There can be many reasons to disinfect your clothing from time to time. If animal fur or pollen are triggering your allergies, getting your laundry clean and allergen-free may be the best way to stop your symptoms. People who work in the culinary or medical field might also find that their clothes are constantly getting stained and require thorough cleaning.
In such cases, most turn to bleach to disinfect their laundry. While it does a good job of removing bacteria, bleach is a substance that can be harsh on clothes and is toxic to humans. Bleach causes discolouration, deteriorates the quality of clothing fibres, and inhaling bleach can lead to skin, eye, and lung irritation.
Thankfully, there are ways to disinfect your laundry without harming your clothes, or yourself. Alternatives to bleach can still eliminate bacteria and eliminate tough stains while also removing musty smells that occur from traditional indoor laundry drying.
1. White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is one of the most useful substances you can keep around the house. It is often called upon for a number of uses ranging from cleaning dishes to deodorising messes from pets. With such a reputation, it is no surprise that white vinegar also does a great job of disinfecting clothes as well.
To disinfect a load of laundry, simply add one cup of distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine and your clothes should come out smelling fresh and new. White vinegar contains acetic acid which kills viruses and bacteria on your clothes, which are then washed away during the rinse cycle.
2. Using Heat
If wet clothes straight from the washing machine are left to dry indoors naturally, they can sometimes end up smelling damp and musty. This usually happens when there is not enough heat to dry the clothes and mildew or bacteria grows on the surface.
An easy solution to disinfect your laundry and combat musty smells is to invest in a retractable laundry system in Singapore from Steigen. To dry your clothes, Steigen automated laundry systems use a combination of heat and air circulation. This ensures that your laundry dries quickly without giving time for mildew to develop while also ensuring that your clothes are protected from inclement weather.
Learn More: Is Sun-Drying or Machine-Drying better for your laundry?
3. Essential Oils
Essential oils like tea tree oil or pine oil are natural disinfectants that are effective at killing pathogens. They can be added straight to the wash at the start, although an extra rinse is advisable to get rid of any lingering smells. Avoid using these oils on fabrics like silk or wool to prevent damage to the fibres.
Some essential oils can also be toxic to pets in high concentrations so make sure to keep them away when you are doing the laundry. Some people may also be allergic to essential oils which is an additional point to consider when disinfecting laundry.
Sanitising your clothes without using bleach is a great homecare tip that will prove its usefulness over time. A simple dash of vinegar or essential oils can do the job just as well. However, if you are really serious about transforming the way you wash and dry clothes, then a Steigen automated laundry system is the product for you.
With features like odour control, dust mite repeller, remote or mobile control, solar heat drying, and up to 50kg of load capacity, Steigen retractable laundry systems are powerful, convenient, effective, and can save you money and time in the long run. What are you waiting for? Enjoy $80 off when you sign up today!
