[strken]

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?

[numlock86]

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.

[gshdg]

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.