If your whites aren’t as bright as you’d like or your towels feel stiff, vinegar could be your laundry’s new best friend. This common household item is a natural, inexpensive way to improve how your clothes look and feel.
Vinegar works by breaking down detergent buildup that can make fabrics rough. Add half to one cup of white distilled vinegar to your washing machine’s fabric softener compartment so it releases during the rinse cycle. This leaves your laundry soft and fresh without needing chemical softeners.
The vinegar smell disappears once clothes dry, so don’t worry about any lingering scent. Vinegar’s acidity also helps remove soap scum and mineral deposits that cause whites to yellow or gray. Adding a cup during rinsing can brighten towels, sheets, and t-shirts. For tough stains, try a vinegar and baking soda paste applied before washing.
It’s also excellent at eliminating odors trapped in fabrics like gym clothes or pet bedding. For strong smells, soak items in a vinegar-water mix for 30 minutes before washing. This refreshes fabrics without harsh fragrances.
Adding vinegar to the rinse cycle reduces lint and static cling, especially on towels and synthetic materials. In hard water areas, vinegar helps dissolve minerals that dull and stiffen fabrics, keeping laundry soft and bright.
You can even put vinegar on a cloth or dryer ball and toss it in the dryer to reduce wrinkles and soften clothes further. Just avoid mixing vinegar with bleach, and don’t use it on delicate fabrics like silk or wool. Stick to one cup per load to avoid overpowering smells.
Vinegar is an easy, natural way to get softer, brighter laundry while being safe for your family and the planet.
