Magnesium hydroperoxyacetate (MHPA) and magnesium dihydroperoxide (MDHP)--reaction products of Mg(OAc)₂.4H₂O and H₂O₂--were affixed to cellulosic fabrics (cotton, mercerized cotton, viscose rayon) and cotton blends (three cotton/polyester and one cotton/wool) by conventional pad-cure methods. The bound antibacterial agents were evaluated for their affinity and durability to laundering for each fabric. Elemental analyses for magnesium and bound active peroxide and scanning electron microscopy were used for characterization. Cotton retained the most bound agent after laundering, followed by cotton blends, then mercerized cotton and viscose rayon. Surface area, convolutions in cotton, porosity and capillarity favor cotton compared to rayon and mercerized cotton with regard to retention of these antibacterial agents.