Sanitizing Laundry Without Chlorine Bleach

[panthera]

Hi Alexander,

Nein.
Fast alles, welches wir "glauben" über Mikrowellenherde zu "wissen" basiert entweder auf längst überholte oder schlicht falsche Annahmen.

Es ist genügend "Last" im Holz vorhanden, auf jeden Fall, da ich es seit Jahren mache und - bis her - sind weder meine deutsche noch meine Amerikanische (auch nicht aus dem Jahre 1972) kaputt gegangen.

Fette und Wasser sind es, hauptsächlich, welche durch Mikrowellen schwingen und Reibungshitze erzeugen. Dies fürht schnell dazu, dass die Eiweißmoleküle klümpen und, das war's denn für die Baziloosen, wie meine Uhrgroßtante sie nannten.

 

[brisnat81]

Hi MrX, our Dettol does indeed turn the water milky white.

Packaging is identical to the UK.

I associate the smell with clean and figure the formula has been around long enough to be proven safe for use, unlike all the triclosan based stuff that has flooded onto the market in the last few years.

Occaisionally when Michaels tinea flares up, I'll add Caneston anti Fungal/Bacteria Rinse additive, but otherwise I'm not that fussed as a rule.

 

[launderess]

DIDECYLDIMONIUM CHLORIDE

Is a quat substance, that not only acts as a biocide, but softens textiles and reduces static cling as well.

Many fabric softeners are made from quats regardless of any claims regarding sanitation. So in theory there may be some reduction in bacteria from use.

L.

 

[MrX]

Sanitization of utensils

The very best approach to this is hot water and detergent and lots of it.

Washing your dishes and utensils in a dishwasher that heats its own water should do the trick quite nicely.

Good combination of oxygen bleach, detergent, powerful enzymes that attack proteins and scalding water run for a considerable amount of time.

 

[logixx]

Thanks, Keven. Now I'll only need to find a microwave large enough to fit a chopping board in there... ;-)

 

[wft2800]

Holy thread revival Batman!

Quick question - if one was to use pine oil, or white vinegar, what quantity or concentration would be appropriate to use? My primary machine these days is a 2005 Miele W2240. For large loads, I tend to fill it on the Delicates or even Separate Rinse cycle to get a high water level, but if I'm just doing underwear, a normal Cottons cycle fill (with Water Plus selected, of course) seems to suffice. I usually use the 95c cycle for anything needing disinfecting.

Right, the foul necromancer is off for a midnight curry!

 

[launderess]

First one would need to find a pine cleaning product that is registered as a disinfectant. That is the thing contains enough pine oil to actually do the job.

Having said this cannot recommend using a pine disinfectant in the wash. Your laundry will have that whiff for days, as will the machine.

If you *must* use a sanitizer in wash one recommends going with Dettol, Persil or any of the other quat based sanitizers for laundry. If expense is an issue become pally with someone who can order the stuff from commercial laundry suppliers.

 

[wft2800]

Can one not just use a bit of pure undiluted pine oil in the wash?

What about vinegar?

 

[johnrk]

I'm Having Good Luck

with the Lysol laundry disinfectant placed in the fabric softener cup on my SQ432. I only need it when doing pet stuff, use white vinegar there otherwise.

And please avoid any pine oil products if you have a cat; they're toxic to cats.

 

[wft2800]

I do have two cats, but surely if one keeps the pine oil away from them, there'd be no problem?

I'd really appreciate advice on dosage quantities.

 

[johnrk]

Check the Web

or with your vet. I've avoided it for decades; it's nothing new.

 

[cuffs054]

John, I'm using the Lysol Disinfec but I'm not sure I see and thing different in load. Are you noticing any results?

 

[johnrk]

cuffs054

What difference would you expect? I'm not getting it. I use it because I just want anything my kitty picks up on is fur to get washed away. And that includes his grooming his fur. I don't use that Lysol disinfectant unless there's a reason to.

I'm pleased because it really doesn't leave any perceptible odor. I don't like strong laundry odors; to me, that's why I wear deodorant and occasionally, cologne.

So no, it doesn't get anything cleaner if that's what you're wondering. But then, I use Borax 95% of the time at least along with, lately, one of those Persils. And I'm using 6 of those wool dryer balls bought on Amazon with A&H dryer sheets.

 

[cuffs054]

John that is interesting, mine has a very noticeable smell, nice but strong and that's with going for a second rinse. My original ? related to the fact that I don't notice any difference in load w or wo beside the smell.

 

[johnrk]

It's Not Like Febreze

It's there to sanitize, not add scent. You may be using more than me, I put it to the bottom line on the agitator cup for fabric softener on this SQ 432.

 

[norgeway]

Just do what my. Grandmother did

Washcloths dishtowels and my diapers were boiled then washed she kept a pail just for boiling she rinsed everything then boiled it because she was not having germs in her frigidaire. Lol

 

[johnrk]

If Only Boiling

disinfected anything. Unfortunately, it doesn't. If it did we wouldn't have had autoclaves in my hospital work...

 

[imperial70]

hmmmm, boiling doesn't disinfect anything. hmmmmmm.

 

[foraloysius]

I think it's better to say that boiling laundry sanatizes things. Disinfecting is a higher standard.

 

[johnrk]

Hmmmm...

Why do you hide where you live? It couldn't be that awful.

As for boiling, my suggestion is that when you need a surgical procedure in the future, that you tell the surgeon and the surgical crew that they don't need to use any of that silly autoclave heat or chemical disinfecting--that boiling will do just fine for you.

And, of course, be sure and let the USDA know that all of us who can meats and vegetables don't really need the high heat that pressure canning provides. No, we should just boil everything, that those nasty botulism spores don't like Americans (I'm assuming you live in the US, though I don't know why).

True, if you can't do anything else with water, you're instructed to boil it as a precaution. However, that doesn't disinfect.

But that, of course, is your risk, and hmmmmm, one you seem ready to take. Hmmmm...

 

[panthera]

John,

There's quite a few of us who allow some Tennessee windage to our places of domicile, real names, etc. Once burned, twice shy. It's probably best to accept that.

One of the things I learned from a dear friend who was an emergency room doctor in Munich for many years:

1) Antisepsis is a goal to be sought, but never achieved.

2) You remove the gross dirt first, then you go for the pathogens.

 

She is one of the very few Germans I know who believes in chlorine based disinfectants.  She doesn't for one second think 40º washing (that's degrees science, not the weird stuff the Americans use) is adequate for a family with seven children and she tumble drys underclothes, bedclothes, towels, Waschlappen, etc. at high heat.

 

Big fan of Sagrotan, too - and the US equivalent to that is Lysol. Also a big fan of letting little kids play in the dirt.

 

Personally, I will continue to run the dishwasher on the NSF approved 'sanitize' cycle (it's not really, but it's all about knocking the microbe load down as low as possible), using chlorine bleach and high tumble heat. I get rid of the gross dirt with TSP (the horror of it all, and, gosh, that STTP most are using? Guess what it turned into a while back...) and real hot water, not the <span style="font-size: 12pt;">40</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">º stuff US manufacturers want us to call 'hot' today.</span>

 

[vacerator]

Also

high dryer heat helps sanitize.

 

[launderess]

Anyone who has studied bacteriology or microbiology and or perhaps any of the health professions (physician, nurse, etc...) already knows but will pass along (again); there is a difference between sanitization, sterilization and disinfecting.

Hospital linens for beds and bathing ordinarily are sanitized via the laundering process. Things meant for the operating room and or need to be nearly free of pathogens head over to CSS (Central Sterile Supply) or wherever and will be further treated by autoclaving in order to render them sterile.

When it comes to cleaning if you read the directions for nearly all registered disinfectants they give two versions. One is to clean and perhaps sanitize. The other is for disinfection. Latter most always involves first cleaning the surface of gross filth, then applying a solution at proper strength and allow to remain in contact for a period of time.

http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-sterilization-and-sanitization

https://www.diffen.com/difference/Disinfect_vs_Sterilize

Studies going back to the early part of last century proved laundering in hot water (and soap back then), drying and ironing rendered most laundry sanitized enough for all general purposes. Dropping ironing and adding tumble drying at high heat can replace ironing. It is the heat one wants in the end....

Simple act of washing laundry between chemicals, pH and multiple changes of water either deactivates germs and or sends them down the drain. They still may be alive at that point but that isn't the issue, it is removal from textiles we are after.

In situations where something more is required, such as the wash from a person infected with a contagious disease, something more can be done. Things like use of different chemicals and or higher wash/drying temperatures.

 

[imperial70]

Laundress, You are the voice of reason and clarification. Thank you.

 

[wft2800]

So - any advice on usage of vinegar or other natural sanitising (if not disinfecting) chemicals?