9 Reasons to Use Vinegar in Laundry Cleaning

Vinegar is a highly versatile home product popular for cleaning, pet care, gardening, laundry, and health care, among other uses. White vinegar is an impressive alternative to commercial detergents. Can you use vinegar in laundry cleaning?

It is safe for use in any washer and is tannin-free, meaning it won’t stain your clothes. If you have been wondering whether you can use vinegar in laundry cleaning, then you have the answer.

Using distilled white vinegar in laundry cleaning is one of the best decisions you can make today.

Why Use Vinegar in Laundry Cleaning?

1. Removes Mildew Odor

Leaving your wet load in the washer or wet towels in the laundry basket for extended periods can result in mildew growth and, eventually, a moldy smell. Fortunately, you can easily remove the ugly smell using vinegar, leaving your laundry fresh-smelling.

The removal process entails filling the washer with hot water, adding two cups of distilled white vinegar, and running a complete wash cycle. Upon completion, run a second cycle with your preferred detergent, and your laundry will come out smelling fresh.

This process is effective for tiny molds and odors. Larger mold stains require more aggressive treatments and procedures.

2. Brightens and Whitens Your Clothes

Distilled white vinegar contains mild acetic acid, making it friendly to washable fabrics. Despite being gentle, you should note that the acid is strong enough to dissolve resides resulting from soap and detergent ingredients.

Adding half a cup of vinegar to the final rinse will make your clothing enjoy brighter and clearer colors. You can either manually add your vinegar at the beginning of the rinse cycle or to the fabric softener dispenser.

Acetic acid is a brightener and whitener for your gray and dingy outfits. In the case of stained white socks or dingy dishcloths, you can restore their brightness by adding a cup of white vinegar to a large pot and heating it to boiling, before adding your dingy items. Soak them overnight and then launder them as usual. The procedure is exclusive to pure cotton fabrics.

3. Natural Fabric Softener

Vinegar in laundry cleaning is also a perfect choice if you want to enjoy softer clothes, but the heavily scented commercial fabric softeners don’t work for you.

Besides being a natural fabric softener, washing clothes with vinegar leaves your laundry residue-free. With half a cup of white vinegar (final rinse cycle), you will enjoy superb soft and residue-free washing results.

Adding a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender, to your white vinegar in laundry cleaning is valuable if you don’t mind a light scent when washing clothes with vinegar.

4. Reduces Lint and Pet Hair

People with pets often struggle with pet hair constantly clinging to their clothes. In such cases, washing clothes with vinegar is an excellent option, as it prevents pet hair from sticking to your outfits. Vinegar is also helpful in removing excessive lint anytime you wash dark pieces with some lint-producing towels.

5. Fighting Underarm Odor

Perspiration odor and stains can be embarrassing and humiliating, especially at work and other public places. Fortunately, vinegar is here for you.

Fill a spray bottle with distilled and undiluted white vinegar and spray it directly onto the inside of the outfit underarm. Allow the product to settle for at least 10 minutes, and then toss it in the washer for routine laundry.

If the clothing feels stiff before laundry, break up the residue using a soft bristle brush. Applying vinegar helps cut through the remaining deodorant residue on the garment while protecting the underarm from yellowing.

6. Erases Hem Lines

Altering a garment may leave some tiny holes along the hemline or seam. Most people may find these holes challenging to eliminate until they learn of vinegar in laundry cleaning.

The latter is a valuable secret that involves moistening a white cloth piece with white vinegar, placing it under the garment then pressing. Select a suitable ironing temperature to prevent scorching and use a pressing cloth on top of the garment.

7. Keeps Dark Garments Dark

Residue from soap and detergent makes washable black outfits dull. But did you know you can eliminate your dark clothes’ dull look and restore their original darkness? Using vinegar in the laundry is the secret; all you should do is add half a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle.

8. Eliminates Smoke Odors

Washable clothing that reeks of smoke odors can be undermining to wear, even if it is your favorite. But by adding half a cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle, you can eliminate the smoke odors, leaving your garment fresh-smelling.

For pillows, drapers, and other dry-clean-only furnishings and clothing, fill the bathtub with boiling water and add a cupful of vinegar. Hang the fabrics above the steaming water with the door shut to allow optimal steam penetration into the fibers.

You can also use distilled white vinegar to eliminate heavy smoke odors from your home following a kitchen fire or any other fire accident in the household.

9. Cleans Your Washing Machine

A tidy washer plays a crucial role in ensuring cleaner laundry for you. Mineral deposits and soap scum can build up in the hoses over time, compromising your machine’s water flow and performance. Cleaning a washing machine with vinegar regularly can help restore its performance and effectiveness.

Ensure that you use hot water when cleaning the washing machine with vinegar (add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar). With automatic detergent and fabric softener dispensers, you should fill them with vinegar – it dissolves residue buildup that hinders performance.

Using vinegar in laundry more often also helps to freshen front-load washers with musty odors. For this reason, cleaning the washing machine with vinegar should be a significant priority for any home.

Final Thoughts

Vinegar is a powerful alternative to commercial laundry detergents. Besides being highly versatile, effective, and affordable, it is eco-friendly.

It serves various purposes in laundry, such as bleachers, fabric softeners, and deodorizers. If you don’t have distilled white vinegar, which is the best for laundry, you can use apple cider vinegar – dilute with water and use it minimally.

Other vinegar varieties, such as brown, red wine, and balsamic, are unsuitable for laundry as they can stain your fabrics. Before using vinegar on your washday, you should also confirm that you are not allergic to the product.