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Comment by fluxsauce | Hacker News Reader

> recommends sticking jeans in the freezer in order to kill germs instead

That's a myth, freezing jeans in a consumer fridge does not kill bacteria. For example, listeria can grow in both a refrigerator or a freezer.

Fortunately, the sun can kill bacteria, so take it outside and hang it to air.

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The UV from the sun is what kills them, it's also great for breaking down dye and fabrics. It is doubtful the UV will reach all the cracks and crevices.

Slightly tangential, but can anyone on HN tell me what particle at what energy is most effective for killing bacteria while leaving pants unharmed? Presumably bombarding your jeans with gamma rays would work, but can those of us without easy access to radioactive substances use a microwave instead?

Yes, a microwave is very efficient at killing germs, if not one of the best and most reliable solutions available to consumers. Just watch out carefully for things on your jeans (or clothes in general) that you shouldn't put into a microwave please, like buttons made of iron for example.

Microwaves have been shown to be an excellent way to sanitize sponges. Don’t see why they wouldn’t work for most clothing. You might have to get the clothing wet first since microwaves are most effective at heating water.

You just want to kill the bacteria that cause smell, not necessarily sterilize your clothes.

Won’t work for more than the surface though I suppose if it gets hot enough...

Still turn inside out for at least a bit if using this strategy.

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