![]() A typical sanitizing temperature on washing machines comes in at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Sanitizing laundry with hot water is about as effective and natural as you can get, but it may not be the best option for fabrics that don’t mix well with high heat. But if you have a washer with a sanitizer cycle, you’re in luck. That’s also the reason regular machine washing doesn’t sanitize clothes-the water just isn’t hot enough to kill bacteria. That’s the reason many of us are familiar with the dangers of not storing or cooking food at the correct temperatures. How to Disinfect Clothes With Bleach Alternativesīacteria thrive at temperatures of 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. And because sanitizing doesn’t require potentially harmful chemicals, here’s how you can skip the bleach and use proven natural sanitizers that get the job done. Those are some pretty compelling reasons to learn how to sanitize laundry. When it comes to molds that cause skin or respiratory infections, or organisms that cause colds, flu and stomach flu, most of them will survive the wash cycle.” “One germy item in the washer will spread to 90% of other items. Kelly Reynolds with the Environmental Health Department at the University of Arizona makes it clear that germs can spread quickly in laundry: Sanitizing laundry helps stop the spread of germs to the rest of the family, especially when someone in your home is sick. While regular machine washing removes plenty of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, it doesn’t remove enough to stop them from spreading. If your household includes family members with asthma and allergies, reducing allergens by sanitizing your laundry can minimize the severity of their symptoms. You don’t need to sanitize every time you wash a load, but knowing how to disinfect clothes and other “at risk” laundry can make your home a healthier place. Workout clothes, throws that rarely get washed, pet blankets, face masks, and other items that can harbor germs are perfect candidates for frequent sanitizing. Why You Should Learn How to Sanitize Laundry Approved disinfectants kill 99.999% of germs on hard, non-porous surfaces. An EPA-approved sanitizer can kill at least 99.9% of germs on hard surfaces and 99.99% on surfaces used for food service. While the differences are important, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) definitions for these terms shows that the primary difference is in strength. But when there is an increased risk for infection from viruses or when someone in your home is sick, you want to sanitize laundry and other items regularly and use disinfectants on commonly touched areas.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sanitizers decrease the number of germs to recommended safety levels, while disinfectants kill germs like viruses and bacteria. The Difference Between Sanitizing and DisinfectingĬleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are all different, but do the differences between disinfectants and sanitizers really matter when you’re learning how to sanitize laundry? In most cases, probably not. From good old steaming hot water to everyday products found in most households, learning how to disinfect clothes may be easier than you think.īefore we get started, we want to mention that while most of us use sanitize and disinfect interchangeably, there are some differences in their effectiveness. Even though many clothing labels don’t prohibit the use of bleach, learning how to sanitize laundry without bleach is good for your laundry, family, and the environment. It can discolor many fabrics, it can harm your skin and eyes, and it’s highly toxic. ![]() ![]() We often use bleach as a whitener and sanitizer for laundry and for disinfecting surfaces, but it can be harsh on fabrics and users. ![]()
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