But have you ever considered using it in your laundry? Vinegar provides an inexpensive alternative that is healthier for you, your family, and the environment.
Distilled white vinegar has many uses, and when used in your regular laundry routine it can remove stains, soften hardened towels, and get rid of odors.
How Does Vinegar Work as a Cleaning Agent?
Vinegar is very acidic, which is why it’s such an effective cleaning agent. With a pH of 2.5, the white distilled stuff is best suited for household cleaning, and this acidity can dissolve away soap scum, hard water stains, and even glue left behind by stickers
It is important to note that the pH will vary depending on the type being used. For instance, cleaning vinegar, which has concentrations up to 10% acetic acid has a pH of approximately 2.0 [3]. For laundry purposes, it is best to stick with a regular 5% solution.
6 Uses for White Vinegar in your Laundry
When you use it properly, white vinegar can tackle many of your laundry-related woes. The following are ways that this acidic liquid can improve the quality of your wash on laundry day
1. Odor Destroyer
Without the use of synthetic perfumes that can mask odors or cause skin irritation, vinegar gets rid of odors. Mildew? Armpit sweat? General funk? Covered. Vinegar kills bacteria that keeps the stinky alive.
To remove mildew smells from towels, add 2 cups of distilled vinegar to a washer filled with hot water. Add your towels and run the normal cycle. You can follow up with an additional cycle if you want.
For clothing, add ½ to 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle to get rid of reek. Your other option is to presoak extra reeky items in 1 cup of it and cold water. Let the item(s) sit for about 20 minutes before washing.
2. Remove Stains
To remove stains, spray the affected area with vinegar and allow it to sit for ten to fifteen minutes before washing. If it is a mild stain, you can soak the item instead in a mixture of one cup of vinegar with two cups of warm water.
You can remove harsh stains by using a paste made from one tablespoon of baking soda and vinegar, but do this sparingly
3. Protect Colors
Soapy residue can often stick to the fibers of your clothing. This can make dark items become lighter after several washes. To prevent this, put half to one cup into the final rinse cycle, and keep your dark colors dark
4. Lint and Static Fighter
White vinegar helps to repel static, lint, and pet hair from laundry. Drop ½ cup of vinegar into your washer’s rinse cycle.
5. Use as a Fabric Softener
Because it breaks down detergent residue, it can be used to soften your clothes, linens, and towels. Instead of a commercial fabric softener, add a half cup of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser in your machine and let it do its magic
6. Gentle Whitener
Vinegar brightens and whitens without harsh chemicals. You can use it on normal loads or to remove stubborn stains from whites by adding 1 ½ cups of vinegar to the wash cycle.
If you’re not afraid of hot water, conquer discoloration like underarm stains by soaking white items in ½ gallon of hot water and 2 cups of vinegar overnight. Wash as directed.
Any worries you have about a lingering distilled vinegar scent can be put to rest – the smell goes away after drying. With so many benefits in the laundry room, it’s a good idea to take advantage of this distilled gift. Stock up on this staple and watch some of your laundry annoyances go down.
