Ok, since this post is resurrected and I am a nurse and also a clean freak, I'll weigh in here. Yes, the CDC recommends just soap and water. Actually, soap and water OR hand sanitizer is what we use in the hospital to kill germs on our hands. FYI, The only thing that doesn't get killed with sanitizer on your hands, according to our continuing education on infection control is C-Diff. Guess what you use for that one? Good ole soap and water. Yup, soap and water is even better than sanitizer in some cases! As for surfaces in the hospital, its bleach or cavi-wipes (not sure what's in those, some chemical you can't buy at home, I think. Bleach is the only thing to use on C-diff, once again, but bleach will kill everything else you run into in a hospital. That being said, if you or a family member is immuno- compromised then take extra measures at home or if you are like me and work in a hospital, it doesn't hurt to be extra cautious. When I wash clothes, I am both protecting myself from patients and also protecting them from anything floating around my house, so it warrants the most stringent measures I know of. I take extra measures I wash my uniforms separately in HOT water, even though they are dark blue. Yes they do fade and wear out faster, but that's the trade off I will take. Think of that next time your nurse has a faded uniform. Also, my new washer has a sanitize feature that steams the clothes. I plan on using that with my uniforms and anything my pets (or family) may have an accident on. I just would not feel comfortable relying on vinegar, or peroxide or even store bought sanitizer, in those cases, especially when the hospital is using bleach. As for the original OP's question, my son is grown but I never put him into any dress clothes I couldn't wash in hot water until he was old enough to be fully potty trained and then some. After that, well, he didn't get sick much and I'm known, even now, for throwing any clothing out that I can't soak the poop, blood or vomit out of and then follow with a wash in super hot water in the washer. The rare fragile fabric that you mentioned that gets stained, yea, if I can't sanitize it in hot water after an accident, I throw out. I think I got over putting my son in expensive baby clothes really quick. One word...onesies, lots of them. Cheap, comfy, cute and disposable, if need be. :)) Also, peroxide does do a fantastic job of getting blood out of clothes, but I never use it as a sanitizer in clothes. It would have to be something like a gallon of peroxide in the wash to be any kind of germ killer. I do pour it directly on blood spots alternating it with some sort of spot lifter like Oxy Max and luke warm water (body temp) . I've been doing this for years, even on lacy fragile fabrics ( if ya know what I mean, ladies) and that combo is what usually works, Try to treat blood as soon as you can. The longer it sits, the more it sets in. Oxy Max will eventually eat up your fabrics too, by the way.

I still say ignore Consumer Reports and you'll be far better off. They're way too biased. If you try to use a FL on a non-basement floor, make sure you get it in writing that you have a full-credit return option if there's any problem. And now there's options for heaters on TL models too. Harmony has one, Oasis has one and if rumors are true, Bravos will soon have one which would mean the Cabrio wouldn't be far behind. Speed Queen and Fisher & Paykal TLs would also be good options. With both you can have deep rinses. SQ gives a decent spin speed and the F&P is a high spin speed. I was skeptical so I decided to do a quick search on the comment that everyone says you must have a FL with a heater. I looked at the first five links and not one made that requirement! One of the first sites on the list, along with a lot more, had this to say: Washing Machines A simple, inexpensive top loader cleans best. Some families actually buy a second washing machine, and love having 2 machines for their growing families long after the diapering years are over. That's not an option for everyone, but if you do find yourself in a position to purchase a new washer, do NOT buy a low water machine, unless you have a very real need to conserve water. A standard, simple top-loader cleans best. Super-heated cycles on expensive washers are not recommended for diapers since they will destroy the cotton, and the super-heating is not necessary. From our experience, very expensive front loading washers and automatic water level top loading machines make diaper washing more difficult than a simple, inexpensive top loader. More expensive does not mean "better at cleaning" when it comes to the price of washers. Except however, if you can get a warm rinse that is nice to have, because warm water helps rinse detergent residue easier than cold water. So, if you were about to buy a $1,300.00 washer, buy a nice $300 or $400.00 top loader instead and you just came up with $900.00 to spend on a very fancy cloth diaper wardrobe! It went on to say that FL will work fine too. Interesting comments. Many here admit that cotton diapers are best, and many here also concur that high heat damages cotton. Therefore it lends credibility that the heater might NOT be nirvana when it comes to washing diapers. The warm rinse comment was interesting too since Consumer Reports maintains that there is no difference in rinsing at cold or warm temps. But, considering CR.... I maintain there is no one best machine for everyone. Any of these mentioned will do a fine job IMO. Learning to use it properly is normally the key.

In laundry 1) How much do you add to a full load? This will vary on the machine size and capacity. Check the bleach bottle for guidelines. 2) Do you add it and the detergent while the washer is filling, then make sure it agitates and mixes, and then add the clothes? Absolutely not! Most machines have a bleach dispenser. Some will dilute the bleach before adding it. But if you put the bleach in immediately, you might as well not add detergent because bleach will effectively "kill" the detergent. Normally you add the bleach about 5-10 min after it starts, depending on the cycle. Let the detergent do *its* job, *then* add the bleach to do its job. Again this is probably on the bottle. If you're using bleach to sanitize a load you could use it in the rinse cycle(s). 3) Do you add it directly to the water or use a dispenser? As above, most machines have a dispenser, but I usually just add it to the water. And I occasionally run a hot cycle with just bleach to sanitize the machine and kill mold. Cleaning surfaces: 4) Do you wash hardwood floors with it, diluted with hot water? I don't but you can. With hot water, have a fan moving air or have a window open. I personally don't mind the smell of bleach but some are sensitive to it. 5) Do you rinse, or just let the floors (and other surfaces) dry? Using the proper amount there's no need to rinse. Any other tips? As mentioned, vinegar is a good option for floors. Some people use peroxide in laundry but bleach is cheaper. I don't like "oxi" products. I don't find them very effective but some love them. Occasionally empty the littler box and bleach it. Bleach is also a great weed killer. Had some snakes nesting under my front steps. Some bleach and ammonia took care of them! LOL

Webuser, I'm not a fan of regular use of chlorine bleach in the laundry, it can be a real pain to rinse out, and that is where the real problems with chlorine is ..not so much in the washer but out of the washer where it lays in the fabric turning things yellow and munching away, I do however believe as long as you follow a few required steps you will have great results, there's a few members here that use chlorine bleach the correct way and it works for them. I may not use it often but it does have its place in the laundry room.