Method of sanitization in a laundry treating appliance

Abstract

A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum for at least partially defining a treating chamber and for holding laundry, for substantially removing bacteria from laundry received in the interior of the drum without energizing a heating element of the laundry treating appliance, according to a predetermined sanitization cycle of operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of substantially removing bacteria from laundry in a laundry treating chamber of a washing machine without using a heating element, comprising:
 adding a first hot water charge to a first predetermined level in the laundry treating chamber at a first predetermined temperature;   dispensing a mixture of stain removing agent and detergent to the water in the laundry treating chamber;   tumbling the laundry in the hot water for a first predetermined time;   adding a second hot water charge to a second predetermined level in the laundry treating chamber;   tumbling the laundry in the hot water for a second predetermined time;   adding a first cold water charge to a third predetermined level in the laundry treating chamber, tumbling the laundry for a third predetermined time; and   adding a second cold water charge to a fourth predetermined level in the laundry treating chamber, tumbling the laundry for a fourth predetermined time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first predetermined level ranges from 18 to 22 liters. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first predetermined level is about 60 mm Water Column for laundry size of 4.53 Kg. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first predetermined temperature ranges between 42° C. and 45° C. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first predetermined time ranges from 25 to 35 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second predetermined level is about 6 liters more than the first predetermined level. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second predetermined level is about 110 mm Water Column. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second predetermined time ranges from 25 to 35 minutes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adding a third cold water charge to a fifth predetermined level, and tumbling the laundry for a fifth predetermined time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein each cold water charge ranges from 17 to 23 liters. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the third predetermined time is about 8 to 10 minutes. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixture includes about 1.3 parts stain removing agent by weight and about 1.0 part detergent by volume. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the weight of stain removing agent is about 1.3-1.5% of the weight of the laundry.