White Vinegar Laundry Hacks You Need To Know About

You probably do your laundry on a regular basis without giving it a second thought, going through the motions as you think about what's for dinner. But the way you wash your clothes, sheets, and towels is actually quite important, because you surround yourself with these fabrics all day long. So when you use harsh chemicals to clean your clothes, those same chemicals will be touching your skin, possibly causing an allergic reaction (per Healthline). Plus, those harsh chemicals drain out of your washer and pollute the environment — potentially for years to come, according to SF Gate.

Given this info, it should come as no surprise that more and more consumers today are turning away from synthetic cleaning products and embracing natural alternatives instead — including distilled white vinegar. This multitasker is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, cheap, and — best of all — effective.

It works wonders on dirty laundry, too. Keep reading for all the white vinegar laundry hacks you need to know about.

You may be surprised to learn that you can replace most of the products in your laundry room with distilled white vinegar. First, it works great as a simple alternative to laundry detergent because it neutralizes odors, has antibacterial properties, and helps remove dirt from clothing by loosening zinc salts and aluminum chloride, according to Healthline. Just add half a cup to the detergent cup in your washer, and run the cycle like normal.

To deal with stains on clothing, make a pretreatment solution by mixing one gallon of water with one cup of vinegar. Apply this mixture to a clean cloth, and gently rub it into the stain, or pour the solution directly onto the clothing. Then, wash like usual.

Has your favorite white T-shirt gotten dingy and yellow? Brighten it by mixing a bleach substitute containing half a cup vinegar, half a cup lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon borax. Add it to a load of whites, and wash like normal. 

If you're one of those people who simply has to wash new clothes before wearing them, try using vinegar, which can help get rid of chemicals from the manufacturing process (per Treehugger). Just add half a cup to the washing water. This same method can also prevent lint and pet hair from sticking to your clothes. It's a win-win-win!