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The potential impact of washing machines on laundry malodour generation

Lookup NU author(s): Dr John Perry

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Abstract

A multidisciplinary approach has been adopted to investigate and identify the source of malodour in washing machines and the potential for cross-contamination of laundry. Four washing machines were olfactively graded, and the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) bacteria was determined in four specific locations. Then, samples of terry-towel and fleece were washed, without the use of detergent, in the machines, and the occurrence of malodour over a 52-h period was assessed. Analysis of the scrapings from the four locations in the two malodorous machines identified a plethora of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by either olfactory detection or mass spectral identification post-gas chromatographic separation. In addition, microbiological analysis from the swabs from the four locations within all four washing machines was carried out. Quantitative analysis of VOCs from 66 microbiological isolates from either the washing machines or fabrics was carried out. In total, 10 VOCs were identified: dimethyl disulfide, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2,4-dithiapentane, dimethyl trisulfide, 2-tridecanone, indole, 2-phenylethanol, isovaleric acid, isobutyric acid and 1-undecene.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Stapleton K, Hill K, Day K, Perry JD, Dean JR

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Letters in Applied Microbiology

Year: 2013

Volume: 56

Issue: 4

Pages: 299-306

Print publication date: 01/04/2013

Online publication date: 22/02/2013

Acceptance date: 18/01/2013

ISSN (print): 0266-8254

ISSN (electronic): 1472-765X

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/lam.12050

DOI: 10.1111/lam.12050

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