Antimicrobial Fabric

After masking up for more than a year, we’re more mindful than ever of how easily germs spread. One popular weapon: antimicrobial fabrics, which are turning up in outerwear, gym socks, and towels. It’s not the fabric itself that wards off microbes; the protection comes from chemicals sprayed on cotton, polyester, and the like, targeting odors and stains. “If something says it’s antimicrobial or antibacterial, that doesn’t mean it’s killing all microbes and/or bacteria,” says Jeff Strahan of Milliken & Company, a textile manufacturer. “It works only on the isolated strains it was designed for.” So read the fine print when you shop—and wash your hands when you come home.