A malfunctioning washing machine can be the cause of annoyance and inconvenience if it stops mid-cycle or does not drain, meaning clothes do not get washed properly, or at best, take longer than usual to dry if the spin cycle is off-kilter.
But ineffective machines could be having a more dangerous impact than just being unable to erase a food stain or coffee splash: they could be spreading antimicrobial resistance by failing to rid clothes of some bacteria.
