I have looked for some way of disinfecting laundry other than whites that bleach can be add to. I have a child with an immune deficiency and need to fine something I can add to her colored clothes to disinfect them.
I know back in the day my mom used Lysol. It calls for a cup to each load and it smells. I have found everything for clothes, but something for disinfecting. We can send a man to moon why can't I keep this child clothing germ free? You can fine more about Ciarra on my profile
By Sonja from Carrollton, KY
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Ok let see... is a bar of natural soap, Borax and washing soda ok? Because I make my own Laundry Detergent maybe if you add a little bit of vinegar into the mix this could work.
Try adding some baking soda to the washer as it fills.
Are you sure the germs making your child ill are coming from her clean laundry? My understanding is that the heat from the dryer kills germs.
Vinegar is a great disinfectant. Try using 1/2 cup in the rinse cycle. Do not use in the rinse cycle if you've used bleach because it can create a dangerous chlorine gas.
My prayers for Ciarra!
Wouldn't Clorox 2 work to disinfect colored clothes? That is what I am using.
I second 'Deeli's' suggestion; a little Chlorine [if any] for the WASH cycle, and 3/4 cup of [clear] vinegar in the rinse cycle. Vinegar is antiseptic and antibiotic; any vinegar odor will only be a 5-10 minute issue. Your clothes will be squeaky clean with no perfumes or irritants.
My kids skin is very sensitive. I use 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar but I would mix the 1/4 cup baking soda in with your detergent. Then 1/2 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle only.
I read that hydrogen peroxide in your wash acts like chlorine without the harsh chemical effects. You can use it on whites and colors. Good luck.
Use the white/distilled vinegar as others have recommended - you can add some baking soda too. Another benefit of the vinegar is that it is also a natural fabric softener. Your clothes will NOT smell like vinegar either. You could try borax, but you would need to test it on your daughter's skin first to make sure of any allergic reaction - just make a paste out of a little borax and water and put a little on the inside of your daughters arm at the elbow. Just a little. If she doesn't have a reaction then the borax would be safe to use. Much safer than bleach anyway.
Thanks to everyone for feed back, and prays' I ask Ciarra doctor last week she said the distilled vinegar is what she uses in her rinse' she a mom too. before looking for a disinfectant i add soap, small scoops of oxiclean & mull-borax.FYI was looking on Tide site one of the ingredients is borax. I use borax to clean other jobs around house it cleans. I also keep a small scrub brush kind that's a little stiff to get stain out spray on shout or what I had a coupon for that month lol or use a little soap you'll not believe how the little scrub brush makes a big difference on spots and shoes.
It's just unbelievable they don't make a disinfectant just to put in washers. one more note we did a tee shirt bleaching like tie-die to stop the bleaching we had to put it in a water mix of distilled vinegar and salt then good rinse after that wash & wear. Someone suggest not using in rinse where bleach was added to wash" I believe she knows what she talking about. I'm going to get started on the laundry after a trip to bank & wallie-world will post my results and any new info I come ac cross on laundry disinfectant, please pass on any new opinions or suggestions I'm go glad I found this site it loaded with good stuff ty sonja
Here's a great study on modern energy saving washers and the "sanitizers" that work best. Vinegar is not listed nor is borax both of which we use (we have 2 middle school boys). When they were babies I used Chlorox bleach in every wash. It proves that normal detergents do not kill bacteria and viruses.
library.ndsu.edu/
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I am looking for a good disinfectant for laundry. I am a massage therapist and want to thoroughly disinfect my linens using non-toxic items.
Can you help?
Thanks.
I use Bleach, but you might call a hospital or nursing home. I can't imagine anything more effective than what they use.
Suzan (04/09/2003)
By ThriftyFun
You could try some white vinegar, about 1/2 cup per load. Vinegar is a disinfectant; it can remove wrinkles, static, and odors; and best of all, it is inexpensive.
(05/18/2004)
By guest
I get horrible stuff splashed on me every day at work in the hospital, so I'm keenly interested in this subject. It takes much more than vinegar or weak solutions of hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria, particularly some of the tougher bacteria that cause serious diseases.
Chlorine bleach (e.g., Clorox), 3/4 cup per laundry load, is an appropriate disinfectant, but can only be used on whites, not colored. It takes an entire bottle of Lysol to disinfect a laundry load. Pine-Sol makes for a great deodorizer, but is an ineffective germicide in the laundry. Best for colored loads: powdered Tide with Bleach.
By NurseBob
You might want to try adding Dettol to your laundry. (06/13/2006)
By plus2
I'm a MA myself and I have a few clients that are sensitive to bleach. I always double wash my loads with the hottest temp setting, and I use a combo of vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda along with whatever detergent I am using (I've made my own homemade mix w/Borax, etc., but it can be kind of time consuming). The main thing to remember is that as long as the client isn't bleeding or leaking on the sheets hot water and some natural ingredient like vinegar works fine.
By Po'kchop
You might want to try tea tree oil. There is a lot of research into the use of tea tree essential oil (not the cheapo 100 ml supermarket bottles; a good quality one costs about $7 AUD for 10ml or $14 for 100ml.) You only need a few drops, so this will last you a long time. Tea tree oil is one of the few natural substances that is anti fungal, antiviral, antibacterial antimicrobial, antiseptic, and is trialled in hospitals for slow healing wounds. Google it if you find that hard to believe. (10/03/2007)
By guest
I use bleach and laundry detergent when washing and then rinse with vinegar. It's suitable as a softener and disinfectant. (05/10/2008)
By Josie
