EE PatronDec 23rd 2020, 20:10:29
Ahhhh I love getting sent down a research paper highway. You bring up some interesting points made scientifically here: https://msphere.asm.org/content/5/4/e00441-20
Based on the data, it depends a bit how much virus is present and what type of surface it is on, but exposure to 149 degrees (65 C) temps will kill all traces of the virus in about 3 minutes, and I was able to find about 4 studies into this that included washing clothes or N95 masks on the hot washing machine setting. The research holds up. But even temperatures as low as 120 F (50C) can kill the virus after about 50 minutes of exposure. The lower the temp, the longer the exposure time needed to kill virus particles.
I havent found research into this where they go below 50C and test for a period of some length, say hours around 40C, but they seem to conclude the virus will survive for longer on surfaces during colder weather days. Essentially the colder it is, the longer the virus will survive. Hypothesis confirmed.
Based on the data, it depends a bit how much virus is present and what type of surface it is on, but exposure to 149 degrees (65 C) temps will kill all traces of the virus in about 3 minutes, and I was able to find about 4 studies into this that included washing clothes or N95 masks on the hot washing machine setting. The research holds up. But even temperatures as low as 120 F (50C) can kill the virus after about 50 minutes of exposure. The lower the temp, the longer the exposure time needed to kill virus particles.
I havent found research into this where they go below 50C and test for a period of some length, say hours around 40C, but they seem to conclude the virus will survive for longer on surfaces during colder weather days. Essentially the colder it is, the longer the virus will survive. Hypothesis confirmed.