Getting germs off of clothes is important to keep clothes clean and fresh, and everyone in the family to stay healthy. Adding bleach to a wash cycle or soaking clothes before washing is a very effective way to clean cloth diapers, towels, sheets, and other items. However, not all items can be cleaned using bleach and according to the machine manual, you may not want to put bleach in the washing machine drum. Fortunately, there are a variety of other ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide and borax, tea tree oil and lavender essential oil that can kill germs and bacteria on clothes after they have been exposed to germs or other dirty conditions.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Getting Rid of Germs with Bleach When Washing Clothes in a Washing Machine
Step 1. Set the washing machine to the highest temperature available
When disinfecting clothes with bleach, you need to wash the clothes at the hottest temperature possible. Check the clothing care label for the maximum water temperature that can be used. After that, follow the guide to adjust the water temperature in the washing machine.
- Usually, hot water with a temperature of 60-90 degrees Celsius can only be used to wash white clothes.
- Colored clothes should be washed in colder water, usually between 30-40 degrees Celsius.
- Clothes with perishable materials usually need to be washed by hand. If it is machine washable, you should only run the wash cycle in cold water.
Step 2. Enter the detergent in the usual amount added
After setting the correct temperature for the water, fill the lid or measuring cup with the recommended amount of detergent according to the load. Put the detergent directly into the washing machine drum or the detergent drawer/dispenser.
- If you don't know where to put detergent in your washing machine, try reading the manual or the machine's user manual.
- Front load washing machines usually have a detergent drawer/dispenser. Meanwhile, in top-loading washing machines, you can usually add detergent directly to the drum of the machine.
Step 3. Fill the bleach dispenser on the machine
Read the instructions for use on the bottle or package of bleach to find out how much product you need to add according to the amount of clothing or load. After that, pour the product into the bleach dispenser on the machine.
- If your washing machine doesn't have a bleach dispenser, you can pour bleach directly into the tub. However, you will need to run the first cycle to get the jar filled with water before adding the bleach. Do not put clothes in a tube containing undiluted bleach.
- Pay attention to the type of bleach used. Chlorine bleach is suitable for white clothes, while all-fabric bleach can be used on colored clothes.
Step 4. Load the clothes and run a wash cycle
After adding the detergent and bleach, put the clothes in the tub. Close the jar and allow the wash cycle to run as usual. After the clothes have been washed, dry them according to the care instructions.
Method 2 of 3: Soaking Clothes in Bleach to Get Rid of Germs
Step 1. Mix cold water with bleach
Make a bleach mixture for soaking clothes by diluting the bleach with cold water. The amount of bleach you need will depend on the amount of clothing you're soaking. Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of bleach for every 4 liters of cold water (maximum 19 liters).
- Make sure you choose the right bleach for your clothes. Only use chlorine bleach for white clothes. Use all-fabric bleach for colored clothes.
- Make sure the clothes are washed before soaking in the bleach mixture.
Step 2. Soak the clothes in the bleach mixture for at least 15 minutes
After making the bleach mixture, put the clothes in the mixture. Soak clothes for at least 15 minutes.
- If you are soaking clothing that is prone to germs (eg cloth diapers or bed sheets used by someone who is sick), you will need to soak them for at least 30 minutes.
- Do not soak clothes in the bleach mixture for more than 45 minutes.
Step 3. Rinse the clothes with hot water, then wash in the washing machine
After the clothes have been soaked for an appropriate period of time, use hot water to rinse them thoroughly. Put the clothes in the washing machine and wash as usual in hot water to remove any residual bleach.
Make sure you carry a care label on your clothes to make sure they're safe to wash in hot water
Method 3 of 3: Using the No Bleach Method to Get Rid of Germs on Clothes
Step 1. Wash or soak clothes in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and borax
If you don't want to use bleach to disinfect your clothes, you can use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and borax. Make the mixture to add to the laundry cycle. You can also soak your clothes in the mixture to kill germs.
- To wash clothes with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and borax, mix 960 ml of hydrogen peroxide with 410 grams of borax, as well as your usual detergent. Make sure you add the mixture to the washing machine after the drum is filled with water.
- To soak clothes in a hydrogen peroxide and borax mixture, mix 960 ml of hydrogen peroxide with 410 grams of borax in a soaking tub that is half filled with water. Soak the clothes for 15-30 minutes, then rinse with hot water and wash again in the washing machine with hot water.
- Be careful not to use hydrogen peroxide on dark clothes. Test the product on an inconspicuous area of the fabric or clothing before using it thoroughly.
Step 2. Add tea tree oil or lavender essential oil to the wash cycle
Tea tree oil or lavender essential oil is believed to have antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. When washing clothes as usual in the washing machine, add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil or 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil along with the detergent. Run the wash cycle as usual, then dry the clothes according to the care label after washing.
Since tea tree oil and lavender essential oil smell good, it's a good idea to use them with an unscented detergent
Tips
- It's a good idea to disinfect clothes if a family member has recently been sick.
- You can also use disinfectants when washing clothes in public facilities, such as laundries.
- Some people are allergic to bleach, so make sure no one in your family has this allergy before you wash their clothes with bleach.
- Some types of detergents work optimally when added to water at a certain temperature. If your detergent performs better when used in water of a certain temperature, use that temperature, and not water with a warmer or colder temperature.
Warning
- Do not add bleach, hydrogen peroxide, borax, or essential oils to the washing machine without testing a small area of the product first. You need to make sure your clothes don't react negatively when they come into contact with the product. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging the clothes to be cleaned.
- Some manufacturers do not recommend using bleach in manufactured washing machines. Read the user manual to see if you can bleach the washing machine before adding the product to the tub. Using bleach on a device that does not allow bleach to be added can actually void the washing machine's warranty.
- Hot water can discolor some clothes, staining or soiling other clothes. Before washing colored clothes with hot water, make sure the color resistance of the clothes first.
