A method for rendering a non-metallic substrate stably antimicrobial, the method comprising: (a) contacting the substrate with an antimicrobial surfactant; (b) contacting the substrate with a polymeric binder; and (c) subjecting the substrate, surfactant, and binder to conditions at which the substrate becomes stably antimicrobial, wherein stably antimicrobial means that the surfactant and binder are stably incorporated into the substrate meaning that the substrate can be subjected to multiple launderings and still retain antimicrobial activity at a level of a log 4-5 kill rate within about 60 minutes, and wherein a log 4-5 kill means that at least 99.99% to at least 99.999% of the bacteria are killed; wherein the binder is a homopolymer obtained from monomers having the formula: CH 2 =C(R 1a)-C -X-R 2 or CH 2 =C(R 1b)-Y-C -R 3, or a copolymer obtained from monomers having the formula: CH 2 =C(R 1a)-C -X-R 2 and CH 2 =C(R 1b)-Y-C -R 3 wherein: X and Y independently represent O or NR 4; R 1a and R 1b independently represent -H or -CH 3; R 2 and R 3 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; and R 4 represents -H, -CH 3, or -CH 2 CH 3, wherein the antimicrobial surfactant is an anionic surfactant, selected from the group consisting of alkyl carboxylates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, and alkyl benzene sulfonates, a cationic quaternary ammonium salt, or a non-ionic triethanolamine surfactant, and wherein the substrate, surfactant, and binder are maintained at a minimum temperature of 93.3 °C (200 °F) and a maximum temperature of 315.6 °C (600 °F), or any temperature there between. (a) contacting the substrate with an antimicrobial surfactant; (b) contacting the substrate with a polymeric binder; and (c) subjecting the substrate, surfactant, and binder to conditions at which the substrate becomes stably antimicrobial, wherein stably antimicrobial means that the surfactant and binder are stably incorporated into the substrate meaning that the substrate can be subjected to multiple launderings and still retain antimicrobial activity at a level of a log 4-5 kill rate within about 60 minutes, and wherein a log 4-5 kill means that at least 99.99% to at least 99.999% of the bacteria are killed; wherein the binder is a homopolymer obtained from monomers having the formula: CH 2 =C(R 1a)-C -X-R 2 or CH 2 =C(R 1b)-Y-C -R 3, or a copolymer obtained from monomers having the formula: CH 2 =C(R 1a)-C -X-R 2 and CH 2 =C(R 1b)-Y-C -R 3 wherein: X and Y independently represent O or NR 4; R 1a and R 1b independently represent -H or -CH 3; R 2 and R 3 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; and R 4 represents -H, -CH 3, or -CH 2 CH 3, X and Y independently represent O or NR 4; R 1a and R 1b independently represent -H or -CH 3; R 2 and R 3 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; and R 4 represents -H, -CH 3, or -CH 2 CH 3, wherein the antimicrobial surfactant is an anionic surfactant, selected from the group consisting of alkyl carboxylates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, and alkyl benzene sulfonates, a cationic quaternary ammonium salt, or a non-ionic triethanolamine surfactant, an anionic surfactant, selected from the group consisting of alkyl carboxylates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, and alkyl benzene sulfonates, a cationic quaternary ammonium salt, or a non-ionic triethanolamine surfactant, and wherein the substrate, surfactant, and binder are maintained at a minimum temperature of 93.3 °C (200 °F) and a maximum temperature of 315.6 °C (600 °F), or any temperature there between.