In most cases, you will use 3 ⁄ 4 cup (180 mL) of non-chlorine bleach for a full load of laundry. Please keep away from small children and pets since Borax is toxic if consumed. Always wash the linen as soon as possible to prevent cross-contamination in the hamper with other clothes. However, be careful when using bleach on colored items because it can discolor certain clothes. She is always looking for new ways to sustainably clean and tidy her house, that's kind on the environment but effective in the house, too! What’s the deal with disinfecting laundry? It’s effortless, easy and affordable to sanitize your clothes, so don’t skip this step next laundry day. Cleaning Isn’t Disinfecting. You will find all the Lysol products from disinfectant spray to laundry sanitizer here at Lysol.com. Our guide provides seven laundry secrets you didn't know you needed. Beth McCallum is a 20-something freelance writer & book blogger with a degree in creative writing, journalism and English literature. All in all, the only way to prevent the spread of illnesses is to disinfect your laundry. Don’t mix Borax with vinegar or lemon juice. According to a Time article, “A single gram of fecal matter contains millions of viruses, and exposure to just a hundred of those viruses can make you sick” (1). Follow the directions on the bleach bottle for preparing a diluted bleach solution. Why? It is best to use a plastic laundry hamper that can be wiped down with disinfectant to carry laundry and keep it away from your face. Do not use a bleach product if the percentage is not in this range or is not specified. All information found on OhSoSpotless.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. You're Using Your Cleaning Products Wrong, How to Sanitize and Disinfect a Washer and Dryer, How to Properly Clean After a Household Illness, How to Wash Contaminated Clothes, Shoes, and Laundry After a Flood. Plus, it’s a great product to have in the house for other cleaning chores, such as cleaning carpets or glass. Note: Oxygen-based bleaches (OxiClean, Clorox 2, OXOBrite are brand names) do not provide disinfectant qualities when used in home laundry processes. Borax is a great alternative to bleach since it’s a disinfectant and antifungal. If you have kids and pets at home or just prefer less severe cleaning products, this might be a winner for you. When someone is ill, opt for white 100 percent cotton sheets. They are recognized by microbiologists at the USDA Textile and Clothing Laboratory. The following essential oils work particularly well for sanitizing laundry: You can definitely try out Pine-Sol as an alternative to bleach. Surfaces are safe to touch nearly instantly without rinsing and it contains no bleach or ammonia. If anyone in your home has been ill, then try any of these tips to disinfect your clothes. Be cautious if you have young children, are pregnant, or have pets, as essential oils can be allergenic and sometimes, toxic. Hydrogen peroxide has many amazing uses, but to disinfect laundry, follow these steps: When it comes to household chores, you’ll soon find that heat is your friend. Even a 30-minute cycle in a hot tumble dryer can do a wonderful job at disinfecting your laundry (4). Of course, bleach works best for white clothes. Disinfecting your home laundry can be done inexpensively, easily and without damage to the fabric. Research shows that it is rare to become infected from handling biologically infected garments, even medical scrubs. If you are only washing a few items, use less bleach. It’s great at removing those tougher stains (think: wine, grease, blood) without harming the material or surface—but, be sure to test it on a hidden area first! Oxygen bleach works wonders on laundry, it whitens whites and brightens colors. You’ve got to clean your clothes. At the very least, keep the sheets away from your face and body. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. However, until these clothes and bed linens are washed or dry cleaned, you are encouraged to wear disposable rubber gloves when handling soiled laundry and discard the gloves after use. Your washing machine loosens and removes dirt from clothes. Normal laundry procedures should be using hot water (100 degrees F. or above with 140 degrees F being optimal), a disinfectant product following product directions, and finally, a high heat machine drying cycle. Explore the broad array of products that fit your needs and get the information and tools to help protect you and your family from the spread of illness-causing germs on surfaces. Besides its lovely scent, Pine-Sol kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria (3). The best laundry whitener for you depends on a few factors including how bad your stains are and your preferred method of application. It’s a good idea to disinfect your laundry from time to time, especially during the cold and flu season. SaniDate is unscented and can be used to clean fruits and vegetables as well as kitchen surfaces. This solution should be left on appropriate surfaces for one minute to disinfect properly. Make sure to look out for the symbols on your clothing labels. The bleach will remove up to 99.9% of germs and bacteria. Some ways to do this include: We used to rely on our radiators, fans and sunny days to dry our clothes. Oh So Spotless is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 30 Laundry Hacks You’ll Wish You Already Knew, 7 Best Laundry Sorters to Organize You on Wash Day, How to Stop Clothes From Bleeding in the Wash, How to Get Paint Out of Clothes (5 Easy Methods), How to Wash Cashmere (Hand and Machine Wash). Follow the product's directions carefully and use the amount of disinfectant recommended on the product's label. However, a lot of the time, our clothes would smell musty and damp. CDC instructions are to use 5 tablespoons (or 1/3 cup) of household bleach to 1 gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons of bleach to 1 quart of water. How to Disinfect a Microfiber Suede Couch Here’s how to disinfect laundry with white vinegar: Hydrogen peroxide is a must-have product in the laundry room. According to the article, “You’re not even safe if you wash your sick housemate’s clothing separately from your own, since his germs will hang out in the washer even after the clothing is gone.”. You can use it as a mild disinfectant, or in a rinse cycle to get rid of soap build-up from your normal detergent. Plus, they smell lovely. They may be boring but are easy to disinfect with hot water. Brace yourself for some pretty disgusting – but important – facts. Yes! Instead, use a disinfecting wet mop cloth without bleach. If you also need to clean your countertops of dirt and grime, do that first with soap and water. If you want a concentrated bleach that can be added to your washer’s bleach container, we love Clorox's Splash-Less Bleach (view on Home Depot). Bleach and other disinfectants are not suitable for consumption or injection under any circumstances. Using a washing machine is a basic part of household chores. So, next time you do laundry, add some white vinegar and watch the magic happen. Bleach is an effective way to kill bacteria and stop the spreading of illnesses. One of the best things you can do to protect yourself is to wear rubber gloves when handling soiled laundry. We all hope that no one in our family will become ill with bacterial or viral infections like enterovirus, influenza, or even a bad cold. Follow the directions on the bleach bottle for how much to use. But not many know that they’re great for sanitizing your laundry. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. It’s also a great idea to make sure your washing machine gets a good clean every few washes to prevent further spreading of illnesses. Oxygen Bleach & Laundry. Wring out the cloth as much as possible and then wipe down the entire surface of the sofa. Do not use a bleach product if the percentage is not in this range or is not specified, such as some types of laundry bleach or splash-less bleach as these are not appropriate for disinfection. Follow the directions on the bleach bottle for preparing a diluted bleach solution. You can be sure you won’t lose the brightness and pigment of your favorite pieces. In fact, our bleach now disinfects and sanitizes the same germs as before plus 21 more, for a total of 64 germs*. The same goes for any surface that may have been in contact with someone who was ill. If you want to save energy though, you can always hang your clothes outside in the sun to dry, since the UV light is a natural disinfectant for laundry! But when it happens, it is important to prevent the spread of the disease to others in the household. From the you-might-be-surprised files: Disinfecting with bleach isn’t actually cleaning. Be sure to read the care labels on all items to be washed. 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