Alternatives to buying laundry sanitiser

[Frangipanini]

I have been buying and using Dettol antibacterial laundry sanitiser and been adding it to my washes. However, it really doesn't last very long and is £4.50 a bottle. I would like to add something to my wash to rid ourselves of any germs. It is all mainly sweat pants, jeans, T shirts and running gear so no delicates.

Any alternatives I can use to add to the wash instead?

I'm not ruining sports wear by washing it at 60⁰C when it says wash at 30/40⁰C. It works for my sweaty pit sportswear and stinky shorts/football kit. I don't use it in general washes just the aforementioned gym/football kit

Is this for getting rid of Covid-19 germs or general use (like getting rid of body odour?)

If Covid-19, just wash as normal. If you've been in an environment where you're in close contact with people (as in a hospital ward) or with anyone who has tested positive, washing at 60 degrees is recommended (I work for the NHS and have been providing washing information for staff!)

We use Halo on sports/gym gear.
I use white vinegar as a fab softner/disinfectant with towels & tea towels.
If I feel any laundry needs it for what ever reason & it's not washable at 60C, I put a tiny bit of Zoflora or white vinegar in the pre wash section of the drawer.

All MNet tips!

I've never heard of such a thing and I've been doing laundry for decades, sounds like a marketing gimmick that you've fallen for.

What germs are on your clothes that normal washing won't get rid of?

My understanding is that bio detergents have bleach in them and is what is recommended to get rid of germs - and washing at 60 degrees.

Both bio and non bio powders contain bleaches. Both bio and non bio liquids do not

@dementedpixie - Thank you. I didn't know this.

The difference between bio and non bio is that bio contains enzymes to break down food stains

Detergent is enough to kill all germs. Don't need the Dettol

This may put your mind at rest. This is about hand washing but it's really about soap in general (including laundry soap) and how easy it is to 'kill' viruses and germs.

So why does soap work so well on the Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus and indeed most viruses? The short story: because the virus is a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid (fatty) bilayer. Soap dissolves the fat membrane and the virus falls apart like a house of cards and dies – or rather, we should say it becomes inactive as viruses aren’t really alive.

I'm not using it to kill covid 19. I'm using it on sweaty odour bacteria in sports clothing and I find it helps better than bio powder alone

Use Halo sports wash instead. It's brilliant.

Also works rubbed into the pits of other clothing that's gone a bit whiffy. Rub in, wash as normal. Smells gone.

You don't need Dettol. You need to use Halo (or Wilko own, which is what I use!!)

I use the dettol laundry but mostly just in with sports kit or sofa bedding , not really sure what else could use instead . I tried switching to powder but found every 4/5 washes it kept clumping into hard lump in drawer - not sure if I had bad batch or did something wrong ?

I never have issues with powder, are you using too much?

I dont have a local Halo stockist. I did buy some in Sainsbury's once but it's a 20 mile round trip to get to

You can buy Halo on Amazon.

Its £3 dearer on amazon compared to sainsburys

Wilko own sportswash is just as good and cheaper

Again I'd need to travel to another town for that as it's out of stock online. Maybe when this is all over I can go looking for alternatives

You can use grapefruit seed extract. I use it for washing underwear at low temps. I read that nurses use it.

For sports gear, you can't beat Halo. We do a sports wash every day at the moment, and Halo means our kit never smells, and it doesn't rot the lycra like washing at over 30 or using dettol etc will (important with vv expensive cycling kit and my sports bras)

Hanging out on the washing line is perfect as an antibacterial on a sunny day too.

OP I use it for items that can only be washed at 30degrees such as wool, delicates etc. It’s all very well everyone saying wash at 60 but it’s not always possible for some clothing items; similarly you can’t use bio etc for very delicate items. I use a capful in the cooler wash items. With whites I use standard wash liq & napisan & 60 degrees. Understandably but unfortunately at present there are no multi-buy offers on these products but usually I stock up when they are. Sorry can’t help more.

I only use Halo for about 1 wash in every 10 or so (only the whiffiest sports gear goes in that wash together). So I'm not bothered it's more expensive on Amazon. A bottle probably lasts us about a year.

I need it more often than that as dh goes to the gym/plays football and rugby and I also go to the gym 4 times a week.