Residual Disinfection of Wool Blankets Treated with Formaldehyde

SUMMARY: Treatment with formaldehyde during laundering conferred a persistent residual disinfectant action on wool blankets but not on cotton ones. The former was shown by a slower rate of bacterial contamination of blankets during use or by the more rapid disappearance of nonsporing bacteria from contaminated blankets during storage. The formaldehyde treated blankets had no perceptible odour during use, and did not cause irritation of the skin or mucous membranes. It is suggested that the formaldehyde treatment of wool blankets might be worthy of trial as a means of reducing bacterial contamination in rooms occupied by patients with a high risk of infection.