Disinfecting countertops, doorknobs, and other frequently handled surfaces is standard practice when you or a family member has the flu. However, it is equally important to sanitize your laundry. Clothes, bedding, and towels can harbor lingering germs that may spread illness even after symptoms have subsided. While using hot water or using bleach should work sufficiently, a laundry sanitizing product can provide an extra layer of protection by eliminating bacteria and viruses that detergents might miss.

Are these sanitizers truly necessary, or are they just another cleaning product taking up space in your laundry room? We spoke with an expert to find out and help you decide if adding a sanitizer to your routine is worthwhile. Whether you are currently caring for a sick family member or trying to prevent reinfection, understanding how and when to use a laundry sanitizer can significantly impact your household’s recovery after the flu strikes.

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Mary Gagliardi, also known as Dr. Laundry, is an in-house scientist and cleaning expert at Clorox.

Is Laundry Sanitizer Necessary?

While it might not eliminate all germs found on fabrics, Mary Gagliardi, also known as Clorox's Dr. Laundry, believes using a sanitizer is a good idea to help prevent their spread. As it turns out, disinfecting clothes and linens is more critical than sanitizing.

“Sanitizing and disinfecting are two different processes that are regulated by the EPA. Sanitizing is the reduction of bacteria to a safe level that meets public health standards, and disinfecting is the near elimination of bacteria and viruses, a higher level of germ kill,” Gagliardi says. “So, if your concern is eliminating flu virus germs, you need to be disinfecting and not just sanitizing.”

Gagliardi offers practical tips for handling laundry after someone has been sick: “Wearing disposable gloves and a mask, as well as washing hands afterward, can help prevent the spread of illness,” she says. “If dirty laundry contacts any hard surfaces during the laundry process, those surfaces should be disinfected, too.”

How to Sanitize Laundry to Disinfect Clothing, Linens, and Fabric

How to Disinfect Bleach-Safe Laundry

You can effectively disinfect your laundry by presoaking it. For bleach-safe clothes and linens, Gagliardi suggests using a product such as Clorox Disinfecting Bleach as a simple solution (and one you likely already have on hand). After mixing one-third cup of disinfecting bleach with a gallon of water, soak bacteria-ridden items for six minutes, then rinse and dry them. “If you are soaking in a clothes washer, drain the soaking solution and then run a wash cycle,” she advises.

Using bleach or a sanitizer to wash items after someone is sick is much more effective in killing germs than regular washing. “Detergent by itself is not enough, especially when you factor in lower wash temperatures,” says Gagliardi. “Even when ‘hot’ is selected, the water delivered to the washer may not be very hot.” There could be several reasons for this, such as if the water heater is not located nearby or if it is set to a lower heat setting to conserve energy and prevent scalding.

The bottom line? It’s wise to make room for a sanitizer product among your other laundry supplies, especially if household members are prone to illness.

How to Sanitize Laundry Without Bleach

Not all your laundry will be bleach-safe, which is where a sanitizer product comes in handy. For example, Gagliardi says Clorox Laundry Sanitizer is safe to use on most items, except for wool and silk. She shares the presoak directions as follows:

• Use 6.8 ounces of sanitizer per gallon of water.
• Submerge items completely and soak for 15 minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly with clean water or machine wash as directed.

Gagliardi adds that any visibly soiled items should be precleaned prior to disinfection. Additionally, she explains, “It’s important to follow the instructions on the label regarding the ratio of product to water and the soak time for the product to perform as promised.”

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Additional Benefits of Using Laundry Sanitizer

Aside from helping to eliminate germs and bacteria on fabrics, laundry sanitizer offers additional benefits. These include:

• Odor removal: Laundry sanitizer works to kill mildew, microbes, and general odor-causing bacteria rather than masking smells.
• Better cleaning power: Most sanitizing products are designed to clean and deodorize laundry (especially when it’s been heavily soiled) better than using detergent alone.
• Cross-contamination prevention: A laundry sanitizer keeps bacteria from transferring from one load to the next. If you must use a shared machine, such as when taking a bulky down comforter to the laundromat, you can rest assured that you won’t be taking home anyone else’s germs.

Many laundry sanitizers are labeled as hypoallergenic, making them safe for use on sensitive skin, and they’re more effective at tackling items that require cold-water washing.