Cold sores

[Ihatemyusername]

Dumb question but as I was unloading my underwear from the clothes dryer, I found the chapstick I had been using during a cold sore outbreak had been somehow dried with them. It must have been in my pocket from a previous wash. Is it still safe to wear the underwear or am I at risk for spreading the virus down below? I figured the heat would kill it, but I wanted to double check. I don't think herpes can live long on fabric anyway, right? There are little pink stains from the chopstick. I only get cold sores. I have no reason to believe I have the virus anywhere else as of now.

[Jacob]

Hay!

I love this question! But as far as my expertise in laundry advice goes, I'll admit it's limited. As I understand it, herpes is neither airborne nor clothes-chapstick-drier-borne.

Good luck in your endeavour! I don't think herpes transmission will be an issue for you but if your clothes are convered in dry chapstick I say try giving it another wash.

[Ihatemyusername]

Just a few flecks of color, not "covered" per se. It's not flakey, as in I can't scrape it off. It looks like a part of the pattern on the fabric if I didn't know any better. My washer just broke and I'm out of underwear so I was really hoping I wouldn't have to rewash it until next week when I get it replaced

[Karyn]

Since the underwear has been through the wash I'd say you're likely just fine. Herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact, most commonly skin contact with an active sore, and it doesn't sound like there's any actual chapstick left, just a stain.

[Ihatemyusername]

That's what I was thinking too. And since I've had the virus for years (mostly dormant), I was thinking/hoping autoinnoculation at this point would be improbable. Sound reasonable?

[Mo]

Sounds reasonable to me!