Last Updated on 11 months by Susan Mayrich
Parvo is a highly contagious disease that affects dogs, especially puppies.
Parvo can survive on contaminated surfaces such as carpets and floors for up to several months. This means that you should always wash your clothes after coming into contact with a dog that has the disease, even if you don’t notice any symptoms yet.
What is Parvo?
Parvo is a common and deadly virus in dogs. The parvovirus attacks the intestinal tract of puppies and adult dogs, causing them to lose their appetite, become lethargic, vomit and have bloody diarrhea.
Does Washing Clothes Kill Parvo?
Yes, you can wash clothes with parvo. While it’s true that the virus is resilient, most detergents contain bleach that will kill it.
Wash all fabrics that have come into contact with the infected dog. This includes any clothing, carpets, rugs, or blankets that may have touched the dog or its vomit. You should also wash all bedding, towels, and other items used in the dog’s care.
Use bleach and a warm-wash cycle to kill any Parvo on the garment. Bleach is known to kill viruses such as Parvo.
How Long Can Parvo Live on Clothes
Parvovirus is an infectious virus that can live on clothes and carpets for six months or more and can live up to two years in the ground. The virus can be killed by washing clothing and bedding used by an infected dog in hot water with bleach. It should be left to soak for at least 20 minutes, then washed again without bleach before drying.
Carpets and floors should be cleaned with a solution of chlorine bleach and water, then allowed to air dry.
How to Clean Clothes After Parvo
If you have had a dog with Parvo you will want to know how to clean up after Parvo. There are several ways to kill the virus, here are a few:
Using Bleach
The clothing worn while handling animals with parvovirus should be washed separately from other clothing and cleaned in hot water with bleach.
- Soak the contaminated clothing in a solution of 1/2 cup of household bleach per gallon of water for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the contaminated clothing in cold water.
- Wash the contaminated clothing using heavy-duty detergent and the hottest water cycle on your washing machine.
- Dry the clothes in an automatic dryer using the highest heat cycle possible for fabrics to prevent contamination when transferring to another location. If you do not have an automatic dryer, hang your clothes outside to dry in full sunlight to kill any remaining viruses on them.
Direct Sunlight
- Once the parvovirus has been identified, take all materials outside and place them in direct sunlight for 5 to 6 hours. The ultraviolet rays of the sun will kill any parvovirus remaining on the items.
- Wash all materials with heavy-duty laundry detergent at high temperatures. Use hot water if possible.
- Dry materials thoroughly on high heat settings. Remove items from the dryer immediately when dry to prevent possible reinfection from the hot dryer surface.
Sniper Disinfectant
SNiPER is a strong disinfectant and all-purpose cleaner that can be used to kill parvovirus.
The manufacturer says it is safe for the clothing, but it’s a good idea to test SNiPER on an inconspicuous area of the garment. If the fabric is damaged, you may need to dilute it with water.
To clean clothes after contact with parvovirus:
- Fill your bathtub with 1 cup of laundry detergent and a small amount of SNiPER and hot water and add 1 cup of laundry detergent and a small amount of SNiPER.
- Soak the clothes in the solution for some good hours.
- Wash the clothes in hot water. If possible, wash them separately from other items to prevent cross-contamination. Use heavy-duty detergent and SNiPER. Use the longest and hottest cycle on your washing machine.
- Dry according to garment care instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a washing machine kill parvo?
You can wash your garments using hot water, with a heavy-duty detergent, then dry at high heat to kill any viruses present. However, the virus can survive for up to one year in the environment. Your best bet is to clean anything that could be contaminated with bleach.
Can parvo be spread through clothing?
Yes, parvo can be spread through clothing, though it can also be spread by other means as well. Parvovirus is hardy and can remain on clothes for a long time.
What temperature kills parvo
Parvovirus is killed at 221 degrees Fahrenheit but can withstand temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit. The virus can be killed by most household disinfectants, including bleach. It is also killed by alcohol and sunlight.
Will color-safe bleach kill Parvo?
Yes, color-safe bleach will kill parvo. It is an effective disinfectant.
Color-safe bleach is just as effective as regular bleach in killing parvo. The good thing is that it does not fade your fabric as much. Color-safe bleach is a much weaker version of regular bleach and only has 1/3 the concentration of sodium hypochlorite.
Does sunlight kill parvo?
Exposure to sunlight cannot kill the parvovirus; this means that all bedding must be thoroughly cleaned with a bleach-based solution to prevent reinfection.
What kills Parvo besides bleach?
Parvo is hardy and can survive in the environment for months. It’s resistant to many disinfectants. Bleach is the most effective way to kill parvo in the environment, but there are a number of other products which will kill parvo as well. These include chlorine dioxide, Sniper disinfection, and accelerated hydrogen peroxide.
Does hand sanitizer kill parvo?
Hand sanitizer is designed to kill bacteria and viruses that live on the skin immediately after contact. It does not, however, work against parvovirus.
Final Words
This article should answer any questions you have about how to clean clothes after a parvo infection. If your dog is affected with Parvo, it is very important that you thoroughly disinfect your home as well as everything that was contaminated by the puppy (blankets, clothes, shoe flooring, etc.)
