Make Naturally Scented Vinegars For The Best Smelling Laundry

After washing your clothes, there's only one thing left to do — take a deep breath and get a good whiff. Fresh linen is an air freshener scent for a reason. The smell of clean clothes is a hug for your nostrils, and you can get the tantalizing fragrance without any harsh chemicals thanks to white distilled vinegar. Infusing the acid with herbs, flowers, fruit peels, and spices creates a naturally scented mix that freshens your laundry.

Vinegar is already a popular ingredient people add to their laundry as a fabric softener replacement or detergent booster. It deodorizers and conditions your clothing, too. Further, it's hypoallergenic, making vinegar a great solution for those trying to avoid harsh, irritating chemicals in their laundry. With an added scent, the acid won't just eliminate odors, but will also give your garments a lovely fragrance. Plus, infused vinegar can be used as a cleaning spray for other areas in your home too and is a natural way to mask the smell of the vinegar while cleaning. The solution is easy to make, and you can use whatever you have on hand, from garden trimmings to food scraps.

First, decide what scent you want for your vinegar. For a citrusy pop, try orange, lemon, and grapefruit peels. Mint leaves, rosemary sprigs, and pine needles provide herbaceous notes, while lavender and chamomile are a few picks for floral fragrances. You can even use dried spices. Next, add your mix of herbs, flowers, and fruit peels to a glass jar, filling it halfway. Then, pour in the white distilled vinegar to the top and secure it with the lid. Store the mixture away from the sunlight and let it steep for a week or two. The longer it brews, the stronger the scent will be. Afterward, strain the solution and the vinegar will be ready to leave your clothes smelling fresh.

If you don't want to wait weeks for your fragrant booster, speed up the process by heating the vinegar. Bring the liquid to a near boil in the microwave or stovetop, before pouring it into the jar with the scented foliage. If the glass jar isn't heat-safe, add the fruit peels or herbs to the pot of vinegar first, then let the liquid cool to room temperature, before transferring it to the jar. Furthermore, if you don't have fresh flowers or herbs handy, essential oils are an easy cheat. Just add a few drops to the vinegar and shake. Once the vinegar is scented to your liking, you can add a ¼ cup of the liquid to the fabric softener section of your washing machine as a simple white vinegar laundry hack.