The Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Use Vinegar In Your Laundry
Vinegar might seem like an old-school cleaner, but it has a lot to offer when it comes to laundry. It’s simple, cheap, easy to use, and it handles a surprising number of laundry problems extremely well! If your clothes have been looking dull, feeling stiff, or picking up odd smells, vinegar might just be the fix you need. Here are all the ways it can help your clothes.
1. Softens Clothes Better
Many commercial fabric softeners work by coating fabrics with chemicals that create a softer feel. Over time, this buildup can actually make clothes feel worse. Vinegar naturally breaks down residue left by detergent and hard water, leaving clothes soft but not greasy or overly scented.
2. Neutralizes Strong Odors
Sometimes, detergent just doesn’t cut it, especially with gym clothes, towels, or anything left in the hamper too long. Vinegar cuts through stubborn smells by neutralizing bacteria and breaking down odor compounds. It doesn’t just cover the smell, it helps remove it from the fabric entirely. Use it in the rinse cycle or soak smelly items before washing. The best part is that once dry, your laundry won’t smell like vinegar either, just clean!
3. Helps Prevent Color Fading
If your colored clothes are starting to look a little washed out, vinegar can help with that. It works by locking in dyes during the rinse cycle, helping prevent colors from bleeding or fading too quickly. It’s especially useful with new clothes that haven’t been washed before or with darker fabrics that tend to lose their vibrancy.
4. Keeps Whites Looking Brighter
Over time, white clothes can take on a gray or yellow tinge, even with regular washing. Vinegar helps by dissolving soap scum and mineral deposits that dull white fabric. It also helps lift light stains before they set in too deeply. It won’t bleach your clothes, but that’s part of the benefit, as that means it’s gentler and safer for frequent use, unlike harsh chemical whiteners.
5. Tackles Buildup in Your Washing Machine
Your clothes aren’t the only thing that benefit. Washing machines can collect detergent residue, hard water minerals, and mildew in hidden spots. A rinse with vinegar every few weeks keeps the inside of your washer cleaner, which also helps your laundry come out fresher more consistently. You can run a hot cycle with just vinegar (no clothes) to help clean things out.
Related Articles
- Hate Folding Laundry? 6 Easy Tricks to Make Emptying the Basket Faster
- Why You Should Clean Fruit With Vinegar and How to Do It Right
- The Laundry Rule Everyone Overlooks That Makes Drying Clothes Easier
Using vinegar in the laundry is a long-standing, reliable hack that people have been doing for decades. It keeps clothes softer, fresher, and brighter without depending on chemical-laden products. Plus, it’s gentle on your washer and your wallet. Just a cup here and there can go a long way! Simple, affordable, and effective.
Daniel Mitchell
