The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, spreads primarily through respiratory droplets and aerosols released when an infected person breathes, coughs, or speaks. The virus can also be transferred indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces (fomites). Blankets, pillows, and other soft household items are porous surfaces that come into close contact with a person who is sick. Understanding the persistence of the virus on these textiles is important for managing household hygiene.
Virus Viability on Porous Household Materials
The infectious lifespan of SARS-CoV-2 differs significantly depending on the surface material. Soft, porous fabrics provide a less hospitable environment than hard surfaces like plastic or metal. The structure of textiles, which includes fibers, threads, and air gaps, causes respiratory droplets to dry out faster and disperse the viral particles. This rapid desiccation is a major factor in the inactivation of the enveloped virus.
Laboratory studies show that the virus’s half-life—the time it takes for half of the infectious particles to degrade—is much shorter on porous materials. On fabrics, the half-life is estimated to be between one and five hours. Highly absorbent fabrics like cotton tend to inactivate the virus more quickly, showing a significant reduction in infectivity within approximately four hours.
Some synthetic textiles, such as polyester, which is common in pillow covers and blankets, can show longer persistence, sometimes allowing the virus to survive for one to three days. However, even in these cases, the amount of viable virus capable of causing infection decreases rapidly over the initial hours. Many studies detect viral RNA, the genetic blueprint of the virus, which can remain present for days even after the virus is no longer infectious.
Assessing the Risk of Transmission from Bedding
While the virus can briefly exist on bedding, the actual risk of becoming infected through a blanket or pillow is considered low compared to person-to-person airborne transmission. Infection requires a person to receive a sufficient viral dose, meaning infectious particles must transfer from the surface to the hands and then to a mucous membrane. This multi-step process for surface transmission is inefficient.
Health authorities agree that inhalation of virus-containing aerosols and droplets is the principal mode of transmission, minimizing the relative importance of fomite spread. Quantitative risk assessments model the probability of infection from surface contact and suggest the risk is less than 1 in 10,000. This low probability reflects the combination of rapid viral decay on soft surfaces and the high viral load typically required to successfully initiate an infection.
Even when viral RNA is detected on a surface, it rarely represents viable virus that could cause illness. The risk of transmission from bedding further declines significantly after 72 hours, even on hard, non-porous surfaces. Since pillows and blankets are soft surfaces, the infectious risk diminishes much sooner, making any transmission event from routine contact extremely unlikely.
Guidelines for Cleaning and Handling Contaminated Items
In households where a person is sick, following specific cleaning and handling protocols can mitigate the minimal risk associated with bedding. When handling dirty laundry from an ill person, avoid shaking the items to prevent any dried viral particles from becoming airborne. Wearing disposable gloves is recommended when collecting the contaminated materials, and hands should be washed thoroughly immediately after handling the laundry.
Bedding should be laundered using the warmest water setting appropriate for the fabric. Washing temperatures of 60°C (140°F) or higher are effective at eliminating viruses, but the warmest setting the item can tolerate is sufficient when combined with detergent. After washing, machine-drying the items completely using the warmest appropriate setting ensures any remaining pathogens are inactivated. Dirty laundry from a sick person can be washed with other household members’ items.