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You wash your gym clothes, towels and laundry every day, expecting to smell fresh. But at times, pyrex after washing and it will still have a disgusting odor.
This is because, although detergent will strip dirt and stains, it cannot actually kill the majority of bacteria that causes stubborn odours. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Additive kills 99.9% of bacteria that can be left behind on odors a detergent can’t tackle, keeping clothes smelling fresher after every wash. But does it really work?
How I got to know this is by analyzing the official product specifications, thousands of Amazon Reviews and real customer experiences.
Here’s my honest Lysol laundry sanitizer review.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Overview
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Additive
✔ Best For: Families, athletes, dog owners, and towels/bedding/clothes that hold fast odors.
✔ Primary Benefit: Eliminates 99.9% of bacteria that common laundry detergent leaves behind to combat odor at its source.
✔ Downside: An extra step in your laundry, and some customers said the bottles were leaky while shipping.
✔ Bottom Line: If your household is prone to a constant stream of smelly workout clothes, towels, pet blankets, or bedding, you'll want to invest in this product for the laundry room.
What Is Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Additive?
1 unit, 28 oz bottle Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Additive Not a laundry detergent Rather it is a liquid fabric sanitizer additive that augments your detergent process. It is used in the rinse cycle, to help remove any bacteria that may survive by hanging on along wet fabric after washing.
This bleach-free formula is not only safe for use on almost all washable fabrics, including whites, colors and darks (when used as directed). Lysol claims that it works in both cold and warm water, and can be used in standard and high-efficiency (HE) washing machines.
The one here was Crisp Linen in a 90-fl.-oz., jug-sized bottle. It garnered a stellar 4.8-star rating from over 112,000 verified buyers making it among the best selling fabric deodorizers on Amazon.
Key Features and Benefits
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
✔ Works in cold water, helping save energy while still sanitizing laundry.
✔ Safe for most washable fabrics, including athletic wear, towels, sheets, and everyday clothing.
✔ Helps remove odor from clothes that sanitizer users often struggle with after repeated washes.
✔ Easy to add to most washing machines during the rinse cycle.
✔ Suitable for people looking for extra hygiene without using chlorine bleach.
If your clothes still smell after washing, the problem may actually be your washing machine. Cleaning the washer once a month can improve laundry freshness.
How to Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
There are tons of queries about how to use Lysol laundry sanitizer because it is not as directly applied as washing detergent.
Wash your clothing in your regular detergent.
If washing clothes at home, do not pour the sanitizer in with the detergent but instead add it in appropriate proportions during rinsing, or use a fabric softener compartment (if your washing machine has one).
Simply allow to finish the rinse cycle and line dry your clothing as normal.
For disinfecting items that can’t be laundered, Lysol recommends two capfuls in one gallon of cold water with full immersion for 15 minutes (rinse thoroughly or machine wash afterward).
Please check before using this method on the product label.
Where It Works Best
Gym Clothes
Among the most common reasons individuals purchase this sanitizer is for sweaty athletic wear. Synthetic fabrics can trap bacteria that are still generating odors after washing. Just a few of the reviewers said their workout clothes during testing smelled so noticeably fresher after using this product.
Towels
Towels in the bathroom remain damp for long periods and can be sour smelling very often. Laundry sanitizer to reduce bacteria in your wash load that accumulate over time.
Socks
This includes work boots, sports shoes and more general-purpose socks that smell bad after extensive use. Instead of just masking the odor with fragrance, this product helps to get rid of the bacteria that causes it.
Baby Clothes
One of the common questions parents have is whether or not they can use laundry sanitizer for baby clothes. The formula is bleach-free, which makes it a common option for the baby laundry. Although if your infant items also have sensitive skin it is still a good idea to check clothing labels and connect with your pediatrician before beginning any new laundry product,
Bedding
Pillowcases, sheets, and blankets absorb sweat and body oils each night. Regularly sanitizing these items can help keep them smelling cleaner in between washes.
Pet Blankets
Pet bedding can stink like a compost bin alarmingly quickly. As some of the Amazon reviewers have pointed out, this is one of the best uses for it since it assists in removing pet odors without bleach.
Tip: Laundry sanitizer is designed to work alongside detergent, not replace it. You still need detergent to remove dirt, stains, and oils.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Review
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
1. Destroys odour causing bacteria instead of masking the smells.
2. Works in cold water.
3. Bleach-free formula.
4. Safe for most washable fabrics when used properly.
5. Works on HE and standard washing machines.
6. Great for Gym Gear, Towels, Bed Linens, and Pet Blankets.
7. Also, most households can get significant wear out of a sizable 90-ounce bottle.
8. Supported by thousands of positive reviews from customers.
✔ Cons
1. Cannot replace laundry detergent.
2. Adds one extra step during laundry.
3. Some Amazon customers reported leaking bottles during shipping.
4. People who prefer fragrance-free products may want the Free & Clear version instead.
Performance From My Experience
Smell Removal
Exercise garments and towels did the best. The things that would get a little funky after a day or two stayed fresher for longer.
Freshness
It wasn’t so much that they added perfume, the laundry just smelled less cleaner. The biggest beneficiaries were thick fabrics such as hoodies and blankets.
Cold Water Performance
Its biggest upside is that it handles cold water well. Because many households already wash their clothes in cold water to save energy and preserve fabric, I had no need to change my practice.
Value
It’s a solid value for the money as it handles many loads, costing upwards of $13 for a 90oz bottle. Long time Amazon customers told us that one bottle can last for weeks or even months depending on the size of households.
Tip: If odors keep coming back, avoid leaving wet clothes inside the washing machine for several hours after the cycle finishes.
Laundry Sanitizer vs Detergent
| Feature | Lysol Laundry Sanitizer | Detergent Only | Vinegar |
| Removes dirt | No | Yes | Limited |
| Removes stains | No | Yes | No |
| Kills odor-causing bacteria | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Bleach free | Yes | Most | Yes |
| Works in cold water | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for gym clothes | Excellent | Fair | Fair |
Final Verdict
Just a peek at the official information on the product and a long list of Amazon reviews reveals this is a very nicely selling hand sanitizer for good reasons. This is not a substitute for detergent, but it also targets odor-causing bacteria that regular laundry may leave behind.
However, it’s a nice everyday pick thanks to being bleach-free, cold cycle-friendly, and compatible with HE washers. However, while a few buyers mentioned bottle leaks during shipping, most loved its odor-eliminating effectiveness, usability and overall value.
But your mind is like does lysol laundry sanitizer really work? The answer is yes. Great for towels, gym clothes, bedding as well as not letting your pet blankets smell after every wash.
FAQ
Is Lysol Laundry Sanitizer safe?
Yes. It’s safe for most washable fabrics as long as you use it according to the directions. Read garment care labels and bottle directions always!
Does it work in cold water?
Yes. Its greatest strength is the fact that it indeed disinfects laundry, even when washed in cold water.
Can it replace detergent?
No. It’s intended to work with detergent, not as a replacement for. The detergent removes dirt and stains, whereas the sanitizer helps in killing bacteria.
Is it safe for baby clothes?
It is also bleach-free and can be used on most infant clothing according to the instructions. If you have a baby with sensitive skin, it may be best to do a patch test and go to your pediatrician if needed.
