Does Washing Clothes Kill Germs?

Does Washing Clothes in a Washing Machine Kill Germs? The answer, surprisingly, is no. In fact, germs can spread from one item of clothing to another during the wash cycle. ... Washing the sick person's clothes separately won't help, either, because their germs will remain in the washing machine unless you disinfect it.

How do you kill germs in laundry?

To kill the germs in your laundry, wash your clothes on the hot cycle, then put everything in the dryer for 45 minutes. Wash whites with bleach, and use peroxide or color-safe bleach for colors. Do your laundry in water that's at least 140 F to kill any viruses or bacteria.

Does washing your clothes sanitize them?

The hot water from the wash cycle is best for disinfecting clothes, and if you prefer to follow your clothes label and stick with a regular detergent wash, the heat will still work to eliminate the germs living on your clothes.