How can I sanitize specific loads of laundry without using bleach ?

  13 answers
  • William William on Jun 30, 2017

    To use white vinegar, add 1 cup of it to the rinse cycle. This is very effective for killing bacteria, and will also help to deodorize laundry (which is a good sign that odor-causing bacteria has been killed). It is also an effective fabric softener, and helps to keep colors bright.


    Pine oil is very effective at disinfecting. The greater the amount of pine oil in a product, the better it will clean. Add one cup of a pine oil product to the wash, such as Pine Sol or Olde Tyme Super Pine Cleaner. This should not be used on silk or wool. Keep in mind that the pine odor may remain after washing, and it also can be very allergenic. Running a second rinse cycle can help to remove any remaining residue. Also, use caution with this if you have cats as pine oil is toxic to them.


    To use hydrogen peroxide, add 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the wash. Be sure to spot test the peroxide first though as it can have a bleaching effect on some fabrics.


    Add tea tree or lavender essential oil to your washing machine cycle. Like grapefruit seed extract, tea tree oil and lavender essential oil are believed to have natural antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. While you’re doing a regular load in your washing machine add 2 to 3 drops of tea tree essential oil or 1 to 2 drops of lavender essential oil along with your detergent. Allow the cycle to run as normal, and dry the clothes according to the care label when you’re finished washing them.

  • Dfm Dfm on Jun 30, 2017

    vinegar the 20 percent stuff, it's a mild acid that will kill a lot of bad bugs. hot dryer as well esp. for bed bugs

  • Jacqueline Weinstein Jacqueline Weinstein on Jun 30, 2017

    Baking soda. 1/2 cup per loaf

  • Lyn15291588 Lyn15291588 on Jun 30, 2017

    Vinegar in rinse cycle.

  • Just Retired Just Retired on Jun 30, 2017

    actually add a cup of white vinegar to the washing cycle and it will deodorize and not ruin the fabric. It works well with heavily body odor tshirts

  • Lynn Warhurst Lynn Warhurst on Jun 30, 2017

    Hydrogen Peroxide. Works great.


  • Shelley Wilson Shelley Wilson on Jun 30, 2017

    3 people can't be wrong. Baking powder and vinegar are nature's best cleansers.

  • Kathy Niesen Kathy Niesen on Jun 30, 2017

    I use All Free Detergent for sensitive skin and then I also add vingear in the same tray as the detergent. I don't think the vinegar make the clothes smell and it helps to clean the clothes and it also helps with lingering smells in the washer. I use a small amount of All then fill the rest of the washer soap cup with the vinegar. I hope this helps. Vinegar is not expensive either. I answered this question because we have sensitive skin and can't use bleach. This works for us.

  • Elaine Elaine on Jun 30, 2017

    Besides Vinegar, 20 Mule Team is good too.

  • Jerryk Jerryk on Jun 30, 2017

    Vinegar & water - or borax

  • Gail Gail on Jul 01, 2017

    liquid Lysol

  • DesertRose DesertRose on Jul 01, 2017

    add lavender essential oil, OR tea tree, OR hydrogen peroxide to the wash