http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/CommentingController/rss/SiteTree/12003 CommentingController/rss/SiteTree/12003 http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/dr-laundry/sanitizing-washing-machines/#comment-788 [...] I googled the words: sanitize washing machine And found this... Sanitizing Your Washing Machine So perhaps it is not to sanitize clothes, rather to sanitize the machines between uses? What do the instructions for the machines say about these settings? Perhaps it is a short cycle just used to clean the machine and you would need to use bleach or some other chemical along with using that cycle? As to *why* you might want to sanitize a machine, perhaps you need to wash/dry something you can't use bleach with or the heat from the machine might not kill all the nasties - maybe need to use low heat. Anyway I found the following... Sanitizing Washing Machines | Dr. Laundry [...] Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:08 -0700 Difference Between Sanitize on the Washer and Dryer - remodeling, decorating, construction, energy use, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, building, rooms - City-Data Forum http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/dr-laundry/sanitizing-washing-machines/#comment-788