You may think that washing on the highest temperature setting is the only way you’ll get a thorough clean, but doing so may actually damage your garments and their colours, plus it’s also costing you more in energy. Read More

To sanitise your clothes as thoroughly as possible, these methods work best when combined. Together, a good laundry detergent and clothes sanitiser, as well as good laundry hygiene habits will eliminate the most germs in the wash. Does a cold wash kill germs in the laundry, and what does a laundry disinfectant do? Find your answers here. For bacteria and germs, antibacterial cleaning products just aren't necessary in many situations. There is almost always a simple way of achieving the same effect, such as thorough hand washing.For more ways to keep your household running smoothly, sign up for our Home newsletter – it's free monthly. Carex claims its antibacterial liquid hand wash is formulated to 'effectively' kill 99.9% of bacteria. This is based on the European Standard Test, where it was shown to reduce E.Coli on the hands of panellists by an average greater than 99.9%. And the results have delivered some big surprises, especially when we compare performance against price. Does the washing machine kill germs on your clothes? We can’t see the germs on our clothing, so it’s vital to know how to kill germs in laundry routines effectively. From clever products that boost sanitation to the basic principles of sanitising clothes in the wash, get the know-how you need here. HOW DO GERMS GET ON CLOTHES? They're certainly convenient with no messy pouring or measuring required – but other benefits are limited.

Our results may surprise you – the most expensive cleaning products aren't always the best. And as we reveal which laundry detergents are the best value, we can help you save money. https://www.ifh-homehygiene.org/factsheet/what-home-hygiene-%E2%80%93-terms-and-definitions-use-and-misuse Standard washing-up liquids will also kill bacteria, just in the same way hand wash and soap does. So there's no need for a special antibacterial washing-up liquid if you're worried about COVID-19 or salmonella.As part of an overall general hygiene routine, it is also recommended to do a monthly maintenance wash to clean the washing machine: A hot wash at 60Cº, or preferably 90Cº with no clothes and a standard dose of powder detergent containing active-oxygen bleach. See the user manual of your washing machine for more guidance or read our washing machine care tips. Washing your hands regularly is likely to be significantly more important than clothes washing at preventing most infections. However, germs can get on clothes and so it is important to keep them hygienically clean to prevent germs from spreading. Underwear, for example, may contain germs from traces of faeces (poo). Two of our five bottom performers for front loaders are capsules, with Surf Tropical Capsules and Surf Aqua Fresh Capsulesscoring just 53% and 54% in our testing despite the fact they cost over 40c per wash. While you may be tempted by its low cost per wash of just 6c, the Aldi Laundrite Laundry Liquid was the worst performer out of all the liquids and powders we tested, scoring just 50% – no better than plain water.

Does a dryer kill germs? Not drying your clothes properly can allow bacteria to grow and cause garments to smell. When your wash cycle is finished, remove your garments from the machine as soon as possible and dry thoroughly. You can do this using a tumble dryer or by hanging them out to dry. Get them out and dried as soon as you can.Can't see your brand? See the full laundry detergent test results. Why it's probably not worth buying laundry capsules Yes, clothes and towels can spread germs. There are 3 main ways that germs are spread by clothes and towels: With that in mind, choosing a high performing detergent is even more important for people with top loaders," says Matthew. From blue antibacterial Fairy washing-up liquid to Carex hand wash and Dettol detergent, you'll see lots of hand wash, washing-up liquid and laundry products that claim to kill bacteria. Typically they're pricier than standard cleaners, but are they worth it?

You may see some laundry detergents that come with antibacterial claims, as well as products you can soak your clothes in to kill bacteria, such as the Dettol Laundry Cleanser, as seen above. It's also worth being clear that Fairy antibacterial claims are limited to stopping the build-up of germs on washing-up sponges. Fairy recommends rinsing the sponge after washing-up, adding anti-bacterial Fairy liquid, and squeezing it to distribute the liquid more evenly.Ariel Professional Washing Powder Antibacterial is a professional detergent specially formulated to deliver 5-star cleaning results for professionals: excellent stain removal, deep down cleaning, brilliant whiteness, great freshness and efficiency at low temperature. Kills 99.999% bacteria including MRSA & eColi and 40 degrees. And what about green brands? We dug into the sustainability details on brands including Ecover , Smol , Method and Bio-D . Laundry detergent test results