Cleaning
20 Ways White Vinegar Can Save Your Laundry
Laundry products are so expensive – these tips will save so much money.
Emily Medlock
10.05.20

Vinegar has so many uses that it’s kind of crazy not to keep it around. While cleaning hard surfaces and cooking are its two primary uses, don’t be afraid to use it on your clothes too. There are over a dozen uses for it in your laundry! Let’s start with these!

1. Keep On Smoking

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Cigarette smoke, BBQ smoke, firework smoke. There are many different types of smoke that leave a unique smell on your clothing. Get rid of the smell by adding vinegar to the wash or bathtub of water when washing comforters or lawn fabrics.

2. The Inevitable Ring

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For that ring around your collar, go ahead and make that volcano by mixing baking soda and vinegar. Rub it around the collar and then wash as usual. You’ll see it disappear after just one wash. This works for stubborn stains too.

3. Remove Hemlines

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Sometimes hemlines appear when you let your kid’s clothes out or when you buy a pair of folded jeans. Some like the look, others do not. Do get rid of the lines, place a vinegar-moistened cloth under the fabric and iron it. Simple as that!

4. Try To Catch Up

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While ketchup does have vinegar in it, the tomato combats its ability to remove stains. Fight back harder with a nice vinegar soak before adding ketchup-stained clothing to the wash. Tomato is one of the hardest stains to remove, but it is possible.

5. Soften Your Fabric

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If you don’t like using standard fabric softeners, a little vinegar on a gentle wash can go a long way. If you want that fresh scent that fabric softener adds, just add a couple of drops of essential oil to the wash. That way, you can choose your own scent.

6. Cut The Dinginess

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If your clothes are coming out dingy, try adding a few tablespoons of vinegar to the last rinse. You can even do an extra rinse just for it if you don’t do laundry very often. This works on whites as well as colors, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

7. Let Them Play Rough

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Grass stains are a nightmare for parents and athletes. Mix water, vinegar, and liquid soap together and wash the stains before putting them in the washer for the final round. This is like Spray N’ Wash only safer, and cheaper!

8. Wash The Wash

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One thing that often gets forgotten is the washer itself. A dirty washer with built-up residue will not work as well as a clean one. About every six months, try running a wash without any clothes in it and add two cups of vinegar to the hot water.

9. Hopefully, You Don’t Need This

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Let’s hope you never need to remove a skunk stain! But just in case, take heed. Let the clothing soak in vinegar and water for a day before checking to see if the smell was removed. If not, replace the solution and let soak for a few more hours.

10.Darker Than Dark

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Black clothes should stay black and not fade to grey. Adding a half-cup of vinegar to the wash can help remove residue that dulls and fades black clothing. So if everything in your closet is black, fear no more, vinegar can help keep it that way.

11. Fluff Your Comforter

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All you need is a cup of vinegar to fluff your blankets and sweaters. This works well with cotton or wool. Just add the vinegar to the wash and the rest is history. This is an exciting hack for this winter. You can even do it for gifts!

12. Commence The Shedding

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Whether it’s a sweater full of lint or jeans covered in pet hair, all it takes is a half a cup of vinegar to get rid of it. Add it directly to the cycle and you’ll be pet-hair-free in no time. That leaves more time for cuddles without worrying.

13. Brighten Your Whites

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You can do this manually or in the wash. When boiling fabric, add it directly to the pot of water. When washing your laundry in the machine, put the vinegar in the fabric softener bucket or directly into the machine during the last rinse.

14. Wash Your New Clothes

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Washing new clothes is a must, especially these days. But when you do it the standard way, it seems like that new clothing smell sticks. To get rid of the chemicals manufacturers use, add a little vinegar to the wash and they’ll come out smelling like the detergent.

15. Don’t Let It Yellow

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Although vinegar can remove juice, wine, and tomato stains if done right away, it can also be useful for non-stained clothes. Your table linens will stay bright if washed with vinegar. Prevent the perceived inevitable yellowing.

16. Don’t Forget Him

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To clean your iron, add one part water to one part vinegar and let it steam for five minutes upright. After it cools, replace the contents with cold water and shake. Wipe it down with a cloth and then iron that cloth to get rid of any excess residue.

17. Doesn’t Have To Stay Glued

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Glue stains can be frustrating because the dry so fast and harden on clothing. A regular wash won’t cut it so you need to improvise. Soak the problem spot in vinegar to allow it to soften before washing. It can work like a charm!

18. Remove Underarm Odor

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Let’s face it, we all do it. We all sweat, especially under our arms. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and spray on your clothing to remove odors and stains related to deodorant and perspiration. Those tees will never be the same again.

18. Get Rid Of Mildew

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While mold can be a pain to get rid of, and oftentimes impossible, mildew doesn’t take much. You can get rid of the smell by running your laundry through a hot water cycle with a cup of vinegar or two, followed by a normal wash.

20. Don’t Let Them Run

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For colors that tend to run, like red, you can add a cup of vinegar to a bucket of water and let the fabric set for thirty minutes before washing. Then wash as usual. Always follow the instructions on the label when doing this.

Remember to always use distilled vinegar and test on an unnoticeable part of the fabric first. Vinegar isn’t for use on rayon, silk, or acetate. Now enjoy the many uses to whiten, brighten, soften, and reduce odor from your clothes without having to use harsh chemicals!

Watch the video below for one final tip about using vinegar in the rinse cycle:

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