How To Use Vinegar In The Laundry

From softening clothes to cleaning your machine, vinegar is useful when it comes to laundry.

Vinegar might seem like a kitchen pantry staple, but it's actually an all-around household ingredient that has many uses. From cleaning floors to pest prevention, having a bottle of this multi-purpose staple is a must no matter the time of year.

One of the best ways to use vinegar around the house is in laundry. Yes, laundry, according to author and cleaning expert, Becky Rapinchuk, who has amassed a following of more than one million across her social media channels sharing daily cleaning content.

Rapinchuk, known as "Clean Mama" online, says that white vinegar in the laundry room is both versatile and inexpensive. "White vinegar can be used in laundry to clean the washing machine, as a fabric softener, deodorizer (and) color fade preventer," she says.

Meet The Expert

Becky Rapinchuk is an author, cleaning expert, and known as "Clean Mama"

The Best Type Of Vinegar To Use

White distilled vinegar works best for cleaning around the house. "I prefer regular, five-percent acidity white vinegar," Rapinchuk, who is the author of four books about cleaning, explains. "It's easy to find and works well all over the house."

Benefits Of Using Vinegar In Laundry

Vinegar is a versatile laundry tool that can be used as a fabric softener, deodorizer, stain remover, and to prevent color fading, but there are certain circumstances where vinegar should not be used too.

Fabric Softener

To use vinegar as a fabric softener, Rapinchuk recommends adding 1/4 cup of white vinegar per load into the washing machine's fabric softener dispenser.

Odor Removal

If your laundry is coming out smelling like it may need washed again, vinegar can help. Rapinchuk says to add 1/4-1/2 cup to any load that needs freshened up.

Stain Removal

Vinegar can be used to treat laundry stains by adding it directly to the stain. Mix approximately 1 tablespoon of vinegar with 1 tablespoon liquid laundry detergent and apply liberally to the stain. Let it sit for at least one hour before running the garment through a normal laundry cycle.

Color Fading

Worried your favorite clothing is losing its hue thanks to multiple laundry cycles? Add 1/4 cup vinegar to your washer's fabric softener compartment to help prevent color fading.

Extra Cleaning

Rapinchuk says vinegar can also be used to clean the drum of your washing machine by adding 1 cup white vinegar to an empty machine with hot water. "You can also pre-clean your washing machine with white vinegar," she says. "Pour white vinegar on a microfiber cleaning cloth and wipe the gaskets and seals and then add 1 cup white vinegar to the machine and run it on the self-clean or hottest water setting."

How Not To Use Vinegar In Laundry

Vinegar should not be used in laundry when washing clothing with elastic, or when other cleaning ingredients like bleach, ammonia or baking soda are present.

Elastic Clothing

With continued use, the acidity in vinegar can break down elastic and ruin clothing. Workout clothing, swimwear, and undergarments, like bras and underwear, are all common pieces of clothing that contain elastic.

Chlorine Bleach

Bleach and vinegar should never be mixed. The combination creates a toxic chlorine gas that can be extremely dangerous when exposed.

Ammonia

Like bleach, mixing vinegar with ammonia should always be avoided. Together, the mix creates a high pH solution that can cause skin irritation.

Baking Soda

Anyone who has been witness to the classic science fair project volcano knows that a mix of baking soda and vinegar creates an explosion. In addition to a mess, the combination creates a carbon dioxide gas.

Related: How to Keep a Clean House like a Southern Mama

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Read the original article on Southern Living.