Vinegar is generally inexpensive and safe for most high-efficiency and standard washers.
Distilled white vinegar contains no tannins (natural plant dyes) that can stain clothes.
If you only have cider vinegar, dilute it with water before pouring it directly on clothes.
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Do not overuse vinegar; no more than once a week is ideal.
Vinegar can wear down some appliances if overused.
Below, discover 11 benefits of using white vinegar in laundry and when to avoid it.
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Tip
Don’t be concerned about your laundry smelling like vinegar.
The odor will dissipate during the wash or rinse cycle.
While vinegar is a powerful natural cleaner, it should only be used sparingly.
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see to it to refer to your washing machine’s user manual for guidance.
Fill the washer with hot water (use warm water for dark-colored towels).
Add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and run a complete cycle.
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Run a second complete cycle with detergent.
This works well for small amounts of mildew and sour smells.
A more aggressive treatment is necessary for largermold issues and stains.
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Brighten and Whiten Clothes
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Vinegar can be used to brighten dull clothes.
Heat the solution to boiling, turn off the heat, and add the dingy items.
Allow them to soak overnight, and then launder as usual.
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Use 1/2 cup in the final rinse cycle instead of a commercial fabric softener.
Remember, vinegar should not be used in every wash cycle.
Do not combine with a commercial fabric softener.
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Fight Underarm Odor
Spray vinegar onto fabric toremove perspiration odor and stainson washable white clothes.
Fill a spray bottle with undiluted distilled white vinegar, and keep it on hand in the laundry room.
The vinegar helps to cut through residual deodorant left on clothing and prevent underarm yellowing.
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Erase Hem Lines
Vinegar helps hide marks from clothing alterations.
Do not use vinegar every time you better brighten dark clothing.
Another option is to soak your clothing in the sink or rub, rinse, and wash normally.
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Add the stinky clothes and allow them to soak overnight.
Drain the washer and wash the laundry with a heavy-duty enzyme-based detergent.
Clean Your Washing Machine
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Clean your washing machinebyusing vinegar.
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Set the iron upright on a heatproof surface, and let it steam for about five minutes.
When the iron is cool, rinse the tank with distilled water.
Refill the iron and shake water through the vents onto an old cloth.
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Finally, iron an old cloth for several minutes to expel any residue before ironing wearable garments.
This can vary depending on the punch in of machine you have.
Vinegar is best used as a pre-soak toremove odoror added to the rinse cycle as a fabric softener.
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It depends on the task.
Baking soda works best as a natural fabric softener and controls excess suds.
White vinegar is great for brightening white clothing, increasing laundry detergent effectiveness, and removing mildew odor.
Yes, it’s possible for you to mix vinegar and fabric softener.
Vinegar can even be used as a substitute for fabric softener.
Do remember to use vinegar sparingly, however, to avoid damaging your washing machine.
If you want an alternative to vinegar, use baking powder.
Cleaning vinegar has up to 6% acid and is 20% stronger than white vinegar.
Distilled white vinegar is typically around 95% water and 5% acid.
Dangers of mixing bleach with cleaners.
Washington State Department of Health.
Health hazard information sheet: Peroxyacetic acid (PAA).
USDA, FISIS Environmental, Safety, and Health Group.
