There has been little if any research on this. Why not much research? It isn't considered important because HPV is rarely if ever transmitted by contact with the environment. That is, no infections by handling contaminated clothing or bedsheets, contacting doorknobs, using toilet seats previously used by infected persons, sharing clothing, sharing towels, or otherwise living in the same household with an HPV infected person. The virus is transmitted only by direct, intimate person-to-person contact. Usually that means sex with direct genital-genital contact or penetration.

If you are worried about HPV on account of possibly contaminated surfaces, clothing, etc -- don't! Special cleaning or other precautions are not necessary. Assuming you are sexually active, that's the circumstance that puts you at possible risk of HPV. But nothing else.

Combining this question with the concerns in your earlier question four months ago, it seems you may be overly worried about HPV. Do your best to understand that catching and carrying genital HPV is a normal, expected, unavoidable aspect of being sexual. Fortunately the large majority of infections are harmless; and you can reduce what harm exists by 1) being vaccinated (which prevents infection with the 9 virus types that cause 90% of significant health problems (warts, cancers); 2) If you are female, following standard Pap smear guidelines to detect HPV before it becomes harmful.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD