A simple wash cycle might not be enough to disinfect laundry and remove all bacteria and viruses.
Use these tips to sanitize clothes, towels, and linens.
When someone in your household is sick, the first priority is helping them get well again.
Credit: Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images
Many high-efficiency machines feature a sanitize button or an option on the turn knob.
Laura J. Goodman, M.S.
Large or heavily soiled loads might require up to 1-1/4 cup of bleach.
Towels should be washed every few days and bedding once a week.
A little extra cleaning power can help keep you and your family healthy.
Gerba, Charles P. and Denise Kennedy.
“Enteric Virus Survival during Household Laundering and Impact of Disinfection with Sodium Hypochlorite.
“Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol.
14, 2007, pp.
“Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol.
14, 2021, doi:10.1128/AEM.03002-20
