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Abstract The research aims were: to assess the microbiological contamination of historical cotton textiles from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim, Poland; to establish the antimicrobial effectiveness of vapourised hydrogen peroxide (VHP) and ethylene oxide (EtO); to determine concentration and time of VHP disinfection and to assess the impact of VHP and EtO on the new and historical cotton textiles properties. The microbiological contamination of historical cotton textiles were 3.1 × 104–4.6 × 104 CFU/100 cm2 (bacteria) and 7.5 × 10³ - 1.8 × 104 CFU/100 cm2 (fungi). VHP was more effective against fungi and had similar biocidal effect to EtO. The optimal parameters of VHP disinfection were: concentration 300 ppm, time 20 min. VHP and EtO did not affect the fibre morphology, chemical composition or colour of the new and historical cotton fabrics. Both methods changed the strength parameters and cellulose polymerisation degree of new fabric. Increasing the time (30 min) or concentration (400 ppm) gave a similar biocidal effect but resulted in a decrease in strength parameters and cellulose polymerisation (new fabric) and colour change (historical fabric). VHP is an effective and safe method for historical textiles and can be applied in mass treatment. Highlights • VHP disinfection was more effective against fungi than bacteria. • VHP disinfection was less effective against mixed cultures than monocultures. • VHP disinfection had similar biocidal effect to that of EtO disinfection for fungi. • Optimal parameters of VHP disinfection: concentration 300 ppm, time 20 min. • VHP is effective and safe disinfection method for historical textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]