How should you clean your washing machine after laundering pesticide-soiled clothing?

To effectively clean your washing machine after laundering pesticide-soiled clothing, running a complete cycle using 104-degree hot water and detergent is the most appropriate method. This process ensures that any residues of pesticides that may have been released during the wash are thoroughly broken down and removed.

Hot water is particularly effective in dissolving and breaking down pesticide compounds, which can sometimes be sticky or oily. Using detergent further enhances this cleaning action, as detergents are formulated to bind with and lift away dirt and residues, making it easier to flush them out of the washing machine. This thorough approach helps prevent cross-contamination with future loads of laundry.

In contrast, running an empty cycle using cold water is less effective since cold water may not dissolve pesticide residues adequately. Simply rinsing it with water would not provide the necessary cleaning action to ensure that pesticides are completely cleared from the machine. Leaving the machine empty for 24 hours does not contribute to cleaning and leaves residues in place to potentially contaminate future laundry. Overall, using hot water and detergent is the most reliable method to ensure that the washing machine is properly sanitized after handling pesticide-contaminated clothing.