Articles & guides
The Sanitation Towel blog
Plain-English, evidence-led guides to hygiene at home and on your body. Every article is written and reviewed by Lily Hart, MPH, and cited to public-health sources.
Browse by hub
Menstrual Hygiene
Evidence-led guides to pads, tampons, cups, and period underwear, reviewed by Lily Hart, MPH.
11 articles →
Home & Surface Hygiene
How to clean and disinfect surfaces, kitchens, and bathrooms with the right cloths and products.
6 articles →
Laundry & Textile Hygiene
How to actually sanitize laundry, kill germs in fabric, and keep towels and bedding fresh.
11 articles →
Latest articles
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Disinfectant Products & Comparisons
Clorox vs Lysol Wipes: Which Disinfecting Wipe Is Best?
Clorox vs Lysol wipes compared: active ingredients, EPA kill claims, the 4-minute contact time, and food-contact rinse rules for choosing the right one.
July 6, 2026
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Washing Machine Hygiene
How to Clean a Smelly Washing Machine: Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to clean a smelly washing machine: scrub the gasket, run a hot cleaner or bleach cycle, clean the filter, and stop front-load washer odor for good.
July 6, 2026
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Sanitizing Science & Fundamentals
Does the Dryer Kill Germs? What Dryer Heat Does and Misses
Does the dryer kill germs? Yes, partly. See what dryer heat and the sanitize cycle kill, what survives (C. diff, norovirus), and why the wash matters more.
July 6, 2026
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Kitchen & Food-Contact Disinfection
How to Disinfect Kitchen Countertops Safely by Material
Learn how to disinfect kitchen countertops by material: clean-then-disinfect steps, CDC and USDA bleach dilutions, dwell times, and what to avoid on stone.
July 6, 2026
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Kitchen & Food-Contact Disinfection
How to Sanitize a Cutting Board (Wood and Plastic Boards)
Learn how to sanitize a cutting board after raw meat: the USDA bleach ratio, wood vs plastic bacteria facts, and exactly when to replace a scored board.
July 6, 2026
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Period Education & Body Literacy
Toxic Shock Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Prevention
Toxic shock syndrome is rare but serious. Learn TSS symptoms, causes, tampon risk factors, prevention, and when to seek emergency care, from trusted sources.
July 6, 2026
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Washing After Illness & Pathogens
Washing Clothes After Being Sick: Hygiene Guide That Works
Washing clothes after being sick the right way stops reinfection. Get CDC and NHS-backed steps to disinfect laundry and bedding after a stomach bug or flu.
July 6, 2026
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Tampons & Menstrual Cups
Menstrual Cup vs Tampon: Capacity, Cost and Safety Guide
Menstrual cup vs tampon compared: a cup holds 2 to 3x a super tampon, lasts 12 hours, and cuts cost and waste. Capacity, leaks, TSS, and who each suits.
July 6, 2026
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Sanitizer Products & Disinfectant Comparisons
Best Laundry Sanitizers: Rinse-Cycle Additives That Actually Kill Germs
The best laundry sanitizer depends on your water temperature and fabric. Compare pine-oil, oxygen bleach, chlorine, and peroxide additives that actually kill germs.
July 5, 2026
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Disinfectant Products & Comparisons
Cleaning vs Sanitizing vs Disinfecting: The Real Difference
Cleaning vs sanitizing vs disinfecting, explained with EPA and CDC definitions, log reduction, dwell time, and exactly when to use each step at home safely.
July 5, 2026
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Towel, Sheet & Bedding Hygiene
How to Get Blood Stains Out of Clothes (Cold-Water Method)
How to get blood stains out of clothes, underwear, sheets, and mattresses. Why cold water beats hot, plus enzyme and peroxide methods for fresh and dried blood.
July 5, 2026
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Sanitizer Products & Disinfectant Comparisons
How to Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer: Directions and Dosing
How to use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer the right way: exact dosing, where to pour it, why it works in cold water, dwell time, and safety around kids and pets.
July 5, 2026
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Washing Machine Hygiene
Sanitize Cycle Washing Machine: What It Does and When to Use
What the sanitize cycle on a washing machine actually does, whether it shrinks clothes, its NSF 99.9% germ claim, energy cost, and when to use or skip it.
July 5, 2026
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Sanitizing Science & Fundamentals
What Temperature Kills Bacteria in Laundry? 140°F Guide
What temperature kills bacteria in laundry? 140°F (60°C) kills most germs; 160°F is the CDC standard. Why your washer runs cooler and when to add a sanitizer.
July 5, 2026
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Sanitizing Science & Fundamentals
Does Vinegar Disinfect Laundry? What the Evidence Shows
Does vinegar disinfect laundry? White vinegar is not an EPA-registered disinfectant. See what it can and cannot kill, and what actually sanitizes clothes.
July 4, 2026
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Tampons & Menstrual Cups
How Much Blood Does a Tampon Hold? Absorbency by Size
How much blood does a tampon hold? See the FDA absorbency chart by size, capacity in grams and ml, and how to pick the safest tampon for your flow.
February 6, 2026
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Pads & Sanitary Towels
Best Sanitary Pads for Heavy Flow: Picks That Actually Hold Up
The best pads for heavy flow, chosen by use-case: ultra-thin high-absorbency, overnight, postpartum, and reusable. Plus ACOG signs your flow needs a doctor.
January 31, 2026
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Period Underwear & Reusables
Reusable vs Disposable Pads: Cost, Skin & Eco Breakdown
Reusable vs disposable pads compared: cost over time, absorbency, waste, and skin safety, plus how to wash cloth pads and which option suits your body best.
January 27, 2026
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Cleaning Cloths & Towels
Non Toxic Cleaning Cloths and Towels: A Safe Buyer Guide
Non toxic cleaning cloths explained: which OEKO-TEX certification matters, what PFAS and silver finishes to avoid, plus cotton vs bamboo vs microfiber.
January 22, 2026
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Pads & Sanitary Towels
How to Use Sanitary Pads: Step-by-Step Beginner Guide
Learn how to use sanitary pads step by step: choosing a pad, putting one on, positioning for day and night, how often to change a pad, and clean disposal.
May 20, 2025
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Towel, Sheet & Bedding Hygiene
How to Get the Musty Smell Out of Towels for Good
Learn how to get the musty smell out of towels with a simple strip-and-reset wash, plus the biofilm science behind why towels smell sour after washing.
May 19, 2025
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Sanitizing Science & Fundamentals
How to Sanitize Laundry: Disinfect Clothes and Kill Germs
Learn how to sanitize laundry with heat, bleach, oxygen bleach, and laundry sanitizers. An evidence-led guide to disinfecting clothes and killing germs safely.
November 22, 2024
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Tampons & Menstrual Cups
How Often to Change Your Tampon: The 4-to-8-Hour Safety Rule
How often to change your tampon: the FDA 4-to-8-hour rule, why 8 hours is the hard limit, plus absorbency, overnight use, swimming, and TSS warning signs.
October 31, 2024
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Cleaning Cloths & Towels
How to Wash Microfiber Towels: Restore, Deodorize, Last
Learn how to wash microfiber towels the right way. No softener or bleach, correct heat, plus restore absorbency, deodorize musty cloths, cut microplastics.
October 17, 2024
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Period Education & Body Literacy
Can You Wear a Menstrual Pad During an MRI? What Radiologists Say
Can you wear a pad during an MRI? Usually yes, since most pads have no ferromagnetic metal. See the exceptions for silver-infused products and what to tell staff.
July 13, 2024
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Pads & Sanitary Towels
Tampons vs Pads: How to Choose (Full Comparison)
Tampons vs pads compared: comfort, leaks, swimming, sleep, cost, and TSS risk. An evidence-led guide with FDA-backed facts to help you decide with confidence.
July 5, 2024
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Pads & Sanitary Towels
Always Sanitary Towels Review: Every Size Explained and Compared
A complete guide to Always sanitary towels: the Size 1 to Size 5 system, Ultra Thin vs Infinity vs Maxi vs Radiant vs Pure Cotton, and which pad fits your flow.
July 4, 2024
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Pads & Sanitary Towels
What Are Sanitary Pads? A Plain Guide to Menstrual Pads
What are sanitary pads? A clear, evidence-led guide to menstrual pad layers, types, sizes, and how pads compare with tampons and cups, plus CDC advice.
May 28, 2024