How can I disinfect laundry without bleach?
Skip harsh bleaches, and take a gentler approach to cleaning clothes. These natural alternatives combat bacteria while preserving fabric quality.
Quick links:
Common household disinfectants
Eco-friendly commercial disinfectants
Tips for effective bleach-free disinfection
Let's explore effective bleach-free options to upgrade your laundry routine.
Common household disinfectants
Many everyday items in your home can effectively disinfect laundry without bleach. These natural, effective alternatives offer powerful cleaning action while being gentler on fabrics and the environment:
- White vinegar eliminates odors, softens clothes, and kills bacteria. Add a cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle to boost your laundry's cleanliness.
- Baking soda neutralizes odors and enhances the disinfecting power of your regular detergent. Sprinkle half a cup directly into the drum with your laundry for best results.
- Hydrogen peroxide is a bleach, but it breaks down into water and oxygen so it’s more environmentally friendly and less harsh. You can use it for white and colored laundry. Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to your wash to kill germs and brighten clothes.
Use whichever one you have on hand, or experiment with all three to see which option provides the best results. Don’t combine them since they can form acids that damage clothes.
Essential oils as natural antibacterial agents
Essential oils, derived from plants, contain compounds that kill bacteria and fungi while adding pleasant scents to your clothes. Let’s look at some of the most effective essential oils for laundry disinfection:
- Tea tree oil: Known for its strong antimicrobial properties, tea tree oil eliminates bacteria and fungi in your wash. Use it for gym clothes, towels, and items prone to mildew.
- Lavender oil: This versatile oil sanitizes and imparts a soothing fragrance. It's gentle enough for delicate items and leaves bedding and linens smelling clean and fresh.
- Eucalyptus oil: With its strong antibacterial qualities, eucalyptus oil neutralizes odors. It's amazing for work clothes or items exposed to environmental pollutants.
- Lemon oil: Citrus oils such as lemon have natural disinfecting properties and leave a crisp, clean scent. They're great for general laundry and help brighten whites.
- Peppermint oil: This invigorating oil disinfects and repels insects.
To use these oils, add 10–15 drops to your wash cycle. For heavily soiled items, you can create a pre-soak solution by mixing a few drops with water. Always check for colorfastness before using essential oils on delicate or brightly colored clothes.
If you're also interested in adding essential oils to your drying routing, drop or spritz them on Smart Sheep wool dryer balls. You can enjoy some additional disinfection and a fragrant finishing scent while reaping the antistatic and antiwrinkle benefits of our all-natural fabric softener solution.
Disinfect with heat and sunlight
Natural elements disinfect laundry without harsh chemicals. Hot water is a powerful tool for killing germs. Use the hottest water temperature that fabrics can tolerate to eliminate stubborn germs and odors during the wash cycle. Bedding, kitchen towels, and other thicker items can handle high heat without damage. For delicate fabrics, warm water still provides some disinfecting benefits.
Sanitary cycles in modern washing machines are also an effective way to disinfect heavily soiled laundry. These cycles combine high temperatures and longer wash times to kill bacteria and viruses. Use this feature for cleaning baby clothes, gym gear, items used by someone who has been ill, or other heavily soiled fabrics.
Solar heat is an eco-friendly drying and disinfection method. Solar drying is particularly effective for linens, whites, and everyday garments. Sunlight eliminates stinky smells and brightens whites naturally and is a preferred option for those seeking to avoid chemical whiteners.
For indoor laundry drying, maintain proper air circulation to prevent moisture buildup. Stagnant air can cause bacterial growth and musty smells. Use fans or leave windows open to improve airflow and speed up the drying process. This way you will also reduce the chances of mildew developing on wet clothes. Good air circulation also makes clothes dry evenly and leaves them fresh and odor-free.
Eco-friendly commercial disinfectants
Some commercial disinfectants work without harsh chemicals. These options are safe for your clothes and better for the environment:
- Ozonated water systems
- Electrolyzed water systems
- Silver-ion laundry additives
- Plant-based detergents with oxygen bleach
- Laundry sheets
Ozonated water systems
These systems inject ozone into the wash water. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer that kills bacteria and viruses without harsh chemicals. It quickly reverts to oxygen, leaving no residue on clothes or in wastewater.
Electrolyzed water systems
These devices use electricity to split salt water into hypochlorous acid and sodium hydroxide. The resulting solution disinfects laundry effectively while remaining gentle on fabrics and the environment.
Silver-ion laundry additives
These products release silver ions during the wash cycle. Silver's natural antimicrobial properties kill bacteria and fungi, keeping clothes fresh for longer periods. They're effective in cold water and reduce the need for frequent washing.
Plant-based detergents with oxygen bleach
These detergents combine biodegradable, plant-derived surfactants with oxygen bleach. They clean and disinfect without chlorine, making them safer for fabrics and aquatic ecosystems. They're effective on a wide range of stains and odors.
Laundry sheets
These thin, dissolvable sheets contain concentrated detergent and sometimes disinfecting agents. They eliminate plastic waste from traditional detergent bottles and are easy to use. Smart Sheep detergent sheets are formulated with plant-based ingredients and are biodegradable—a fantastic choice for all-natural laundry disinfection.
Note: When buying a commercial disinfectant, make sure it is compatible with your washing machine and the fabric types of the laundry you want to disinfect.
Tips for effective bleach-free disinfection
Use natural and safer alternative methods to maintain fabric quality, protect sensitive skin, and reduce environmental impact.
Now that you’ve settled on safer alternative disinfection methods, use these proven tips to maximize your laundry results:
- Sort laundry by soil level to prevent cross-contamination
- Pre-treat stains before washing
- Don't overload the washing machine
- Add white vinegar to the rinse cycle for extra disinfection
- Opt for the hottest setting you can use for the fabric
- Consider a laundry sanitizer for heavily soiled items
- Run an extra rinse cycle to remove detergent residue
- Dry clothes immediately after washing
- Clean your washing machine regularly to prevent germ buildup
Laundry disinfection FAQ
Is the disinfection and sanitation of laundry the same?
Disinfection and sanitation are not the same. Disinfection kills most germs on laundry items, while sanitation reduces them to safe levels. Disinfection is more thorough and often requires higher temperatures or specific chemicals. You can use regular wash cycles for sanitation, but it may not eliminate all pathogens.
How do you make homemade laundry disinfectant?
To create homemade laundry disinfectant, mix one cup of peroxide, one cup of vinegar, and a few drops of lavender oil in a wash. Add this mixture to the fabric softener dispenser during the wash cycle. For tough stains, pre-treat by applying this amazing disinfectant solution directly before washing.
How do I clean the inside of my washing machine without bleach?
Clean your washing machine without chlorine bleach by running a hot water cycle and adding 2 cups of white vinegar. From time to time, wipe the drum and seals with a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. For stubborn mold, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the vinegar solution.
How do I get laundry white again without bleach?
To whiten laundry without bleach, use oxygen-based bleach or add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Sun-drying on a bright day naturally whitens fabrics. For stubborn yellowing, soak white items in a solution of one part vinegar to four parts warm water before washing.
Can you mix baking soda and laundry detergent?
You can mix baking soda and laundry detergent. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your load of laundry along with the regular amount of detergent. This combination boosts cleaning power, neutralizes odors, and results in softer laundry. It's safe for both colored items and whites.
Further reading
Wool dryer balls vs. dryer sheets
What are the best laundry detergents for sensitive skin?
Why should I put a safety pin on wool dryer balls?
Can you use wool dryer balls and dryer sheets together?
