Medical Needs

What to Look For

If you or someone in your household has an immune disorder, or if you are frequently washing clothes that could be contaminated with bodily fluids, consider a washer and dryer with sanitizing functions.

Many washers and dryers feature a sanitizing function, including the Electrolux EIFLS551 and LG WMH3360H

In order to qualify as a sanitizing washing machine, the appliance must be able to remove 99.9 percent of microorganisms without contaminating future loads. That said, if you've done a particularly dirty wash, it might be a good idea to clean the inside of the unit. Conveniently, many washers, such as the Whirlpool WFW94HEX, offer a self-cleaning function.

To qualify as a sanitizing dryer, the same goes—the appliance in question must also be able to remove 99.9 percent of microorganisms from the drying load.