What's the Best Method to Launder
Udder Cloths?
From the NMC Newsletter "Udder Topics", February 1997
Many dairy managers use cloth towels rather than single service paper towels
for premilking udder preparation. Questions often arise over how to launder
the cloths. How should they be disinfected? Should bleach be added to the
towel wash water? Should hot water be used? Should the towels be dried?
Should all three of these procedures be included in the laundering process?
Washington State University researchers conducted a study to determine
effectiveness of adding bleach, hot water, and forced hot air drying to
the laundering process of cloth towels. Several different combinations
of the three practices were tested. A commercial detergent was used for
each treatment.
Results indicate that only one practice -- hot water, bleach or hot air
drying -- needs to be incorporated into the udder cloth laundering method.
The method that a manager chooses to use will most probably be dictated
by economics. Hot water may be costly and tax the dairy's hot water supply.
Bleach adds cost to the procedure and may cause premature towel wear. And,
there is a cost associated with the purchase and use of a dryer. The results
clearly indicated that all three practices need not be used for laundering.
Perhaps the incorporation of two practices would add a margin of safety
to ensure that udder cloths were sufficiently disinfected.
Source: Agribusiness Dairyman, December 1996, pg. 16
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