The Clothing Material That You Do Not Want To Wash With Vinegar

Vinegar is a versatile cleaning tool that can save the day in many cases. The household substance can be used to make a DIY cleaning spray, remove unpleasant smells, and even freshen up laundry. When you use vinegar in laundry, it can lift stains while brightening your colors and softening your fabric. This is true for most clothes, but not all, so it's crucial to know what pieces are safe with vinegar. One category of clothing that you don't want to wash with vinegar is anything that contains elastic, because it can break down their elasticity.

Vinegar is used in washing laundry because of its effectiveness at removing stains and odors. Depending on the type of issue, it can be used in a soaking solution to pretreat stains, or poured directly into the laundry machine. It isn't an everyday thing, however, because its acidity can damage the machine, so it should only be used occasionally. In the same way, vinegar's acidity can damage elastic.

When added to a laundry routine, the acidity of vinegar will eventually break down the elasticity in clothes, affecting their ability to assist comfortable movement. Examples of elastic clothes are gym clothes, some types of underwear, and swimwear. By avoiding vinegar when washing these pieces, you keep them in good condition for longer so you don't have to replace them as quickly. 

Instead of washing with vinegar, we recommend using enzymatic detergents to clean and freshen your athletic clothes. They are much better because they are made to break down the protein-based soils and odors in your gym clothes. Baking soda can also help deodorize your smelly workout gear. You can use it either in a presoak or added into the machine. For elastic underwear and swimwear, all you need is to hand wash or wash on a delicate cycle with a mild detergent. If you absolutely need to use vinegar for any reason when washing elastic pieces, dilute it with water first. After washing, avoid putting them in the dryer because that can also damage the material. We recommend air drying or using the machine's air-dry setting at least.