A vinyl N-halamine acrylamide monomer was copolymerized with silane-, epoxide-, and hydroxyl group-containing monomers. The resultant copolymers were coated onto cotton fabric through hydrolysis of alkoxy groups with formation of silyl ether bonding, opening of the epoxide ring and subsequent reaction with hydroxyl groups on cellulose, and by crosslinking between the hydroxyl groups on the copolymer and on cellulose, respectively. The coatings were rendered biocidal upon exposure to dilute household bleach solution. All of the coatings provided complete inactivation of about six log of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 within minutes of contact time. The effects of the aforementioned tethering groups on wash fastness and ultraviolet light exposure were also studied. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.