N-(hydroxymethyl) acrylamide (NMA) was immobilized on cotton surfaces through etherification, and then methacrylamide (MA) was grafted onto the treated surface. The coatings were characterized by ATR-IR spectroscopy and were rendered biocidal upon exposure to dilute household bleach. The treated fabrics were challenged with Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria; both NMA and NMA/MA-treated fabrics inactivated about 8 logs of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus within only 5 min of contact time. The coatings were also quite stable toward ultraviolet (UVA) light exposure and repeated laundering. Moreover, a substantial improvement in wrinkle recovery angle was obtained for the NMA/MA-treated fabrics. The new acyclic acrylamide N-halamine coating should be less expensive to produce and use than previous cyclic N-halamine coatings developed in these laboratories. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013