They're certainly convenient with no messy pouring or measuring required – but other benefits are limited. Does the washing machine kill germs on your clothes? We can’t see the germs on our clothing, so it’s vital to know how to kill germs in laundry routines effectively. From clever products that boost sanitation to the basic principles of sanitising clothes in the wash, get the know-how you need here. HOW DO GERMS GET ON CLOTHES? While you may be tempted by its low cost per wash of just 6c, the Aldi Laundrite Laundry Liquid was the worst performer out of all the liquids and powders we tested, scoring just 50% – no better than plain water. Coming in at fifth place is Aldi Laundrite Laundry Powder, which, although just missing out on being recommended by our experts, offers some serious value for money at only 11 cents a wash. The performance of the Aldi powder in our tests goes to show that you can get a great wash for a fraction of the cost of the leading brands," says Matthew.

For more ways to keep your household running smoothly, sign up for our Home newsletter – it's free monthly.As part of an overall general hygiene routine, it is also recommended to do a monthly maintenance wash to clean the washing machine: A hot wash at 60Cº, or preferably 90Cº with no clothes and a standard dose of powder detergent containing active-oxygen bleach. See the user manual of your washing machine for more guidance or read our washing machine care tips. It's a huge win for Omo in our latest test of laundry detergents, with four of its products topping the results this year, and a further two Omo products making it into our top 10. No one else tests as thoroughly as we do. Our independent lab tests mimic the everyday dirt and stains you get on your clothes and linen, so you can be confident that Best Buy laundry detergents really will get your grubbiest washing clean. With that in mind, choosing a high performing detergent is even more important for people with top loaders," says Matthew.

Does a cold wash kill germs in the laundry, and what does a laundry disinfectant do? Find your answers here.Although we do recommend eight capsule products, on the whole they don't perform as well as liquids or powders.

Does a dryer kill germs? Not drying your clothes properly can allow bacteria to grow and cause garments to smell. When your wash cycle is finished, remove your garments from the machine as soon as possible and dry thoroughly. You can do this using a tumble dryer or by hanging them out to dry. Get them out and dried as soon as you can.Carex claims its antibacterial liquid hand wash is formulated to 'effectively' kill 99.9% of bacteria. This is based on the European Standard Test, where it was shown to reduce E.Coli on the hands of panellists by an average greater than 99.9%. We put 33 bio and non-bio washing powders, liquids and capsules through our tough cleaning tests so we can reveal the best – as well as the worst. Our latest tests included brands such as Ariel, Ecover and Persil, plus own-brand detergents from Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons supermarkets. So, how does heat kill germs on clothes, and does a dryer kill germs as well as a washing cycle does? We’ve answered some common questions below about how you should dry your clothes to reduce the risk of germs spreading: Washing your hands regularly is likely to be significantly more important than clothes washing at preventing most infections. However, germs can get on clothes and so it is important to keep them hygienically clean to prevent germs from spreading. Underwear, for example, may contain germs from traces of faeces (poo).