It seems that we have all heard that ironing underwear with boiling water can sterilize it. . I don’t know when this saying started to be passed down. Everything is boiled with boiling water first.

So, is it reliable to iron underwear with boiling water? Let’s talk about this issue today!

First of all, washing underwear every day is definitely a good habit. Because once underwear is worn for a long time or is taken off and left unwashed for several days, bacteria will definitely breed. You will experience it for yourself.

Everyone may use different cleaning methods. Generally, it is recommended to wash by hand or machine wash with separate disinfectant.

Real sterilization is not boiling but boiling

It is recommended to boil your underwear in hot water before washing it. You can boil your underwear in hot water for fifteen minutes before washing it every time to completely sterilize it. And it will be easier to clean.

It is mentioned above that we are talking about boiling water, but it is not boiling but boiling. Why?

Hot water has a sterilizing effect. Generally, hot water "above 60℃" has a sterilizing effect. However, the sterilizing and disinfecting effects we talk about are all under ideal conditions, that is to say, when doing experiments , the water temperature is fixed at 60℃.

In actual operation, the water temperature will continue to drop from the moment you pour the water into the basin. How long it lasts above 60°C is unknown, but it will certainly not exceed 30 minutes.

In daily life, we often come into contact with pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus that causes impetigo, Escherichia coli that causes lower urinary tract infection, Candida albicans that causes "fungal vaginitis", etc., which must be killed. To kill these common pathogenic microorganisms, boil them in boiling water at 100°C for at least 20 minutes.

If you also want to kill particularly tough bacteria with spores, boil them for at least 1 hour.

Editor’s reminder: It’s okay to boil underwear in boiling water, but boiling it in water will no longer work if you already have vaginal itching and other symptoms!

Other correct cleaning and drying methods

1. Cleaning with detergent: It can be thoroughly cleaned, but more stubborn stains cannot be completely cleaned.

2. Bleach cleaning: Although this method can sterilize and remove yellow stains, you must pay attention to cleaning it thoroughly without leaving any residue. Otherwise, it will cause great irritation to your private parts.

Underwear must be washed separately and changed frequently. Never wash them with socks so that germs don’t breed. Pay attention to personal hygiene. Underwear should be scalded with boiling water before cleaning, and then exposed to the sun, which can also play a role in sterilization and disinfection.

In addition, it is best not to dry underwear in an unventilated, dark and humid environment, especially for people who have already suffered from fungal vaginitis. Mold likes to grow in humid and dark environments, so it is best to dry them after washing. If there are no drying conditions at home, you should also dry your underwear in a ventilated environment to facilitate drying and avoid the breeding of bacteria.

To prevent vaginitis, start with these

1. Pay attention to personal hygiene and keep the vulva clean and dry;

2. Wash and change underwear frequently, do not share bath towels or bathtubs with others, and do not wear nylon or similar fabric underwear. Bath towels, underwear, etc. used during the illness should be boiled and disinfected.

3. Avoid unnecessary vaginal douching to avoid damaging the vaginal mucosal barrier and causing the loss of a large number of dominant lactobacilli.

4. Avoid unclean or chaotic sexual life, pay attention to hygiene when going out to bathe in hot springs, etc., and strengthen protection to avoid the invasion of pathogenic bacteria.

5. Pay attention to the rational use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and hormones. Diabetic patients should pay special attention to skin and vulva cleanliness.

6. Prevent the abuse of antibiotics, because the use of large amounts of antibiotics will suppress or significantly reduce the dominant bacteria Lactobacillus, causing pathogenic microorganisms to proliferate and become abnormally dominant bacteria, which will lead to the occurrence of reproductive tract infections.

7. As we age, estrogen levels decrease, and the resistance of the vaginal mucosa also decreases. If inflammation occurs repeatedly, estrogen can be supplemented locally or systemically under the guidance of a doctor.

8. The most important thing is to increase the body's resistance, maintain good hygiene habits, and resist the occurrence of various infections.