Strategies for hygiene
Analysis of the structure and function of the microbiome in household washing machines and on textiles to develop sustainable hygiene strategies in modern households
In the Washing Machine Microbiome Project (WMP) the microbiomes of washing machines and worn clothes in private households, and the changes caused by the washing process, will be examined structurally, functionally and under real-life conditions. The project results will lead to a better understanding of the structural and functional importance of the household microbiomes, i.e. the microbial communities in close proximity to human lives, and play an important role in maintaining human health. It will become clear which micro-organisms are present in washing machines and in the wash itself, to what extent current, sustainability trends in washing (low washing temperatures, liquid detergents) influence the colonization, and how the colonization can be positively influenced in the sense of maintaining health, for example through innovative detergent formulas.
