In this work, a novel N-halamine precursor, 1-glycidyl-s-triazine-2,4,6-trione (GTT), was synthesized through the reaction of cyanuric acid with epichlorohydrin in a facile condition. The pad-dry-cure technique was used to coat GTT onto cotton fabrics through the covalent surface modification of the cotton fibers. The GTT-coated cotton was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and SEM. The N-halamine moieties attached to the cotton fibers could be rendered antimicrobial by treatment with a dilute sodium hypochlorite solution. The N-halamine-modified cotton fabrics demonstrated excellent antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli O157:H7) bacteria in brief contact times. Over 71% of the chlorine lost after the equivalent of 50 machine washes could be regained upon rechlorination. The chlorinated coatef fabrics showed great rechargeability within one week under UVA light irradiation.