90/95°C heat sanitise cycle for cloth nappies and textiles

| (updated )

Most front loader washing machines have a 90/95°C sanitise cycle. This is an effective method for sanitising nappies and bouncing ammonia.

Overview

Thermal sanitisation requires a temperature of 65°C for 10 min or 71°C for 3 min. A 90/95°C cycle ensures items are exposed to the required temperature long enough to be sanitised.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can I use a mix of sanitise methods?

Yes, you can! Use a 90/95°C cycle instead for cotton/bamboo inserts and chlorine bleach for items with PUL or elastics.
What sanitise method should I use?

Refer to the sanitise matrix and the application and problem glossary to confirm your items are suitable for a 90/95°C sanitise cycle.
How long does a 90/95°C sanitise cycle need to go for?

At least one hour. A one hour cycle provides enough time for the washer to heat water to 90/95°C.

Thermal sanitising requires temperatures of 65°C for 10 mins or 71°C degrees for 3 minutes. Sanitising at 95°C requires a shorter duration; however it takes time for washers to heat water to this temperature.
Does loading matter for a 90/95°C sanitise cycle?

Loading generally does not matter for heat sanitise cycles, although you may see better stain removal results with a properly loaded wash.

You may need to reduce the detergent dose for a significantly underloaded cycle. Avoid overloading your washer.

Use this gallery to assist you with identifying stains. Note: not all items shown are suitable for a 90/95°C sanitise cycle.

Mould on non-colourfast bib
Mouldy on non-colourfast bib
PUL smock with minor amount of mould
PUL smock with minor amount of mould
Nappy inserts with minor mould
Nappy inserts with minor mould
Second-hand nappies with extreme amount of mould
Second-hand nappies with extreme amount of mould
Nappy insert with minor stains
Nappy insert with minor stains
Nappy insert with moderate stains
Nappy insert with moderate stains
Nappy insert with significant stains
Nappy insert with significant stains
Second-hand nappies with moderate staining
Second-hand nappies with moderate staining
Second-hand nappies extremely stained and smelly
Second-hand nappies extremely stained and smelly

Sanitise application and problem glossary

All in One nappies (AIOs)

Nappies with a PUL outer shell and sewn in absorbency. These nappies require a lower concentration of chlorine bleach to prevent potential damage to the PUL.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Ammonia (mild)

Nappies that smell mildly of ammonia (stronger than normal urine), similar to a toilet which hasn’t been flushed all day.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Ammonia (moderate)

Nappies that smell moderately of ammonia (stronger than normal urine), similar to a toilet which hasn’t been flushed all day.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Ammonia (extreme)

Nappies that smell very unpleasant, like a public urinal or cat litter box which hasn’t been cleaned.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale

Bacterial infection: Impetigo

Nappies that have been exposed to impetigo and require sanitisation.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Bacterial infection: Listeria

Nappies that have been exposed to listeria and require sanitisation.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Bacterial infection: Salmonella

Nappies that have been exposed to salmonella and require sanitisation.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Bacterial infection: Staphylococcus

Nappies that have been exposed to staphylococcus and require sanitisation.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Non-colourfast fabrics

Fabrics such as bamboo or cotton that have been dyed or coloured. Note: Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) is colourfast.

Safe for:
  • Non-colourfast
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader

Cloth Sanitary Pads with PUL backing

Cloth Sanitary Pads often have a water-resistant PUL layer. They require a lower concentration of chlorine bleach to prevent potential damage to the PUL.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Cold wash only

You only have access to cold water, or want to wash in cold water.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Fungal infections: Candida species

Nappies which have been exposed to Candida species and require sanitisation.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Fungal infection: Tinea/ Ringworm

Nappies which have been exposed to Tinea/ Ringworm and require sanitisation.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

I want to nuke everything I have no fear

As described, only suitable for white fabrics.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale

Main wash only (no pre wash)

We often refer to this method as our ‘daycare protocol’. It is suitable for washing cloth nappies and diapers that are shared between non-siblings in a childcare setting, such as early childhood education or family daycare centres. This can also be used in households with limited water resources.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Mould minor (non-colourfast fabrics)

A few small patches of mould (including black and pink mould) on non-colourfast fabrics.

Safe for:
  • Non-colourfast
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale

Mould minor (PUL safe)

A few small patches of mould (including black and pink mould) on PUL fabrics.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Mould minor (white fabrics only)

A few small patches of mould (including black and pink mould) on white fabrics.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Mould black (significant)

A significant amount of mould (including black Stachybotrys Chartarum mould) on white fabrics.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale

Prewash stain removal option (white fabrics only, PUL ok)

A regular prewash using detergent and chlorine bleach. The chlorine bleach takes the place of laundry booster.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

PUL

Use this option to sanitise PUL covers.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Second-hand nappies (unstained/ don’t smell)

Second-hand nappies which are not stained and don’t smell.

Safe for:
  • PUL
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Second-hand nappies (moderately stained/smelly)

Second-hand nappies which are moderately stained and smelly.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Second-hand nappies (extremely stained/ smelly)

Second-hand nappies which are extremely stained and smelly.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale

Stains (minor)

Nappies with minor oxidisable stains from food, poo, grass, blueberries, red wine.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Stains (moderate)

Nappies with moderate oxidisable stains from food, poo, grass, blueberries, red wine.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale
  • Top Loader
  • Front Loader

Stains (significant)

Nappies with significant oxidisable stains from food, poo, grass, blueberries, red wine.

Safe for:
  • White fabric

Methods:
  • Small Scale

Sanitise quick reference tables

Use these quick reference tables to determine which method (or methods) is suitable to sanitise your items.

Note: some options output the same bleach concentration. In this situation there is no need to run separate wash cycles. For example, the Second-hand nappies (unstained/ don’t smell) option is suitable for PUL covers, AIOs and inserts.

Suitability by fabric
Sanitise method Colours PUL Whites
90/95°C sanitise cycle
Front loader chlorine bleach
Top loader chlorine bleach
Small scale chlorine bleach

*Fabric may fade or shrink, and prints and decals may crack or peel during a 90/95℃ sanitise cycle. If you are unsure how the item will react to heat use the Small Scale chlorine bleach method instead.

Suitability by application
Sanitise application Colours† PUL Whites
All in One nappies (AIOs)
Ammonia (mild)
Ammonia (moderate)
Ammonia (extreme)
Bacterial infection: Impetigo
Bacterial infection: Listeria
Bacterial infection: Salmonella
Bacterial infection: Staphylococcus
Non-colourfast fabrics
Cloth Sanitary Pads with PUL backing
Cold wash only
Fungal infections: Candida species
Fungal infection: Tinea/ Ringworm
I want to nuke everything I have no fear
Main wash only (no pre wash)
Mould minor (non-colourfast fabrics)
Mould minor (PUL safe)
Mould minor (white fabrics only)
Mould black (significant)
Prewash stain removal option (white fabrics only, PUL ok)
PUL
Second-hand nappies (unstained/ don’t smell)
Second-hand nappies (moderately stained/smelly)
Second-hand nappies (extremely stained/ smelly)
Stains (minor)
Stains (moderate)
Stains (significant)

†Use the Coloured/non colourfast option for fabrics that are coloured or dyed (for example cotton or bamboo). Other options use a higher concentration of chlorine bleach and may result in those fabrics fading.

References
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chemical Disinfectants: Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008.
  2. K Reynolds, S Boone, K Bright, C Gerba, Occurrence of Household Mold and Efficacy of Sodium Hypochlorite Disinfectant, 2012.
  3. S. Wilson, C Wu, L Andriychuk, J Martin, T Brasel, C Jumper, D Straus, Effect of Chlorine Dioxide Gas on Fungi and Mycotoxins Associated with Sick Building Syndrome, 2005.
  4. M Korukluoglu, Y Sahan, A Yigit, The fungicidal efficacy of various commercial disinfectants used in the food industry, 2006.
  5. Z Mohamad, Stachybotrys chartarum: its identification and response to antimicrobial treatment and prevention, 2018.
  6. Jennifer L. Cadnum, Aaron A. Shaikh, Christina T. Piedrahita, Thriveen Sankar, Annette L. Jencson, Emily L. Larkin, Mahmoud A. Ghannoum, Curtis J. Donskey, Effectiveness of Disinfectants Against Candida auris and Other Candida Species (June 8, 2022) <https://www.chicagohan.org/documents/14171/427345/Effectiveness+of+Disinfectants+against+C.+auris+ICHE+2017.pdf/18a53d4c-44e0-5087-1f2c-1c5da6400ae2?t=1611162107524#:~:text=There%20were%20no%20significant%20differences%20in%20efficacy%20against%20C.,0.5%20%C2%B1%200.4)%2C%20C.>.