that heated water to only 104 degrees Fahrenheit left substantial amounts of bacteria Acinetobacter behind. Hotter water than that was effective at killing both Acinetobacter and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Plus, the investigators found that ironing uniforms after they had been washed in 104-degree water got rid of the remaining bacteria.