When it comes to washing clothes, vinegar is a kind of "magic" product. You can use this affordable product for a variety of purposes, from softening clothes, eliminating odors, to removing stains. Usually, all you need to do is pour vinegar or a water and vinegar mixture directly into the washing machine tub while filling it with water. After that, enter the clothes you want to wash. Note: Do not pour vinegar directly on clothes.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Washing Clothes
Step 1. Keep clothes clean with vinegar
Pour 120 ml of distilled vinegar into the washing machine instead of your usual detergent. Clothes can be cleaned without the harsh chemicals found in many commercial laundry detergents.
Step 2. Use vinegar as a fabric softener
Prepare 240 ml of distilled vinegar. When the washing machine reaches its last rinse cycle, pour the vinegar into the machine drum. Vinegar acts as a simple but effective natural fabric softener.
Step 3. Treat the stain from the start with vinegar
Dilute 120 ml of vinegar with 4 liters of water. Use a clean washcloth to apply the mixture directly to the stain on the garment, or pour the mixture onto the stain. After that, wash the clothes as usual.
Step 4. Whiten the clothes in the vinegar mixture
Mix 60 ml of lemon juice, 60 ml of borax and 120 ml of vinegar. Use this mixture as a lighter alternative bleach whenever you need to bleach clothes.
Step 5. Use vinegar to remove odors from clothes
If you have smelly clothes, pour 120-240 ml of vinegar directly into the washing machine on the last rinse cycle. The vinegar will remove odors from clothes, without making them smell like vinegar.
Method 2 of 2: Protecting Clothes
Step 1. Prevent the color of the clothes from fading
Pour 120 ml of distilled vinegar into the washing machine tub containing the clothes to prevent the color from fading. The same technique will prevent dark colored clothes like black and navy blue from becoming dull from repeated washing.
You can also use vinegar to preserve the color of your clothes. Pour 120 ml of vinegar into 4 liters of water. To prevent the color of the clothes from fading, add light-colored clothes to the mixture, then wash them
Step 2. Prevent the generation of static electricity and fine fibers
Pour 120 ml of distilled vinegar into the last rinse cycle of the garment. Vinegar prevents the generation of static electricity that keeps clothes from sticking to other clothes or your body. For most types of fabric, vinegar also helps prevent the buildup of fine fibers.
Step 3. Remove the dirt that has accumulated on the clothes
Regular detergents can leave soap residue on clothes that can create streaks or make the surface of the clothes feel rough. Pour 240 ml of vinegar into 4 liters of water. Soak the clothes in the mixture, then wash. The accumulated dirt will be lifted afterwards.
Residual stains are clearly visible, especially on white clothes and over time, will turn yellow. Even black clothes will look dull over time. However, soaking the clothes in a mixture of vinegar and water will help with this problem
Step 4. Clean your washing machine
Soap residue can build up in the washing machine and eventually stick to clothes. Once a month, pour 240 ml of vinegar into the washing machine tub and run a wash cycle without clothes. This spin can remove the remaining soap from the tube.
Expert Q&A
-
Can you use vinegar and laundry detergent at the same time?
You can use vinegar and laundry detergent for the same load of laundry, but you shouldn't mix the two. If you are using detergent, add vinegar in the rinse cycle after the detergent has been removed from the clothes. Otherwise, the clothes will be greasy.
-
Where should you pour vinegar in the washing machine?
This depends on the purpose for which the vinegar is used. If you want to lighten clothes, add vinegar to the bleach dispenser. To soften clothes, pour vinegar into the softener dispenser. To get rid of mild odors, pour the vinegar directly into the washing machine drum during the rinse cycle, or use it instead of detergent and add the vinegar back in the rinse cycle if you want to get rid of the strong odor.
-
How much vinegar can be added to clothes?
Use 60 ml of vinegar for very mild odors, 120 ml for moderate odors, and 240 ml for strong odors (or if you want to lighten the color of clothes).
Warning
- Make sure you only use distilled vinegar for laundry purposes.
- The vinegar solution is safe to use on most 100% cotton, pressed cotton and polyester garments.
- If you're not sure about the effect of vinegar on a particular fabric, apply a small amount of the vinegar mixture to an inconspicuous area of the fabric. If the vinegar doesn't damage the fabric, you can safely wash the garment thoroughly with the vinegar mixture.
