diff --git a/repobee_sanitizer/_sanitize.py b/repobee_sanitizer/_sanitize.py
index 7e0d3ae..cee44a9 100644
--- a/repobee_sanitizer/_sanitize.py
+++ b/repobee_sanitizer/_sanitize.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 .. module:: _sanitize_file
     :synopsis: Module for file sanitization functionality.
 """
-import pathlib
 
 from repobee_sanitizer import _syntax
 from repobee_sanitizer._syntax import Markers
@@ -12,38 +11,15 @@
 from typing import List, Iterable, Optional
 
 
-def sanitize_file(
-    file_abs_path: pathlib.Path, strip: bool = False
-) -> Optional[str]:
-    """Runs the sanitization protocol on a given file. This can either remove
-    the file or give back a sanitized version. File must be syntax checked
-    before running this.
+def sanitize_text(lines: List[str], strip: bool = False) -> Optional[str]:
+    """A function to directly sanitize given content. Text must be syntax
+    checked first.
 
     Args:
-        file_abs_path: The absolute file path to the file you wish to
-            sanitize.
-
-    Returns:
-        The sanitized output text, but only if the file was not
-        removed.
+        Content to be sanitized
     """
-    text = file_abs_path.read_text()
-    lines = text.split("\n")
     if _syntax.contained_marker(lines[0]) == Markers.SHRED:
         return None
-    else:
-        sanitized_string = _sanitize(lines, strip=False)
-        return "\n".join(sanitized_string)
-
-
-def sanitize_text(content: str, strip: bool = False) -> str:
-    """A function to directly sanitize given content.
-
-    Args:
-        Content to be sanitized.
-    """
-    lines = content.split("\n")
-    _syntax.check_syntax(lines)
     sanitized_string = _sanitize(lines, strip)
     return "\n".join(sanitized_string)
 
diff --git a/repobee_sanitizer/_sanitize_repo.py b/repobee_sanitizer/_sanitize_repo.py
index f5620b7..b036b76 100644
--- a/repobee_sanitizer/_sanitize_repo.py
+++ b/repobee_sanitizer/_sanitize_repo.py
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ def sanitize_files(
         return files_with_errors
 
     for relpath in file_relpaths:
-        file_abspath = basedir / str(relpath)
-        sanitized_text = _sanitize.sanitize_file(file_abspath)
+        content = relpath.read_text_relative_to(basedir).split("\n")
+        sanitized_text = _sanitize.sanitize_text(content)
         if sanitized_text is None:
-            file_abspath.unlink()
+            (basedir / str(relpath)).unlink()
             LOGGER.info(f"Shredded file {relpath}")
         else:
             relpath.write_text_relative_to(
diff --git a/repobee_sanitizer/sanitizer.py b/repobee_sanitizer/sanitizer.py
index f722cdd..7dff38c 100644
--- a/repobee_sanitizer/sanitizer.py
+++ b/repobee_sanitizer/sanitizer.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     _syntax,
     _format,
     _sanitize_repo,
+    _fileutils,
 )
 
 PLUGIN_NAME = "sanitizer"
@@ -105,7 +106,13 @@ def command(self, api) -> Optional[plug.Result]:
         Returns:
             Result if the syntax is invalid, otherwise nothing.
         """
-        errors = _syntax.check_syntax(self.infile.read_text().split("\n"))
+
+        infile_encoding = _fileutils.guess_encoding(self.infile)
+        infile_content = self.infile.read_text(encoding=infile_encoding).split(
+            "\n"
+        )
+
+        errors = _syntax.check_syntax(infile_content)
         if errors:
             file_errors = [_format.FileWithErrors(self.infile.name, errors)]
             msg = _format.format_error_string(file_errors)
@@ -114,9 +121,9 @@ def command(self, api) -> Optional[plug.Result]:
                 name="sanitize-file", msg=msg, status=plug.Status.ERROR,
             )
 
-        result = _sanitize.sanitize_file(self.infile, strip=self.strip)
+        result = _sanitize.sanitize_text(infile_content, strip=self.strip)
         if result:
-            self.outfile.write_text(result)
+            self.outfile.write_text(result, encoding=infile_encoding)
 
         return plug.Result(
             name="sanitize-file",
diff --git a/tests/helpers/testhelpers.py b/tests/helpers/testhelpers.py
index b507925..b436b04 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/testhelpers.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/testhelpers.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import pathlib
 import collections
 
-from typing import Iterable, Tuple
+from typing import Iterable
 
 INPUT_FILENAME = "input.in"
 OUTPUT_FILENAME = "output.out"
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 RESOURCES_BASEDIR = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.parent / "resources"
 
 
-TestData = collections.namedtuple("TestData", "inp out inverse".split())
+TestData = collections.namedtuple("TestData", "inp out inverse")
 
 
 def discover_test_cases(
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def generate_invalid_test_cases():
     )
 
 
-def read_valid_test_case_files(test_case_dir: pathlib.Path) -> Tuple[str, str]:
+def read_valid_test_case_files(test_case_dir: pathlib.Path) -> TestData:
     inp = (test_case_dir / INPUT_FILENAME).read_text(encoding="utf8")
     out = (test_case_dir / OUTPUT_FILENAME).read_text(encoding="utf8")
     inverse = (test_case_dir / INVERSE_FILENAME).read_text(encoding="utf8")
diff --git a/tests/test_sanitze.py b/tests/test_sanitze.py
index 22b9692..626cd04 100644
--- a/tests/test_sanitze.py
+++ b/tests/test_sanitze.py
@@ -28,5 +28,6 @@ def test_sanitize_valid(data: testhelpers.TestData):
     for this test function is generated by the pytest_generate_tests
     hook.
     """
-    assert _sanitize.sanitize_text(data.inp) == data.out
-    assert _sanitize.sanitize_text(data.inp, strip=True) == data.inverse
+    formated_inp = data.inp.split("\n")
+    assert _sanitize.sanitize_text(formated_inp) == data.out
+    assert _sanitize.sanitize_text(formated_inp, strip=True) == data.inverse