Your regular, run-of-the-mill wash cycle will do just fine at clearing away that ketchup stain or grass smear. But what if you want to ensure the stomach bug from your son’s sheets or the bacteria on a grimy kitchen towel don’t stick around—or contaminate the next load?
That’s where washing machines with sanitization cycles come in handy. They heat the water (or steam) temperature, and the garments in them, to at least 165 degrees to do away with any nasty microorganisms left in your clothing. An added bonus: Sanitization also kills odor-causing bacteria—so that stinky old dog bed may get a second life.
Be sure to look for a seal from NSF International, a consumer health and safety organization. Their seal of approval means that washing machine eliminates 99.9 percent of organisms in a test “sanitization” wash cycle.
LG Front Load SteamWasher with Allergiene Cycle Models WM3001HWA ($1,699, white) WM3001HRA ($1,799, red) and WM3001HPA ($1,799, platinum) This 4.5-cubic-foot washer has a special “Allergeine” cycle, which can remove up to 95 percent of pet dander, dust mites and other common allergens.
Samsung Front Load Washer Models WF448AAW ($1,399, white) and WF448AAP ($1,499, platinum) This 4.5-cubic-foot steam washer releases silver ions to neutralize odor-causing bacteria—even in cold wash cycles. It also receives high marks for its Vibration Reduction Technology.
