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On any average day, there's a full range of bacteria and other germs that can transfer onto your clothes. Whether it's someone in your household who might have a weakened immune system, respiratory illness, stomach bug, or germs you find on the D train, keep in mind that proper laundry sanitation helps reduce the spread of germs.
Generally, normal cleaning guidelines apply if illness or exposure to illness isn't suspected, but a deep cleaning cycle does a better job of removing soils and germs.
"Deep laundry cleaning works by using a high-quality detergent, water, and agitation to physically remove soils, stains, and germs from fabrics so they get rinsed down the drain with the water," shares Jennifer Ahoni, Tide Fabric Care Principal Scientist. "Most of the time, a healthy household is low risk and can do the laundry as usual and wash in cold water, so long as they are using a high-quality detergent."
It's a heavily studied point. She added, "In fact, this peer-reviewed publication from laundry experts & scientists at the University of Arizona, Dr. Kelly Reynolds and Dr. Chuck Gerba, show that in most cases to avoid spreading germs and infections, cleaning with a high-quality detergent and proper hand hygiene is enough, even in median cold water wash temperatures."
How does the sanitizing cycle on your washing machine work?
Not all washing machines have a sanitize cycle, but if yours is a newer appliance, you may be in luck. "Designed to eliminate 99.9 % of the bacteria in your laundry, the sanitary cycle can also help ensure there won’t be any significant carryover of bacteria to subsequent loads," shares Ahoni.
"These cycles use elevated wash temperatures to effectively sanitize your items. In most circumstances, the high-temperature washing cycle must reach a temperature of 149°F (65°C) using an internal heating element to heat the water bath."
How to Sanitize Your Laundry
While deep cleaning is sufficient for most healthy households, sanitizing offers an extra disinfecting boost to reduce bacteria. Disinfecting kills bacteria and other germs like viruses.
"For laundry from people who might be ill with a stomach virus like rotavirus, or for laundry that is heavily contaminated with body fluids, I would recommend a sanitizing step," highlights Ahoni.
- Use a laundry sanitizer product as part of your routine. Laundry sanitizers contain phenolic disinfectants that kill germs, and they are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When it comes to added scents, don't be surprised if lavender oil and tea tree oil make an appearance – they have antibacterial properties.
- Wash your hands. Prevent cross-contamination by washing your hands after handling contaminated items, including after you transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer.
- Rinse off any excess body fluids (yes, we're talking vomit and diarrhea) using warm water, and wash items immediately.
- Use enough detergent. This isn't the time to try and scrimp on cleaning products, and yes, you can sanitize your items without bleach if you choose the right detergent solution. Use the appropriate dose of a high-quality laundry detergent like Tide, plus an additive that is registered as an EPA Registered laundry sanitizer. (The EPA provides a list of disinfectants registered for use against common disease-causing germs.)
- Use the regular washing cycle, but consider washing in hot water if the item's care label indicates it will be safe. An extra rinse cycle should not be necessary, but if you have sensitive skin or other skin conditions, it's a good rule of thumb to be wary of detergent residue.
- Repeat if stains or residues remain after washing.
- Dry items at a high temperature if the material allows.
Important: Always be sure to check the specific washing instructions on the fabric care labels, especially for delicate items, workout clothes (which shouldn't be washed or dried in hot water), and colored items that may bleed.
Do sanitizing sprays work?
They do! But don't use them as a complete replacement for a sanitize cycle in the washing machine.
Products like Tide Antibacterial Fabric Spray kill 99.9% of bacteria and germs from fabrics. "You may just want to sanitize difficult-to-wash items or items in between washes," shares Ahoni. "I’d recommend using it to eliminate odors and refresh clothes between washes, as well as sanitize hard-to-wash items."
Will natural sunlight sanitize my laundry?
Sunlight can help sanitize laundry to some extent by exposing it to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, but by itself, UV light doesn't have enough germ-killing properties to kill all types of germs and bacteria related to the most contagious viruses.
Hanging items outdoors for sun drying can help freshen garments and kill some bacteria, but hot water or laundry disinfectants are best for killing certain germs and bacteria.
