11 Key Reasons to Use Vinegar in Your Laundry and Its Benefits

Distilled white vinegar is a versatile laundry aid that can help eliminate odors, remove detergent buildup, and more. It’s affordable, safe for most high-efficiency and standard washers, and free of tannins (natural plant dyes) that could stain clothes. If you only have cider vinegar on hand, be sure to dilute it with water before applying it to clothing.

However, it’s important not to overuse vinegar. Using it more than once a week could potentially wear down your washing machine. Read on to explore 11 benefits of using white vinegar in laundry, along with tips on when to avoid it.

Benefits of Using Vinegar in Laundry

1. Banish Mildew Odor
   Adding vinegar to your laundry can help eliminate musty or sour smells, especially on towels. Start by filling the washer with hot water (use warm water for dark towels). Add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and run a complete cycle, then run a second cycle with detergent. This method works well for minor mildew and sour odors, but more severe mold issues may require stronger treatment.

1. Dissolve Soap Residue
   The acetic acid in distilled white vinegar helps break down soap and detergent residues left behind on fabrics. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser or manually pour it in at the start of the rinse cycle.

1. Brighten and Whiten Clothes
   Vinegar is effective at brightening dull clothes. To restore white cotton items like dishcloths, underwear, or socks, mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into 1 gallon of water in a large pot. Heat the solution to a boil, turn off the heat, then add the clothing and let it soak overnight. Wash as usual the next day.

1. Naturally Soften Fabrics
   Distilled white vinegar serves as a natural fabric softener by removing body oils and detergent buildup that can make clothes feel stiff. Use 1/2 cup of vinegar in the final rinse cycle instead of a commercial fabric softener.

1. Reduce Lint and Pet Hair
   Using vinegar in the rinse cycle can help reduce lint and pet hair clinging to your clothes. However, avoid using vinegar in every wash cycle—only when needed. If you’re unable to use it in your laundry routine, you can soak the clothing in the sink, rub, rinse, and then wash as usual. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser or directly into the washer at the start of the rinse cycle. Do not combine with a commercial fabric softener.

1. Fight Underarm Odor
   Spray undiluted distilled white vinegar directly onto the underarm areas of sweat-stained white clothes to remove both odor and stains. Let the vinegar sit for at least 10 minutes before washing the garment. If the fabric feels stiff, use a soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush) to break up the residue. Vinegar also helps eliminate deodorant buildup and prevents yellowing in underarm areas.

1. Erase Hem Lines
   If your clothes have marks from alterations, vinegar can help erase them. Dampen a white cloth with distilled white vinegar, place it under the fabric on an ironing board, and press it. Set the iron to the appropriate temperature for the fabric, and use a pressing cloth on top to avoid shiny marks.

1. Keep Dark Clothes Dark
   Vinegar helps preserve the color and brightness of dark clothes by removing detergent residue that can cause dullness. However, don’t use vinegar every time you want to brighten dark clothing. Instead, soak clothes in the sink, rub, rinse, and then wash normally. If you add vinegar to dark clothing washes, pour 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar into the final rinse cycle.

1. Get Rid of Strong Odors
   Vinegar is effective at removing stubborn odors like cigarette smoke, farm smells, and fast-food cooking odors. To remove odors from clothes, fill a large sink or bathtub with warm water and add 1 to 2 cups of distilled white vinegar, depending on the load size. Let the clothes soak overnight, then wash them with a heavy-duty enzyme-based detergent. For dry-clean-only items or fabrics like pillows and drapes, fill a bathtub with very hot water and add 2 cups of vinegar. Hang the clothes or fabric above the steaming water, close the door to trap the steam, and let it penetrate the fibers

1. Clean Your Washing Machine
   Vinegar can be used to clean your washing machine and remove soap scum or residue buildup. Run a complete cycle with hot water and 2 cups of distilled white vinegar, with the washer empty. Clean your machine with vinegar about four times a year to keep it functioning well, but avoid doing so more often to prevent potential damage. For machines with automatic detergent or fabric softener dispensers, place the vinegar in the dispensers to dissolve any residue buildup that may affect performance.

1. Clean a Sputtering Iron
   If your iron’s steam vents are clogged with mineral deposits, vinegar can help. Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and distilled water, then pour the solution into the iron’s water chamber. Let the iron steam for about five minutes, then rinse the tank with distilled water. Refill the iron and shake water through the vents onto an old cloth before ironing a separate cloth to expel any remaining residue.

When Not to Use Vinegar in Laundry

• Chlorine Bleach: Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach, as this creates toxic chlorine gas.
• Hydrogen Peroxide: Do not mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide to remove stains. Together, they create peracetic acid, which is corrosive and irritating.
• Cleaning Vinegar: Cleaning vinegar should not be substituted for distilled white vinegar in laundry. It has a higher acid content and could bleach dark fabrics.
• Athletic Wear: While vinegar is great at removing odor-causing buildup from workout clothes, excessive use can break down elastic fibers over time.
• Dark Clothes: Never pour undiluted vinegar directly onto dark-colored clothing, as it could bleach unstable dyes.

Where to Put Vinegar in Your Washing Machine

When adding vinegar to your washing machine, make sure to place it in the correct spot based on your machine type:

• Front-load washer: Add vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.
• Top-load washer: Once the drum is filled with water during the rinse cycle, pour the vinegar directly into the drum.

For cleaning your washer, place the vinegar in all the dispensers (for a front-load machine) or directly in the drum (for a top-load machine).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you mix vinegar and laundry detergent?
It’s best to use vinegar as a pre-soak for odor removal or add it during the rinse cycle as a fabric softener. The acid in vinegar can interfere with laundry detergent and reduce its ability to remove dirt.

Is baking soda or white vinegar better for laundry?
It depends on the job. Baking soda is great for softening fabrics and controlling suds, while white vinegar excels at brightening white clothes, boosting detergent performance, and eliminating mildew odors.

Can I mix vinegar and fabric softener?
Yes, vinegar can be mixed with fabric softener or even used as a substitute. Just remember to use it sparingly to avoid damaging your washing machine.

Is cleaning vinegar the same as white vinegar for laundry?
No, cleaning vinegar is stronger than distilled white vinegar, with up to 6% acid content compared to the usual 5%. It’s 20% more acidic and should not be used in the laundry.

How often can I use vinegar in my laundry?
To avoid damaging fabrics and appliances, limit vinegar use to every other week or as needed.