Back on sale. I tried the Dettol one and the smell is terrible. These are much better.
CamelCamelCamel.
Benzalkonium chloride is highly toxic to aquatic organisms, especially fish and invertebrates. Even small amounts entering our waterways via greywater can harm aquatic ecosystems.
It is not readily biodegradable and can persist in the environment.
It's also notorious for causing severe skin issues.
Benzalkonium chloride is such a concern that there have been multiple case studies written up by dematologists, specifically about a skin condition called "granular parakeratosis". I would link directly to the academic studies but many have NSFW photos of the skin issues. So here is a link to a news website (without these photos) reporting on one such study conducted in Victoria:
https://www.dermatologyrepublic.com.au/skin-warning-on-laund….
The Australian College of Dermatologists also released a media statement:
https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Laund…
It's all depends on the concentration!
This particular chemical is commonly used in pools as algaecide in Australia.
So we all have been exposed plenty in the past, unless ……
It's a surface surfactant, of course too much of it is bad for your skin.
@Chances: I had a Dermatologist tell me to avoid it in any laundry products after my 7 year old son ended up in hospital with a severe skin reaction and months of horrific eczema. Magically, once I eliminated it from our laundry, ALL his skin issues resolved.
Eek, thanks for sharing. We'll stick to vinegar!
Wow that's terrible. I have used this a lot with laundry but will stop now for sure.
Same ingredients, different scent.
You do not need this stuff
I normally use the Sard brand. Eucalyptus scent
Genuine question - what is the purpose of a laundry sanitiser? How does it differ to laundry powder? Or is it used in conjunction?
Seems to have some spicy chemicals so interested to know why it’s required
Soap in a cold wash doesn't kill fungus, bacteria, and common germs. This stuff does.
Heavily soiled clothes, socks and undergarments get a better wash with this stuff.
Helps kill those odours that come from bacteria.
Also good for disinfecting smelly shoes. Kills the fungus/bacteria that causes those odours too.
I don't use it every wash…. just the really dirty stuff. When you have kids, you NEED it :).
Hence why I don't wash in cold. I was in 60 degrees. Front loaders use little water and the machine heating the water doesn't cost much electricity. Cheaper than buying more chemicals.
Line drying the clothes means the UV of the sun kills bacteria also.
Really this product is unnecessary.
Fungus and Bacteria don't get neutralised in 60 degree heat. That's why they use steam to disinfect…. water needs to be superheated.
But you can't use that type of heat when washing clothes.
And line drying and UV is nice for homes with it.
If you live in a townhouse or apartment you very likely don't have that luxury of of the Sun disinfecting your clothes.
There are millions of people living in medium and high density housing, and most of them don't get sun to hang their clothes (a lot just use a driver every wash as there are no other options in their building).
I think you're not considering other people's lifestyles, and this product IS necessary for a lot of other people not in your situation.
If you have an upset stomach and wash your underwear with the rest of the household, you're spreading your sickness to others.
This product can prevent that.
@UFO: Exactly. I do brazilian jiu jitsu and wear a cotton gi (kimono) which has to be cold washed and cannot go in the dryer otherwise it shrinks. A disinfectant like Di-San is the only way to help guard against staph, ringworm and tough odours.
A capful or 2 in the softener dispenser and used in conjunction with the regular liquid or powder. Most of the time you wouldn’t need it unless you didn’t make it to the toilet in time or have a job where your clothes get soiled with something pungent.
Laundry rinses are not needed and chemicals they contain can cause severe skin issues:
See this media statement by the Australian College of Dermatologists:
https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Laund…
And this news story reporting on the issue
https://www.dermatologyrepublic.com.au/skin-warning-on-laund….
We have 1 washing machine, and also use it to wash dog towels and mats.
We use laundry sanitiser for the main load and the few loads after, but not every single load.
thanks, they let you buy 30, ordered 2.
How is this compared to Pine O Cleen Antibacterial Laundry Sanitiser, which is better for clothes?
Probably down to personal preference, if you like or dislike how they smell.
In terms of effectiveness, should be very close if not the same.
Some people complaint about skin irritations, that's subjective from person to person.
Works well for sweaty gym gear and towels too. At this price, worth stocking up. Thanks OP!
Is this more concentrated than the common Pine O Clean and generic Coles /woolies antibacterial Disinfectant Hospital grade you can buy from Coles and Woolies ? Hard to compare the concentration because the Disinfectants ingredients says 1.5 w/w by volume while the Laundry sanitizers says 70g/Litre. Maybe just to confuse us but the ingredients is the same (Benzalkonium Chloride)
Why do I need this? my washing machine has a little area to put in bleach which I assume does the same germ killing.
bleach also does other things to clothes that you may not like :).
I don't know what it does with it, there's just a space at the front that says fill with bleach to level
bleach is for white loads mate.
it's a sanitiser typically used for white towels, white underwear, and nappies.
@UFO: There's no setting in the machine to say it's a white load so I have no idea when it chooses to dispense it
@furyou: It's a single dose. YOU put it in and it releases it towards the end of the wash. If you don't put the bleach in, there's nothing for it to release, but it still operates every single time. You control the dose by either loading it or not. One load at a time. Like fabric softener.
![[Prime] Canesten Disinfectant and Laundry Sanitiser Lemon 2L $9.99 ($8.99 Subscribe & Save) Delivered @ Amazon AU](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/05/915305.jpg?h=ad8dab0b)
Dettol smells fine to me, but I agree that this smells better. Thanks op.