Hygiene in Domestic Laundering – Consumer Behavior in Germany

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess consumers' behavior in home hygiene with particular attention paid to hygiene in laundering. In this way, the applications of washing temperatures and detergents on textiles are evaluated. The data were obtained by using a questionnaire distributed at the “Action Day Sustainable Washing” arranged annually. The results of this sample provide a relevant insight into consumers' behavior: The consumer can generally estimate the level of infection risk coming from the different textiles. However, the majority of high risk textiles, such as cleaning cloths, are washed with detergents that do not contain any bleaching system. In view of the washing temperatures applied, the results indicate differences between the generations. This study clearly demonstrates the need for enhanced consumer communication regarding hygiene effectiveness in laundering.