Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory illness, often presenting with mild, cold-like symptoms in healthy adults. It is a concern for infants, young children, and older adults, as it can lead to serious conditions like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets, direct contact with an infected person, or by touching contaminated surfaces (fomites). Understanding how long RSV remains infectious on everyday items is important for preventing its spread. Viral survival depends heavily on the type of material and the surrounding environmental conditions.
How Long RSV Survives on Fabric
Respiratory Syncytial Virus does not survive for long periods on soft, porous materials like clothing, blankets, and tissues. Studies indicate that the virus typically loses its ability to infect within a relatively short timeframe, generally remaining active on fabrics for up to two hours after initial contamination.
The porous nature of textiles contributes to this shorter survival time compared to hard surfaces. Fibers absorb moisture from the virus-containing droplets, which disrupts the protective viral envelope and leads to faster inactivation. Cooler and more humid environmental conditions tend to prolong the virus’s viability.
RSV tends to survive for a slightly shorter duration on paper products, such as used tissues, often less than one hour. The virus’s infectious ability significantly diminishes as the fabric dries and the viral particles degrade. This rapid inactivation highlights the importance of timely handling and washing of items exposed to respiratory droplets.
Survival Time on Other Household Surfaces
In contrast to soft materials, RSV maintains its infectious potential for a much longer period on hard, non-porous surfaces. These surfaces, such as plastic toys, metal doorknobs, and countertops, do not absorb the viral particles, allowing the virus to remain intact for many hours.
Research suggests that RSV can survive on materials like stainless steel and plastic for a period ranging from a few hours up to 24 hours or more under optimal laboratory conditions. A typical range for survival on hard surfaces at room temperature is between three and 30 hours. The virus is particularly resilient in cool, humid environments.
High-touch surfaces pose a significant risk for indirect transmission within a household. Touching a contaminated surface and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes is a common route of infection. Recognizing this extended survival time is important for implementing effective cleaning routines.
Cleaning and Disinfection Protocols
Mitigating the risk of RSV transmission requires specific cleaning and disinfection protocols for both hard and soft materials.
Hard Surfaces
For hard, non-porous surfaces, using an EPA-registered disinfectant effective against RSV is the most reliable method for inactivation. These products chemically break down the virus’s outer envelope.
When using a disinfectant, it is necessary to clean the surface first, removing any visible organic matter like dirt or mucus. The disinfectant must then remain wet on the surface for the entire contact time specified on the product label to ensure the virus is fully eradicated. A simple and effective solution is a diluted bleach mixture, specifically one part household bleach to ten parts water.
Soft Materials and Laundry
For soft items like clothing, bedding, and stuffed toys, the combination of detergent, agitation, and heat during a wash cycle is highly effective at removing and deactivating the virus. It is recommended to use the warmest appropriate water setting for the fabric, as temperatures of 60°C (140°F) or above are generally sufficient to destroy most viruses. Regular laundry detergent helps strip the virus from the textile fibers.
Ensuring that items are completely dried is another important step, as the lack of moisture inhibits viral survival. Items that cannot be washed, such as electronics or large furniture, should be wiped down with appropriate disinfectant products.
Hand Hygiene
The single most effective measure to prevent surface-to-person transmission is frequent hand hygiene. Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, breaks the chain of infection.