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Psychology, family and everyday life

Home, clothing and bedding hygiene

During treatment, home is your main place to rest and recover. When neutrophils are low, simple but correct hygiene habits at home reduce the risk of infection. This topic brings together practical advice on bedding, towels, clothing, cleaning your room, the bathroom, damp and mould, and washing soiled laundry after chemotherapy. Your home does not need to be sterile; it needs to be clean, dry and well aired.

Last updated: ~6 min read
Softly glowing, neatly folded translucent fabrics on a dark navy background, with a few particles of light floating above them.
Figure 1.Concept: clean, soft fabric for restful recovery at home.

01Short answer

During neutropenia, most infections come from germs on the person’s own body, so home hygiene works together with hand hygiene and mouth and skin care. The main rules: everyone has their own towel and toothbrush; bedding and towels are washed regularly at the hottest temperature the fabric allows; clean, soft, comfortable clothes are worn every day; frequently touched surfaces are wiped with an ordinary cleaner; rooms are aired; and mould, dusty jobs, building work and cleaning up after animals are handed to someone else. In the first days after chemotherapy, laundry soiled with body fluids is washed separately. Your hematology team sets any specific restrictions.

02Simple explanation

When neutrophils are low, the body fights germs poorly. But most infections start not from “dirt” in the house but from germs on the person’s own skin, mouth and gut. That is why home hygiene works together with personal hygiene.

Your home does not need to be sterile, and it could not be anyway. It is enough for it to be clean, dry and well aired, with frequently touched places wiped regularly and family members who are ill keeping their distance where possible.

Bedding and towels collect moisture and skin cells. It is important to change them regularly, wash them in hot water and dry them well. Everyone should have their own towel.

Clothing protects the skin: clean, soft cotton clothes do not irritate the skin and absorb sweat. If you have a catheter or port, choose clothes that do not press on it and open easily.

Some jobs should be handed to someone else during neutropenia: removing mould, dusty jobs and building work, cleaning a cat’s litter tray or a bird cage, and working with soil. This is not giving up things you love, just being careful during the most vulnerable period.

03Scientific explanation

The home environment: according to ACS and CDC, regularly wiping frequently touched surfaces (door handles, light switches, remote controls, phones, taps and the toilet) with an ordinary cleaner is enough; bleach and disinfectants are used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and with good ventilation. Blood Cancer UK and Macmillan advise not sharing towels, toothbrushes or personal items, showering daily and changing kitchen cloths and sponges often.

Mould and fungal spores: according to CDC, Aspergillus mould is common in soil, rotting plants and building dust, and in people with prolonged deep neutropenia it can cause a lung infection. The 2018 ASCO and IDSA guidelines advise patients with neutropenia to avoid prolonged time in places with high levels of airborne fungal spores, such as construction and demolition sites and intensive gardening. According to EPA, the key to controlling mould is controlling moisture: fixing leaks and drying damp areas within 24–48 hours.

After a transplant: international guidelines for stem cell transplant recipients (2009) describe more detailed and stricter precautions about pets, plants, gardening and building work. How long these last depends on immune recovery and is decided by the transplant centre.

Laundry after chemotherapy: according to ACS and Cancer Research UK, chemotherapy medicines can be present in body fluids for several days after treatment (often at least 48 hours). During this time, clothes and bedding soiled with fluids are handled with gloves and washed separately from other laundry in a washing machine (Cancer Research UK advises washing twice on the longest, hottest cycle); if they cannot be washed straight away, they are kept in a sealed plastic bag.

04What happens in the body?

When should you call straight away?

Infection can happen even with the best hygiene. Call your hematology team or emergency services (103, 112) straight away if: your temperature is 38 °C or higher; you have shivering or sudden weakness; there is redness, swelling, pain or discharge around your catheter; redness is spreading quickly on your skin, or a wound or pus appears; or you develop a cough and breathlessness, especially after building work or contact with soil.

Bedding and the bedroom

Change your bedding regularly, for example once a week, and straight away after night sweats, a fever or soiling. Wash it at the hottest temperature on the label and dry it completely. Air the room every day. Dust with a damp cloth; if possible, someone else should vacuum while you are out of the room.

A close-up of fabric fibres on a dark navy background, with droplets of warm golden light rinsing through them.
Figure 2.Hot water and thorough drying keep fabric clean.

Towels and the bathroom

Everyone should have their own towel, toothbrush and cup. Change towels often, wash them in hot water and do not leave them damp. Use a separate hand towel or paper towels. Clean the toilet, sink and taps regularly. If mould appears in the bathroom, someone else should clean it.

Clothing and skin

Put on clean underwear and clothes every day. Choose soft, cotton, comfortable clothing that does not press on your catheter or port. Keep your feet dry and wear shoes or slippers at home to avoid injuring your feet. Some treatments make the skin sensitive to the sun, so covering clothes and a hat help outdoors.

Cleaning, damp and mould

An ordinary cleaner is enough for daily cleaning. Never mix bleach with products containing ammonia or acid, as toxic gas can form. Clean air conditioners and humidifiers according to the instructions. Fix leaks promptly and dry damp areas quickly. If possible, plan building work for before or after treatment.

A softly glowing translucent outline of a house on a dark navy background, surrounded by protective teal light, with a few particles kept outside.
Figure 3.A clean, dry home is a protective shelter.

Questions you can ask your team

What extra restrictions do I need at home during neutropenia? Can I keep plants or flowers in my room? Can my pet stay with me? For how many days after chemotherapy should we take care with laundry? How will the rules change after a transplant?

05Layers of protection at home

Four simple steps that work together.

Clean hands — The simplest and most effective protection.1Clean handsThe simplest and most effective protection.
Personal items — Your own towel, toothbrush and cup.2Personal itemsYour own towel, toothbrush and cup.
Clean fabric — Bedding, towels, clothes washed regularly.3Clean fabricBedding, towels, clothes washed regularly.
A dry, clean home — Fresh air, wiped surfaces, mould-free rooms.4A dry, clean homeFresh air, wiped surfaces, mould-free rooms.
Lower infection riskGerms spread less.
Restful recoveryHome is a safe place to rest.
The family’s roleOthers do the risky jobs.

06Home, clothing and bedding: practical rules (simplified)

WhatHowNote
BeddingChange regularly, wash in hot water, dry completelyStraight away after sweating, fever or soiling
TowelsEveryone has their own, change oftenDo not leave damp
ClothingClean, soft, cotton, every dayDoes not press on the catheter site
SurfacesHandles, switches and phones wiped regularlyAn ordinary cleaner is enough
Mould and dampFix leaks, dry quicklySomeone else should clean mould
Building work, dustPlan for before or after treatmentKeep away during neutropenia
Laundry after chemotherapyWith gloves, separately, in a machineUsually the first 48 hours; the team gives the timing

* This table is general information. Your hematology team decides which restrictions you need, especially after a transplant.

07Key terms

Neutropenia
Low neutrophils, which raises the risk of infection.
Hygiene
Cleanliness habits that protect health.
High-touch surfaces
Places touched often during the day: handles, switches, phones.
Disinfectant
A product that kills germs on surfaces.
Mould
A fungus that grows in damp places.
Aspergillus
A mould found in soil and dust that can cause lung infection.
Fungal spores
Microscopic fungal particles carried in the air.
Body fluids
Urine, stool, vomit, blood, sweat and so on.
Mattress protector
A cover that protects the mattress from fluids and dirt.
Ventilation
Refreshing the air in a room.

08Key points

  • Your home does not need to be sterile; it needs to be clean, dry and aired.
  • Everyone has their own towel and toothbrush.
  • Change bedding regularly and wash it in hot water.
  • Wear clean, soft, comfortable clothes every day.
  • Others should deal with mould, dusty jobs and animal waste.
  • Do not mix bleach with other cleaning products.
  • After chemotherapy, wash soiled laundry separately.
  • Call straight away for a temperature of 38 °C or higher.

09Frequently asked questions

Do I need to disinfect everything at home?

No. Ordinary cleaning and regular wiping of frequently touched places are enough. Too many chemicals can irritate the skin and airways. The most important step is still hand hygiene.

Can my clothes be washed with the rest of the family’s?

Ordinary clothes, yes. Separate washing applies only to items soiled with body fluids in the first days after chemotherapy.

How often should I change my bedding?

As a general rule once a week, and straight away after night sweats, a fever or soiling. Your team may advise changing it more often during neutropenia.

Does ironing kill germs?

A hot iron and thorough drying add extra cleanliness, but the main thing is that clothes are washed well and not left damp. Damp fabric is a good environment for germs and mould.

Can I keep flowers in my room?

It depends on the centre and the stage of treatment. Some centres restrict fresh flowers and potted plants during neutropenia or a transplant. Someone else should change the vase water. Ask your team.

What should we watch for when guests visit?

Only people who are well should come, they should wash their hands on arrival, and visits should be short. The detailed rules are explained in the topic on visitors and public places.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. How often should I change my bedding and clothes?

  2. Which cleaning products are suitable at home?

  3. Can pets or plants stay in the house?

  4. How should I protect my line when I shower?

My questions

12Sources

  1. American Cancer Society. Preventing Infections in People With Cancer
  2. American Cancer Society. How to Keep Your Home Clean When Living With Cancer
  3. American Cancer Society. Chemotherapy Safety
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About Aspergillosis
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Healthy Pets, Healthy People: Risk Factors
  7. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment
  8. Blood Cancer UK. Preventing infection
  9. Macmillan Cancer Support. Infection and cancer
  10. Cancer Research UK. Chemotherapy safety at home
  11. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
  12. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2018. Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Adult Patients With Cancer-Related Immunosuppression: ASCO and IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline Update
  13. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 2009. Guidelines for preventing infectious complications among hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients: a global perspective
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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