Dettol has released an anti-bacterial laundry sanitiser specifically designed for fabrics. Now you know how to get your laundry “clean clean”.
Just when I’m satisfied I’m cleaning the families laundry to a crispy fresh clean I heard that a recent study by AUT revealed that live bacteria is present in the household washing of many New Zealanders.
Urgh.
As a busy working mum I have a lot to do, and whatever I do, if possible, I need to find the easiest and fastest way to do it. Household laundry included. Do I do 3 hour long washes for loads? Never. Do I wash the laundry at 60 degree each wash? No. My laundry process is pretty unscientific. I do short washes for laundry that looks a little dirty, longer washes for laundry that looks more dirty, and the longest washes for laundry that is for sure, dirty. Using a good detergent our laundry turns out crispy fresh clean, I dry it, I fold it, I sniff its clean scent and put it away.
But NOW I know my clean laundry is not clean clean.
Bacteria such as E.coli that cause infections can be left on clothes increasing the risk of re-infection amongst family members. Normal washing, especially at low temperatures does not entirely remove the problem.
The key findings of the AUT study revealed that various live microorganisms, including yeast were detected on over 98% of clean samples*. Less than 3% of respondents reported washing at 60 degrees or higher, the recommended temperature required to kill live bacteria*. 78% of clothes tested straight from the washing machine contained traces of live fecal bacteria*.
Double urgh urgh!
As a mum of two young children all sorts of dirty gets all over everything. We’ve got a kid in nappies, good nappies, but you know even the best of nappies will leak when they must. We’ve got a boy in undies, still learning bathroom etiquette. Let’s just say we do a little soak of some laundry before the wash and leave it there. We get episodes of stomach bugs, soiled sheets get removed for the wash, clean ones placed, towels get laid out incase the sick bowl gets missed, and let’s just leave it there too. We have sweaty sports at the weekend, sweaty socks on a daily basis. I don’t even want to talk about yeast, except to say the word yeast, and leave it at that.
So how as a busy working mum of two am I supposed to efficiently get that dirty washing described clean clean? Free of germs, free of cross-infection, free of live anything, yet not have to do long washes at 60 degrees or higher?
I was handed Dettol Laundry Sanitiser.
- Dettol Laundry Sanitiser with Eucalyptus oil removes 99.9% of bacteria such as Staphylococcus and E.coli in the wash, in both hot and cold water.
- To avoid washing on high temperatures regularly, Dettol recommends adding a sanitiser to particularly dirty loads.
- Dettol Laundry Sanitiser helps break the cycle of re – and cross-infection of laundry. It does not contain bleach, leaves laundry hygienically clean and is ideal for dirty clothes that can harbour germs and increase the risk of cross infection – sweaty sports gear, underwear, socks, work clothes, towels and linen.
Dettol suggest using 60mls in the wash, add it in the fabric softener dispenser, or 60mls in a soak. I washed a load of sheets, a load of towels and a load of clothes, still using my unscientific process of shorter wash, longer wash, longest wash depending on the dirtiness, and always longest for towels. In went the detergent, in went Dettol’s Laundry Sanitiser, away went the washing machine doing its thing and away I went to do something else.
The first thing I noticed when I opened the door was the smell. It smelt clean clean! And so did the washing machine. That fresh “I’ve just sanitised something” smell. Normally we use a very good fragrance free detergent for sensitive skin so the smell of such a clean scent with our washing had been missed! I’m happy to say we’ve had no reactions to the product in our sensitive skinned home too. Was I imagining that the washing even looked cleaner? Possibly. But the peace of mind knowing Dettol Laundry Sanitiser removes 99% of bacteria, made it so. So as I hung the clean washing on the line sniffing its cleanliness proudly it was in fact clean clean!
I make an effort to keep our home as clean, tidy, fresh & heathy as I can, with the time and two hands I have, so I’ll definitely continue to use Dettol Laundry Sanitiser with our household laundry knowing I’m doing an even better job at cleaning our washing, without having to put any extra effort in!
Do you use a sanitiser when washing your household laundry?
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*AUT study (2019) tested on 60 samples of wet clothes straight from a completed standard NZ washing cycle (below 60°C, normal detergent). The number of bacteria will vary under different washing practices (temp, washing duration, types of load) and will be reduced depending on the drying process.
Written by Ronnie Swainston
Online Producer & Experiences Editor Ronnie is mum to two spirited kids who keep her on her toes. With a love for travel, film, tv, photography & (eating) food keeping her wishing for more time, & having a keen curiosity means she’ll give almost anything a go making her, and her family, up for the job!
Favourite place to be: On an adventure
I’ve never used a laundry sanitiser before and I always wash on cold washes unless it’s really dirty sports stuff, then it’s 60 deg washes. I think I shall look into Dettol laundry sanitiser! It sounds great
Woah this is new. I feel like there are already too many chemicals in the laundry detergent and now we have to a sanitiser in the mix. I always have a monthly or bi monthly clean of the washer itself using vinegar and baking soda, I surmised that should also help in cleaning out the germs.
Omg, I m definitely heading out and purchasing this, we always wash in cold water so this is a must have for us, I never realised so many bugs got left behind.
Ive tried this and its prett cool, gives a fresh scent and good for baby skin
I never actually knew that you had to wash your clothes that long or temperature to get rid of all bugs and no one does this. I may have to purchase some of this for use on some of our clothing. We have never used a laundry sanitiser before but think it may minimise some bugs which are clinging to our clothing.
Oooo I never actually knew this I just thought washing my clothing its cleans and allgood to go. I might have to try this detol sanistizer product. I also never wash my clothes for 3hours and at 60degree water temperatures. So therefore bacteria is still living in my family’s clothing and could cause us to get sick. I have never used sanistizer in my washing but I am willing to give it a go to keep my family healthy and well.
Oooohhh looks good! I am going to look for this in the supermarket – what a great idea 🙂 I need to get a cleaner for my washing machine first though as that can be something that people don’t do often. Imagine how many germys are living in the machine!