NSF International offers two types of certification programs for clothes washers - Protocol P172 and P351. Clothes washers certified to P172 are able to effectively sanitize laundry and prevent the carryover of microorganisms between loads of laundry when operated on the sanitizing cycle. For families that are also concerned about allergens, Protocol P351 was developed. Units certified to this protocol are verified to achieve at least a 95 percent reduction of household dust mite allergens and pet dander. Optional testing is also available under P351 for reduction of cockroach allergens and birch pollen, a common cause of hay fever.
Read the NSF Fact Sheet on Clothes Washers and Dryers to learn more about NSF certification of residential laundry equipment.
View a list of NSF certified clothes washers.
