Is it safe to try on clothes in dressing rooms during pandemic? Experts weigh in
Clothing stores across the country are slowly reopening their doors as states relax their coronavirus lockdown orders.
Experts have made it clear that exploring a store during a pandemic should be safe if social distancing and face masks are enforced, but what about trying on clothes in a dressing room?
The truth is, there isn’t enough research on how long SARS-CoV-2 can linger on clothing.
But experts do know that enclosed spaces such as dressing rooms can harbor viruses on door knobs, walls and mirrors through frequent touching without proper disinfection.
“The ‘new normal’ for retailers will be to work with shoppers in a hands-free way to help them to find what they need while also giving them the space to feel comfortable, particularly with high-risk groups,” Greg Petro, chief executive of First Insight, an analytics company for brands and retailers, told CNBC.
“Not feeling safe trying on clothing also begs many questions on how retailers and brands will need to adapt their return and exchange policy in the coming weeks.”
About 65% of women and 54% of men said they will not feel safe trying clothes on in dressing rooms, according to a First Insight survey of 1,066 consumers conducted at the end of April.
So here’s what you should know before stepping foot in one.
Can you catch the coronavirus from clothes?
So far, scientists say the most common mode of coronavirus infection is from contact with respiratory droplets expelled from coughs, sneezes and even loud speaking in some cases.
But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s possible a person can catch the virus by touching surfaces and other objects, such as dressing room door knobs.
“This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more,” the agency said.
Recent research shows that the coronavirus can live on copper for up to four hours, cardboard for about one day and on plastic and stainless steel for about two to three days, according to a letter to the editor published in April in The New England Journal of Medicine.
But fabric was left out of the mix.
An infection control expert from Australia said these studies are done in labs with “perfect conditions,” unlike those in stores, so risks of the virus lingering on clothes is lower, Mary-Louise McLaws, a professor at the University of New South Wales, told HuffPost.
The items you try on, however, can introduce different levels of risk, she added.
For example, scarves and sunglasses require contact with your face, which can increase chances of infection if the items were previously contaminated by another person.
“To be careful with this nasty virus, you can ask the salesperson if you can use a (sanitizer) wipe to clean the glasses as most wipes contain detergent and alcohol at above 65% that will not harm the glasses/lenses but inactivate the virus,” McLaws told the outlet.
But clothes also have non-fabric materials such as plastic buttons that can be perfect homes for virus particles, experts say.
“Once you purchase these items and get them home, it’s highly unlikely that these items pose any risk to you at all. But if you’re anxious, place them outside in the sun for a while, then enjoy them,” McLaws said.
No matter what you’re trying on, hand touching is always involved, so make sure you wash your hands and avoid touching your face after dressing room visits, experts say.
What are stores doing?
Stores such as Macy’s, Nordstrom and Gap are opening only some of their dressing rooms with cleanings in between visits to ensure social distancing, while others such as Kohl’s are keeping them closed until further notice.
What about the clothes you try on but don’t want? Those items will go under quarantine, some stores have announced.
Macy’s said clothes that were tried on or returned will be kept from customers for 24 hours, TODAY reported. Others have said they will keep items for up to two days.
Suitsupply, a men’s suit store, will install “standing partitions” to allow “safe up-close interaction” for any necessary tailorings, CNBC said. The company is also allowing customers to schedule appointments to book fitting rooms.
But one expert warns of stores that are not requiring face masks and that do not offer disinfecting products.
“I personally would not go in,” Dr. Tista Ghosh, senior medical director at the health care company Grand Rounds, told TODAY. “To me that’s a sign that they’re not taking it seriously... and needlessly putting people at risk.”
Cleaning clothes
Companies have created ozone and ultraviolet radiation technologies that they say can kill viruses living on fabric, according to CNBC. Some of them are in contact with retailers about using their products, however such methods are not approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“EPA does not routinely review the safety or efficacy of pesticidal devices, such as UV lights, LED lights, or ultrasonic devices,” the CDC said. “Therefore, EPA cannot confirm whether, or under what circumstances, such products might be effective against the spread of COVID-19.”
Although there isn’t enough research on how long the coronavirus can survive on fabric, experts agree that washing clothes with warm water and detergent will kill any living viruses.
However, it may not be feasible for clothing stores to wash every item after being touched.
The CDC has also said that shaking clothes can disperse virus particles, a feat that seems impossible to avoid when trying them on.
That’s why some experts say it might be best to stick to online shopping.
This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 10:49 AM with the headline "Is it safe to try on clothes in dressing rooms during pandemic? Experts weigh in."
