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.
Using vinegar in laundry can be done two different ways. "After treating, you can add white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine," says Cohoon. "Or for a fuller rinse, manually pause your machine right before the final rinse cycle and add a 1/2 cup of diluted white vinegar to the load.
Cleaning vinegar or white vinegar – not apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar – is most commonly chosen for cleaning. However, it's important to remember that while vinegar does work as a disinfectant to some degree, it is not as effective as bleach or commercial cleansers when it comes to killing germs.
I recommend using a product such as Clorox® Fabric Sanitizer to sanitize all your machine-washable laundry that isn't bleach-safe," says Gagliardi. Steam clean: If used properly, a clothes steamer can actually kill germs and bacteria, thanks to the high temperatures.
Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle when you want to sanitize a load of laundry. The white vinegar kills bacteria, deodorizes your laundry, softens fabrics, and even helps maintain bright colors.
Using too much vinegar or the wrong type can actually harm the rubber seals in your washer, so it's important to make sure you only use white vinegar and do so in moderation.
Liquid bleach ($5, Home Depot) is one highly effective option: The University of Arizona laundry study found that adding bleach to the load reduced the number of viruses by over 99.99%. 1 For normal loads, a 3/4 cup of bleach should be enough to disinfect the items, according to the Clorox website.
White vinegar is a very effective disinfectant. Adding ½ cup of white vinegar to your laundry will eliminate germs and bacteria that can lead to unpleasant odors. It also acts as a deodorizer, removing unpleasant odors that are not caused by germs or bacteria.
Acetic acid (vinegar) is an effective mycobactericidal disinfectant that should also be active against most other bacteria. These findings are consistent with and extend the results of studies performed in the early and mid-20th century on the disinfectant capacity of organic acids.
Hot water provides an effective means of destroying microorganisms. A temperature of at least 160°F (71°C) for a minimum of 25 minutes is commonly recommended for hot-water washing. Water of this temperature can be provided by steam jet or separate booster heater.
Contaminated laundry must be bagged on site. Do not attempt to wash the contaminated items in the same room or location where it has been used. Use a leak-proof bag to hold wet, contaminated laundry. These bags must be color-coded or labeled accordingly.
Kill germs
Most dryers these days come with a handy sanitize cycle—and you'll definitely want to take advantage of it. Run your germiest clothing through the dryer on that setting, and you can kiss those germs goodbye.
You may have been relying on your detergent to get rid of all the dirt and germs, but if you're not using bleach or very hot water, you're not killing the bacteria -- they're getting on your hands and staying in the washing machine. "Most of the hot water people use is not hot enough.
And no, it doesn't matter how hot you set the water temperature on your machine. “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,” she says.
“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.
'We recommend half a cup of vinegar for a full load of laundry, and one cup or so for cleaning, and to not use it too frequently to avoid corrosion to your appliance. '
Adding vinegar to your laundry routines will whiten, brighten, reduce odors, and soften clothes without harsh chemicals. Vinegar is inexpensive, and safe to use in standard and high-efficiency washers.
Because vinegar is acidic. Therefore, continually using too much acid can harm the fibers of the clothing.
Simply add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser or to a fabric softener ball. The white vinegar will act as a fabric softener AND it will keep your washing machine smelling fresh and clean!
Once the washer is filled, before the wash cycle starts, drop in a cup of vinegar. Let it dilute for a moment, then add a half of a cup of baking soda. Run the washer, and dry as normal. Your towels will be recharged and like new, or better than ever!