Inspired by the resurrection of this thread, and wondering if it’s possible to wash the zombie bits out.
Can anyone tell me, objectively speaking, preferably with cites, what is left on various kinds of clothing after it is washed and/or dried in a dryer?
I understand that a set stain is essentially chemically bonded to the fabric fibers, and is therefore made of molecules that you don’t want that stay put. Is that right?
I have read that most people use too much soap or detergent and their “clean” clothes actually have quite a bit of residue from that. Do other things stick to the residue?
I also know that some people decline to wear used clothing because they imagine it retains “cooties” from the previous wearer – with “cooties” variably defined as intangible vibes of ick factor, or wafts of skanky stink, or actual bits of shed skin, or germs, or something. How real are these kinds of post-wash cooties? How much mass or volume of cootie are we talking about?
I know that bedbugs and dust mites are supposedly capable of surviving warm-water washes. True?
Textile scientists, represent!