Does Lysol Hurt Clothing? [Explained!]

You may use Lysol on your clothes when you come home from outside. But, is it safe for garments?  

Does Lysol hurt clothing?

Lysol is a powerful disinfectant. Generally, it removes germs from literally any hard surface. You can use it on your clothes too if you want. However, it may discolor fabrics a bit in many cases. So, you can use Lysol laundry sanitizer instead of using disinfectant spray. 

You may be searching online to find solutions to this problem. Is it true? Then, read the article to know more. 

Different Lysol products arranged on a table

Cons of Using Lysol on Clothes

Discolour Fabrics

Most Lysol in the market contains Ethanol, Alkyl, Dimethyl Benzyl, and Ammonium Chloride. Some of these elements can effectively remove germs. However, they can be toxic enough to fade fabrics, especially delicate ones. 

Therefore, you shouldn’t apply Lysol on clothes directly. Instead, prepare homemade laundry sanitizers.

However, if you want to use Lysol, just apply it to a small area of your clothes to see the reaction. If you observe nothing unusual, then go on and cover the whole fabric. Otherwise, resist yourself. 

Weird Smell

Everybody loves the fresh smell of garments. That’s why you may use ironing water, essential oil, and vinegar to freshen up dresses. However, if you use Lysol on clothes, you may smell weird. So, be careful. Otherwise, your partner may reject you.

So, which element is responsible for this bad smell? Your Lysol may contain a small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol that works as a powerful sanitizing agent. It may smell odd. 

Bleach clothes

You may use Lysol for disinfecting your clothes. It may serve the purpose as most of its elements remove around 95% of all germs.

But, do you know that Lysol may bleach your clothes? So, be careful and stay away from using this. Instead, use Lysol laundry sanitizer. It has many pros.

  • It removes most of the bacteria and viruses.
  • Works better in all conditions.
  • Contains no bleach
  • Never put stains on garments
  • Suitable for all fabrics.
  • Removes weird odors effectively.

Never remove wrinkles

Using Lysol on clothes is nothing but a waste of money. From the above discussion, it may be understood that Lysol disinfects clothes. However, it never works better on stubborn wrinkles.

So, what is the logic behind using it? Instead, use vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to remove wrinkles from clothes. They remove wrinkles and keep your garments fresh. Moreover, Lysol could be dangerous for pets and your health.

Is Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Better Than Bleach?

Lysol laundry sanitizer is always better than bleach. Chlorine-based bleach may ruin garments in the long run. But, Lysol sanitizer doesn’t contain any chlorine bleach.

In many cases, bleach may put yellow marks on clothes. Moreover, it may have harmful effects on both health and the environment. 

However, Lysol laundry is never detrimental to your dresses and health. So, you can use it to remove stains, dirt, and germs without hurting the fibers.

Moreover, it is perfect for a wide range of clothes, like baby clothes, swimsuits, undergarments, and cotton bedding.

How to Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer?

Using Lysol for washing clothes is so easy that anyone can do it. 

  • First, add one or two cups of Lysol to the dispenser of your washer. If your washer doesn’t have a dispenser, add it to the drum located around the center.
  • Use a mild case to wash clothes. You can use cold water as Lysol works perfectly in every situation.
  • As the cycle ends, remove clothes from the washer.

If you don’t want to use washer, no problem at all. Check the following guidelines-

  • First, soak clothes with cold water in a tub.
  • Add two cups of Lysol to one gallon of water.
  • Leave garments for around 15 minutes.

Is Lysol Harmful For Health?

Lysol can keep your family safe from any germ, bacteria, and virus. But is it truly harmless? The surprising fact is that the improper use of Lysol can cause various health-related problems. Take a look at the following list-

  • Frequent exposure can irritate the skin. People with sensitive skin may face severe skin problems.
  • Cause kidney and liver-related diseases.
  • Inhalation of Lysol can cause respiratory problems.
  • Excessive inhalation can cause nausea, headaches, and vomiting.
  • Improper use can result in serious cardiac effects.

Is Lysol Harmful to Pets?

If you’re a pet lover, stay away from Lysol by any means. In most cases, germ-killer Lysol can contain phenol and ethanol. The mixture of these two chemicals can permanently damage the liver of your favorite dog. 

Moreover, licking Lysol can cause serious chemical burns on the tongue especially. Therefore, use pet-friendly disinfectant instead of using Lysol. You can choose-

  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Borax
  • Isopropyl alcohol

Precautions for Using Lysol

By the way, you need to be very careful in using Lysol. Remember, it’s a robust germ killer. 

Therefore, maintain the following instructions while using Lysol.

  • Read and understand the label instructions mentioned on the item.
  • Wear hand gloves while working with Lysol. Direct contact with this chemical can irritate the skin.
  • After using, wash your hands carefully.
  • If Lysol gets into your eyes, rinse your eyes continuously with fresh water for 10 to 15 minutes. In extreme cases, call 911.
  • If you accidentally drink Lysol, it could be life-threatening. In such conditions, get yourself admitted to the nearest hospital.
  • Keep your children away from Lysol. 
  • Lysol is a highly flammable material. So, never use it around the fire.
  • Lastly, don’t overuse it.  

Alternatives to Lysol for Clothes

Luckily, there are many eco-friendly alternatives to Lysol for disinfectant cloth. So, use these non-harmful alternatives and stay away from germs. The alternatives-

  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Lemon juice

Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar is a sturdy germ killer that keeps your garments away from germs. Interestingly, it is an awesome wrinkle remover too. 

First, prepare one part vinegar with three parts water to prepare a mixture. Now, take this solution to a spray bottle and apply it to your dresses. 

Baking soda

Baking soda is another alternative to Lysol. Moreover, baking soda never stains or harms clothes. 

You can mix baking soda with castile soap to prepare a powerful laundry detergent. Before washing, add one or two cups of it based on the load size.

Most importantly, baking soda is cost-effective and never harmful to the human body like Lysol.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice works just like vinegar on dirty clothes. It is 100% safe to use. Moreover, your clothes may smell so nice. So, use it and enchant your friends more. 

During the wash phase, add one cup of juice to the dispenser and observe the quickest result.

Hydrogen peroxide

Like vinegar, it is another popular laundry item in the US. It is –

  • Oxygen based bleach
  • Biodegradable
  • Whiten and brighten fabrics 
  • Remove germs properly

However, never apply it directly on clothes to prevent discoloring.

Final Thought

Lysol is a powerful cleaning agent without any questions. It can clean any hard surfaces within minutes.

However, it isn’t the perfect choice for laundry items. Moreover, it can put the lives of humans and pets in danger. But, there are many suitable and cheap alternatives to Lysol. So, use those to improve the lifespan of garments.

That’s all for today. 

Stay germ-free.

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