Detergent alone does not always kill bacteria. To kill bacteria, use
Persil's new antibacterial laundry sanitiser kills 99.9 viruses* and bacteria and is effective even on a quick wash and at low temperatures (20 degrees).
The Best Way to Clean Clothes
To kill the germs in your laundry, wash your clothes on the hot cycle, then put everything in the dryer for 45 minutes.
Does vinegar disinfect laundry? Vinegar is not an effective disinfectant. It only works on a few strains of bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella.
Baking soda helps to regulate the pH level in the washer's water by keeping it from being too acidic or alkaline. By adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to each laundry load, detergents can work more effectively and reduce bacteria.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is specially designed to sanitize your laundry and to kill 99.9% of bacteria*. It can be used on most washable fabrics including: Baby Clothes, Gym Clothes, Undergarments, Towels, Bedding, and Delicates.
Laundry sanitizer may be used as an additional measure against germs, but it isn't essential for most laundry tasks. Instead, focus on selecting high-quality eco-friendly laundry products, and follow good laundering habits like washing clothes before they become overly dirty or smelly.
Using Vinegar to Disinfect Laundry
Vinegar has acetic acid, which can kill viruses and bacteria. For a bit of added disinfectant and deodorizer in your clothes, you can add ½ cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
“Doctors recommend washing at 60 degrees or above to kill germs. When washing at lower temperatures, add a laundry disinfectant such as Dettol to your wash to kill bacteria.”
“Set the washing machine to the highest water and temperature setting and run a full cycle with one cup of white vinegar and around five drops of lavender essential oil,” Gazzo suggests.
The easiest way of disinfecting the clothes is by using disinfectant sprays. You just need to spray them on your clothes and your clothes are free of microbes. Disinfectant sprays are more effective than other means of disinfecting your clothes. They don't damage or decolorize your clothes.
Surprisingly, even though your sheets and clothing are clean, bacteria can still be found in them. According to published research, domestic washing machines clean soiled clothing and textiles but do not sterilize them.
Sanitizing towels and bed sheets
To wash bleach-safe bed sheets and towels, machine wash in the hottest water recommended using a good detergent and ⅔ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach in a traditional deep-fill washer, or ⅓ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach in a high efficiency clothes washer.
If you're able to go the machine route, consider using a product like Lysol Laundry Sanitizer if compatible with the material's washing guidelines. If you're unable to wash your curtains in the machine, a sanitizing or disinfecting spray will get the job done as long as you're using it as directed.
It's the dryer—not the washing machine—that lays waste to harmful microorganisms. “High heat drying for at least 28 minutes is the most effective way to kill viruses,” Reynolds says. The “high heat” setting is key. Energy efficient, low-heat settings may not get the job done, she says.
Distilled White Vinegar
From cleaning to deodorizing, white vinegar is a safe, natural product that has many practical uses around the house—and it's a powerful laundry disinfectant, too. Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle when you want to sanitize a load of laundry.
Vinegar can be used on colors, so it's a good choice for washing items that aren't white that are moldy. Remember, never mix vinegar and chlorine bleach; use one or the other, but never both.
Bleach solutions will be effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi when properly diluted. Learn more about cleaning and disinfecting surfaces using bleach solutions.