The fact that viruses can live on surfaces like doorknobs and phones isn’t a big secret — but some people are unaware that similar germs can actually live in your laundry. According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus can "persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days," which includes clothing and linens.
I was raised by a mother who taught me the basics of household chores, and I learned that bleach had strong germ-killing properties, especially when it comes to laundry. However, most of my clothing falls into the "colors and darks" category meaning that bleach can't be used.
Instead of killing germs with bleach, one of my family members recommended using the Lysol Laundry Sanitizer — and I haven't done a load of laundry without it since.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
The Lysol Laundry Sanitizer isn't a detergent. It's an additive that's specially formulated to kill germs on your clothes and in your laundry machine. Typically, you would have to use very hot water to get rid of potentially harmful contaminants, but the Lysol Laundry Sanitizer can kill bacteria even when you run a cold cycle.
The formula has a fresh smell, so I initially started using it to get rid of odors in my clothing and towels. What I didn't realize is that the sanitizer actually disinfects my load instead of covering up the underlying smell.
When laundry day arrives, I throw my clothes into the washing machine. After adding a capful of regular laundry detergent, I add two capfuls of the Lysol Laundry Sanitizer into the fabric softener compartment. Then, I run the load as I usually would and let the load sit for an extra 16 minutes to ensure that the sanitizer will actually kill germs.
The formula comes in two versions — "Free and Clear" which is fragrance-free and "Crisp Linen" which has a fresh scent. I prefer the "Crisp Linen," but no matter what you prefer, both options are dye-free, chlorine bleach-free and gentile on fabrics.
One of the best things I've noticed about the Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is that a little goes a long way. Filling one cap is enough for a large load of laundry, but I find that even half a cap leaves my clothes feeling clean and smelling fresh. This makes incorporating it into my routine much more budget-friendly since I go through a bottle in less time than I go through a bottle of detergent.
It's always important to wash your clothes to rid of contaminants — but now more than ever, you'll want to make sure your towels, sheets, shirts and more are feeling completely fresh and clean!
For more like this, check out these articles
- This washing machine cleaner has rave reviews
- How to disinfect your laundry room and keep clothes fresh, according to an expert
- The 9 best cleaning products for your home
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