To ask about Dettol Laundry Cleanser?

[Juk3]

My machine is playing up, it no longer heats the water. I have ordered a new one but with Christmas and Covid disruption the delivery date is the end of January. So how on earth does this cleanser work when adding it to the fabric conditioner drawer? My fabric softener goes into the wash for literally 90 seconds I just timed it, surely it can't kill bacteria left on towels and bedding washed in cold water in 90 seconds? Has anybody added this in after the machine has filled up and taken the powder in or even poured it in during this process? I am currently doing a kettle of boiling water with bedding and towels but need something for normal clothes and underwear etc for the next 6 weeks, any other suggestions are welcome.

I use this since it was recommended on MN. Says on bottle kills 99,9% of bacteria in washes as low as 15 Degrees. I wouldn't worry to much. So annoying about your washing machine.

You could try using halo sports wash as your detergent for a few weeks as it is antibacterial.

I use it but only becuase DS still has a lot of poo accidents and I add it to his pants when they are soaking then to the wash when they go in as well.

Never bothered with it for ordinary washes of towels and bedding, why would you need to?

@DappledThings my machine is not heating the water at all so everything is being washed in cold tap water, the temperature it comes out of the tap. My new machine has been delayed until end of January so thought that it was a could idea for knickers, socks, bedding, towel etc that I would usually wash at 60.

That seems a hell of a long time for delivery. Is there nowhere to get it quicker?

@PinkiOcelot I was trying to support a local electric shop that had been struggling with lockdowns etc. Generally tho there seems to be a bit of a shortage of white goods places like AO have more items out of stock than in stock when I looked. I also need a machine that had an allergy cycle as have a very allergic dc and a 12kg drum so that cuts down options straight away.

If washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds will kill off viruses, what do you think your laundry detergent is doing

Personally, I don’t feel the need to disinfect my very minimally-soiled clothing and linens, and my washing-machine fails to heat the water at all. If you’re really worried and feel the need to disinfect I suggest you replace the fabric conditioner with disinfectant and have the machine programmed to “rinse and hold”.

Can you do a pre-wash with dettol?

Chuck a couple of capfuls of Zoflora into the main wash drawer with your detergent

I just put it in the main wash drawer with my liquid detergent. Wash most things on 30, apart from towels.

I use it as it really gets the stink out if teen boys / girls school shirts ....and socks

Yes, just put in during main wash at start. It doesn't work well in hot water, which is why it is used in the cold rinse cycle.

Maybe contact the Dettol company on the back of the bottle with your query? I'm sure they'd be the most knowledgeable people to ask.

Bio powder should work at very low temperatures, I would use that and do all washing on long cycles and not overload the machine. It's a myth that bio is worse for allergies.

The Dettol stuff works as it isn't rinsed off.

Having said that I would handwash/soak underwear in hot water/detergent and then just rinse and spin in the machine.

I put it in the normal draw, have used it for years.

White vinegar works well too. I put it in the pre wash draw then my normal washing liquid & softener.

I wouldn't worry, I don't have a washing machine at the minute, and wash everything by hand. But was never into all this temperature stuff and killing bacteria stuff, just some normal washing powder or liquid and that's it.

Can you connect your washer to the hot water feed and set your boiler water to 30degrees? Just for in the meantime. Obviously turn temp back up between washer loads.

No idea how it works but it does! Been using for several years now and very good hygenic results as well .First used it for my Sons washing when he came back from Uni!(Armed with a couple of bags of course!)

I just put Zoflora in during the main wash cycle. I can always smell the scent on the clean laundry so presume it does the trick. In all honesty, I suspect it makes no difference not to use antibac because detergent breaks down bacteria anyway, but it gives me a sense of peace.

@Gobbeldegook that is a brilliant idea, however on investigation we only have 2 cold water feeds, one for the dishwasher one for the washing machine. We live in a new build so I guess there was no need to install the hot feed as machines self heat these days.

I recommend this. It does a good job.

I use it. Sometimes I put it in the prewash section of the drawer but mostly I put it straight in the drum in one of those in-wash balls (mines the free one that comes with Persil liquid)
I nestle it in the front, bottom centre of the washing - right up to the door so it has chance to mix in with the water before the drum spins. Seems to work.

Put it on the longest cycle. Laundry detergent will kill germs by breaking down their cellular structure. Keeping them in contact with the detergent for longer will make sure they are all gone.

This is why washing your hands with cold water and soap is just as effective as when you use hot water. The detergent can do the work without hot water.

In fact, using bio washing detergent in water above 40 degrees is counter productive as the hotter temperature kills the enzymes and renders them useless.

The longer the clothes are in contact with the soap/enzymes, the better.

I never wash above 40 (usually 30 or cold) the sporty dettol stuff is great

Because of this Dettol laundry cleanser is totally unnecessary. It's manufactured and marketed by Reckitt Benkeiser who are pretty good at coming up with needless things and get us to part with our hard earned cash for them.