US Patent 12,540,433 B2 (Muhammad Khizar). The Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI, has earned a patent for an assembly inside an appliance that sanitizes fabrics as an alternative method to using chemical agents.  

The device has a sensor that detects humidity and temperature within the drum as well as a light source that emits ultraviolet light to sanitize fabrics.

According to the patent, chemical agents often result in fabric discoloration, color fading, wrinkling or bad odors. The patent also notes that “many of the treatment chemicals also require extra precautions to be taken by the consumer to ensure safety, disposal of the treatment chemicals, and sufficient laundry cleaning. Further, the compatibility of the chemicals with different types of fabric has been difficult.”

Related: Looking for more on fabric care? Read our February 2026 feature, “Laundry Brands Help Consumers Navigate Inflation with Improved Formulas.”