# How to Disinfect Laundry: Methods and Temperatures > Disinfect or sanitise laundry with 60 °C (140 °F), percarbonate, Sanytol, bleach, tumble drying or freezing after illness, bed bugs or mould. **Published :** 2026-03-23 · **Updated :** 2026-04-26 --- **Résumé :** **In short:** washing laundry does not automatically disinfect it. For laundry hygiene, the main benchmark is **60 °C (140 °F) for 30 minutes** or a suitable **textile disinfectant** (percarbonate, Sanytol, bleach on white cotton). For **bed bugs**, the protocol changes: wash at 60 °C if the label allows it, or hot tumble dry for 30 minutes on compatible items; otherwise use freezing or dry cleaning depending on the fabric. ## At a glance - **60 °C (140 °F) for 30 minutes = the main hygiene benchmark** -- useful against common bacteria, many fungi and many enveloped viruses. - **Bed bugs** -- on compatible textiles, hot tumble drying for at least 30 minutes can be enough; washing alone may be insufficient. - **Sodium percarbonate** -- disinfects through oxygenation from 40 °C (104 °F). 2 tbsp in the drum. Colour-safe. - **Delicate textiles** -- if heat is not allowed, freezing for 72 hours at -18/-20 °C or declared dry cleaning is safer. - **Dry quickly** -- bacteria multiply in moisture. Tumble dryer or airy outdoor drying, never in a ball in the drum. ## How to disinfect laundry in the washing machine To **disinfect laundry in the washing machine**, wash at **60 °C for at least 30 minutes** (the thermal threshold that kills most bacteria and enveloped viruses), or add **sodium percarbonate** (2 tablespoons) which works from 40 °C by releasing active oxygen. For white cotton, diluted bleach reinforces the action. Dry immediately and fully to prevent regrowth. 1. Sort out the laundry to disinfect (sick-room garments, underwear, kitchen linen). 2. Pick 60 °C minimum (90 °C for heavily contaminated white cotton). 3. Add a textile disinfectant: percarbonate (colour-safe) or Sanytol (all fabrics). 4. Run a long cycle with maximum spin (bacteria thrive in residual moisture). 5. Tumble-dry immediately — no damp pause between wash and dry. At a **Speed Queen laundromat**, 18 kg machines run a full 60 °C cycle (and 90 °C on selected machines) on large volumes — useful when a home eco programme reduces actual water temperature to save energy and may not hold the hygiene threshold long enough. Convenient for handling a sick-room load or a bed-bug protocol in a single trip. ## Cleaning and disinfecting: two different things A common confusion: many people think that washing laundry automatically disinfects it. It does not. **Cleaning** means removing visible dirt -- stains, sweat, skin residue, odours. A 30-40 °C (86-104 °F) wash with detergent accomplishes this. Detergent surfactants lift dirt from fibres, and rinsing flushes it away. **Disinfecting** means strongly reducing or eliminating biological agents on laundry -- mainly bacteria, viruses and fungi. For dust mites or bed bugs, it is more accurate to think in terms of **thermal treatment** of the textile. This requires either sufficient temperature (60 °C (140 °F)+), a biocide product ([percarbonate](https://amzn.to/4lR6akp), Sanytol, bleach), or both. A 30-40 °C wash **reduces** the bacterial population (bacteria are diluted and partially dislodged by detergent), but it does not **kill** them. Studies show that after a 30 °C wash, between 10 and 30% of bacteria remain viable on the fabric. For everyday use (t-shirt, jeans, shirt), this is not a problem -- your immune system handles it. But in certain situations (illness, infestation, immunosuppression), genuine disinfection is necessary. ## Disinfection temperatures Heat is the simplest and most reliable disinfectant. No chemicals, no dosing -- just sufficient temperature for sufficient time. - ❄️ **30-40 °C (86-104 °F) -- cleaning, no disinfection** — Bacteria survive. Detergent dislodges and dilutes micro-organisms but does not kill them. Sufficient for everyday laundry in good health. Not sufficient for illness laundry, sanitary towels, kitchen towels. - 🔥 **60 °C (140 °F) for 30 min -- standard disinfection** — Strongly reduces common bacteria (E. coli, staphylococci, salmonella), many fungi (Candida, dermatophytes) and many enveloped viruses such as flu or SARS-CoV-2. This is the most useful benchmark for domestic laundry hygiene. - 🔴 **Bed bugs -- real heat + enough time** — The key benchmark is not a program number: wash at 60 °C (140 °F) if the label allows it, or use a hot tumble dryer for at least 30 minutes on compatible items. Washing alone may be insufficient, and the load must tumble freely. - ⚪ **90 °C (194 °F) -- very hot wash reserved for robust white cotton** — Useful for some sheets, tea towels and white towels specifically designed for it. Reserve it for clearly compatible fabrics; it is not the same thing as medical sterilisation. ### Contact time matters as much as temperature Disinfection is not instant -- it requires sufficient **contact time** between the micro-organism and the lethal temperature. At 60 °C, 30 minutes are a practical benchmark for stronger laundry hygiene. A 15-minute express programme at 60 °C does not disinfect reliably. This is why the **standard cotton programme** (long cycle, 1.5-2 h) is preferable to the quick programme for disinfection. The long cycle maintains the target temperature throughout the wash phase. For bed bugs, the same logic applies in the dryer: actual heat, enough time, and no overloaded drum. See our detailed guide on [washing at 60 °C](/en/blog/washing-60-degrees-guide/index.md) and [washing at 90 °C](/en/blog/wash-90-degrees-when/index.md). > Modern eco programmes reduce water temperature to save energy. A 60 °C (140 > °F) eco programme may only heat to 45-50 °C (122 °F) -- insufficient for > disinfection. For reliable disinfection, select the > **standard cotton programme** (non-eco) which maintains the > displayed temperature throughout the wash phase. ## Textile disinfectants When the textile cannot withstand 60 °C (synthetics, delicate colours, elastane), a disinfectant product compensates for the insufficient temperature. ### Sodium percarbonate (recommended) [Sodium percarbonate](/en/blog/sodium-percarbonate-laundry/index.md) is a white granule that decomposes in water into **sodium carbonate** (detergent) and **hydrogen peroxide** (the active disinfectant). The released active oxygen destroys bacteria, fungi and certain viruses by oxidising their cell membranes. - **Activation**: percarbonate begins releasing active oxygen from 40 °C. Below that, the action is slow and incomplete. - **Disinfectant dosage**: 2 tbsp directly in the drum (not in the detergent tray). - **Compatible**: white cotton and colour-fast fabrics. Not recommended for silk, wool or fragile colours. - **Advantage**: biodegradable, no toxic residue, no odour. ### Sanytol textile disinfectant Sanytol is a commercial product containing **didecyldimethylammonium chloride**, a quaternary ammonium biocide. It destroys bacteria, fungi and enveloped viruses. - **Activation**: active from 20 °C -- this is its main strength over percarbonate. - **Dosage**: 1 cap (approximately 60 ml) in the softener tray (acts during the final rinse). - **Compatible**: all textiles, all colours. - **Disadvantage**: synthetic product, less eco-friendly than percarbonate. ### Bleach Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is the most powerful disinfectant available at home. It destroys **all** micro-organisms -- bacteria, viruses (enveloped and non-enveloped), fungi, spores. - **Use**: **white cotton only**. Bleach destroys pigments (irreversible discolouration), attacks synthetics and degrades elastane. - **Dosage**: 100 ml of 2.6% bleach in the detergent tray. 40-60 °C cycle. - **Precaution**: **never mix bleach and [white vinegar](https://amzn.to/4bReOuT)** -- the mixture produces chlorine gas, toxic for the respiratory system. ### White vinegar (mild action) [White vinegar](/en/blog/white-vinegar-laundry/index.md) (8-14% acetic acid) has moderate antibacterial action. It does not destroy viruses or spores, but it reduces the population of common bacteria and neutralises odours. - **Dosage**: 200 ml in the softener tray (acts during the rinse). - **Use**: supplement to a standard wash for everyday textiles. Insufficient alone for genuine disinfection after illness. ## When to disinfect your laundry Disinfection is not needed for every wash. Here are the situations that justify it. ### After a contagious illness Gastroenteritis, flu, covid, throat infection, bronchitis: wash the **sheets, bath towels, face cloths, pyjamas and underwear** of the sick person at 60 °C minimum. Wash the sick person's laundry **separately** from the rest of the family's. If the laundry cannot withstand 60 °C, add percarbonate (40 °C) or Sanytol (30 °C). ### Bed bugs [Bed bugs](/en/blog/bed-bugs-laundry-guide/index.md) require a different protocol from standard laundry hygiene. Public guidance converges on three useful points: **isolate the laundry in sealed bags**, **wash at 60 °C when the label allows it**, and above all **use a hot tumble dryer for at least 30 minutes** on compatible textiles. The EPA also states that **washing alone might not do the job**. In practice: - if the textile can take 60 °C, **washing at 60 °C plus hot tumble drying** is the most robust option; - if it cannot take a hot wash but can go in the dryer, **hot tumble drying alone** for at least 30 minutes can be enough; - do not overload the drum: the whole load must be able to tumble so that all items heat properly. ### If the textile cannot take heat Wool, silk, cashmere, some elastane-rich garments, coated items, foam-filled items or glued pieces should not be forced through a hot treatment. - **Freezing**: for bed bugs, ANSES recommends freezing at **-17 °C for at least 72 hours** when washing is not possible. In practice, aiming for **-18/-20 °C** for 72 hours gives a more comfortable margin. - **Dry cleaning**: suitable for some delicate garments; clearly tell the cleaner that the item may have been exposed to bed bugs. - **Dry steam**: for non-washable upholstery, high-temperature dry steam (at least 120 °C at the outlet) can help on seams and exposed areas. It does not replace a full-home bed bug protocol on its own. ### Mould on laundry Mould (green, black or grey spots, musty smell) is a fungus. Sodium percarbonate is particularly effective: it kills the fungus AND bleaches mould stains through oxygenation. Soak mouldy laundry in a percarbonate solution (2 tbsp per litre at 40 °C) for 2 hours, then machine wash at 60 °C. See our guide on [mould stains](/en/blog/remove-mold-stain/index.md). ### Bedwetting Urine is a breeding ground for bacteria. After a nighttime accident, rinse sheets and pyjamas in cold water to remove the excess, then wash at 60 °C with percarbonate. If the odour persists, add 100 ml of white vinegar to the rinse. See our guide on [urine stains](/en/blog/remove-urine-stain/index.md). ## Mistakes to avoid > **Warning:** > - **Mixing bleach and vinegar** -- the mixture produces chlorine gas, a toxic gas. NEVER use them in the same wash cycle. > - **Bleach on colours or synthetics** -- irreversible discolouration and fibre degradation. Bleach is reserved for white cotton. > - **Eco programme for disinfection** -- actual temperature is often lower than displayed. Use the standard cotton programme. > - **Leaving wet laundry in the drum** -- bacteria multiply in moisture. Remove laundry immediately after the cycle. > - **Thinking detergent disinfects** -- detergent cleans (removes dirt) but does not disinfect. Surfactants dislodge bacteria but do not kill them. > - **Relying on a dryer program number** -- a "program 3" has no universal meaning. What matters is textile compatibility, actual heat and duration. > - **Overloading the dryer against bed bugs** -- if the load cannot tumble properly, the whole batch does not reach the same heat. > - **Overdosing percarbonate** -- excess can leave irritating residue on fabric. Stick to the dosage (2 tbsp per machine). ## Disinfection at the laundromat The laundromat is not a magic fix, but it is very practical when you need to treat **a lot of compatible laundry quickly**: sheets, towels, covers, everyday clothing, some duvets. ### Why it helps The laundromat makes it easier to access **60 °C programmes**, **larger drums** and **dryers better suited to bulky loads**. For large amounts of bed linen, that can make treatment much easier. ### What the laundromat does not change You still need to: - read the care label before increasing heat; - transport potentially infested laundry in **sealed bags**; - avoid shaking out the textiles on site; - re-bag treated laundry in **clean bags**; - avoid promising that one numbered setting will suit every textile. For more on laundromat hygiene, see our article on the [science of laundromat hygiene](/en/blog/laundromat-hygiene-science/index.md). > If a family member is immunosuppressed (chemotherapy, immunosuppressant > treatment, HIV), laundry disinfection is not optional -- it is medically > recommended. Wash **all** laundry in contact with the person at > 60 °C (140 °F) minimum. Tumble dry (additional heat). Consult the treating > doctor for specific recommendations. ## Recommended disinfection frequency There is no need to disinfect every wash -- systematic disinfection wears textiles (high temperatures degrade fibres faster) and uses more energy. Reserve disinfection for situations that justify it: - **Kitchen towels**: 60 °C every week (regular wash) - **Bath towels**: 60 °C every 3 uses - **Sheets**: 60 °C every 2 weeks - **Underwear**: 60 °C if possible, otherwise 40 °C + percarbonate - **Illness laundry**: 60 °C every wash during the illness + 1 week after - **Bed bugs**: 60 °C wash if compatible, or hot tumble drying for 30 minutes; freezing if heat is not allowed - **Mould**: percarbonate soak + 60 °C, then investigate the cause (humidity, ventilation) For everyday laundry (t-shirts, jeans, shirts, jumpers), a 30-40 °C wash is sufficient if the person is healthy. See our guide to [washing machine programmes](/en/blog/washing-machine-programs-guide/index.md) for choosing the right cycle. **White vinegar 14° (5L)** The ultimate multi-purpose product: natural softener, anti-limescale, deodoriser and colour brightener. *Cet article contient des liens affiliés. Les prix et la disponibilité peuvent varier.* > **Special case**: for laundry contaminated by **rodent droppings or urine** (mice, rats), the pre-wash protocol is more demanding (wet-down with diluted bleach, gloves, appropriate respirator). Full details in [rodent-contaminated laundry: wash, discard, hantavirus](/en/blog/mouse-droppings-laundry-hantavirus/index.md). ## Sources and references - [Washing at 60 °C: which clothes?](/en/blog/washing-60-degrees-guide/index.md) - [Washing at 90 °C: when to use?](/en/blog/wash-90-degrees-when/index.md) - [Sodium percarbonate: usage guide](/en/blog/sodium-percarbonate-laundry/index.md) - [Bed bugs and laundromat laundry](/en/blog/bed-bugs-laundry-guide/index.md) - [Dust mite allergy and washing](/en/blog/dust-mite-allergy-laundry/index.md) - [Removing mould stains](/en/blog/remove-mold-stain/index.md) - [White vinegar and laundry: uses and limits](/en/blog/white-vinegar-laundry/index.md) - [Laundromat hygiene: what the science says](/en/blog/laundromat-hygiene-science/index.md) - [ANSES -- Bed bugs: use chemical products only as a last resort](https://www.anses.fr/fr/content/punaises-de-lit-utiliser-les-produits-chimiques-en-dernier-recours) - [ANSES -- 2023 report on bed bugs](https://www.anses.fr/fr/system/files/BIOCIDES2021SA0147Ra.pdf) - [EPA -- Preparing for Treatment Against Bed Bugs](https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/preparing-treatment-against-bed-bugs) - [CDC -- Laundry and Bedding](https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/environmental-control/laundry-bedding.html) - [GINETEX / ISO 3758 -- Textile care symbols](https://www.ginetex.net/FR/labelling/les-symboles-dentretien.asp)