How To Use Vinegar in Laundry

Vinegar? In the laundry? It sounds like one of those old wives' tales. However, in truth, vinegar can play a useful role in cleaning when used appropriately. You just need a bit of know-how to get the best out of this store cupboard ingredient. 

So, let’s break down what it actually does, when you shouldn’t use it, and how to make it part of a smarter, gentler laundry routine.

Benefits of Using Vinegar in Laundry

Neutralizes Odors Naturally

Most people associate vinegar with food or cooking. Perhaps lathered on a steaming fish and chips or as a delicate accompaniment to a French dressing for a salad, but that's just the start. 

One benefit we rarely consider is its role in laundry, and how it neutralizes odors at the source. The acetic acid in white vinegar helps break down sweat, mildew, and general laundry funk that tends to linger in gym clothes or forgotten towels. In short, vinegar helps reduce lingering odours in fabrics that retain sweat or mildew.

Softens Fabrics 

Fabric softeners are sometimes a little like bleach: strong and punchy, they get the job done, but they are not always great for us. They're often loaded with artificial fragrances and questionable ingredients, but vinegar works differently. It helps dissolve detergent residue that can make clothes feel stiff over time, meaning items like towels may feel softer over time, and clothes feel like clothes instead of cardboard.

Helps Prevent Detergent Build-Up

If your machine sees a lot of action, it’s likely dealing with layers of detergent and minerals from hard water. A vinegar rinse helps flush that out. It’s like giving your washer a detox: fewer residues, fewer blockages, and fresher loads overall. So, you can run a vinegar cycle through occasionally to keep your washing machine from smelling like the inside of a gym bag.

Can Boost Brightness in Whites

We've all got one of those “white” t-shirts that, over time, has taken on a questionable shade of beige. One option is to use one of those high-strength whitening fabric softeners you see in supermarkets, or some vinegar with some acidity, which helps strip away the mineral and detergent build-up that dulls your whites. Vinegar does not bleach, but may help reduce visible dullness in white fabrics.

Useful for Hard Water Areas

If you live in a hard water area, vinegar’s mildly acidic nature helps soften the water, which can make your detergent work better. That means less detergent per load and clothes that don’t come out feeling stiff or crunchy.

Knowing When Not To Use Vinegar in Laundry

Don’t Mix with Bleach, Ever

This one’s not just a bad idea; it’s dangerous. Mixing vinegar and bleach creates toxic chlorine gas, which is hazardous to your health. So if bleach is part of your stain-fighting arsenal, keep it away from your vinegar bottle. Use one or the other, not both.

Avoid Using on Delicate Elastic Fabrics

Acid and elastic aren't always the best of friends. When elastic fibers are exposed to vinegar over a sustained period, they begin to weaken, which can mean saggy yoga trousers and flappy fitted sheets that used to fit snugly over your mattress. If the fabric relies on stretch, skip the vinegar or limit it to the rinse cycle once in a while.

Not Ideal for Specialty or Water-Repellent Fabrics

Cloth items with a water-resistant finish, such as outdoor gear or treated jackets, can lose their protective layer when exposed to vinegar because the acid is essentially breaking down the outer coating. So keep away from that expensive Gore-Tex jacket. 

How To Use Vinegar for Stain Treatment

One of the best uses for vinegar is stain removal, which allows its strong acidity to work its magic, but only in a very targeted area. This is great for those dinner spills or persistent armpit stains that are about as unappealing as it comes. Here's how to do it:

1. Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water and dab it directly onto the stain. 
2. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash as usual. 
3. If needed, pour half a cup of white vinegar directly into the fabric softener compartment or with the detergent sheets before the wash. This ensures it’s released during the rinse cycle, helping to break down detergent residue and reduce odors without interfering with your detergent.

How Often Should You Use Vinegar in Laundry?

Once a week is plenty for most households. It’s convenient if you’re washing gym wear, towels, or anything that tends to hang onto smells. You don’t need to add it every cycle - just when your clothes need a refresh or your machine needs a little clean-out.

Preventing Laundry Damage While Using Vinegar

Don’t forget, vinegar is still an acid, albeit a mild one. To keep your clothes and machine happy, use distilled white vinegar (not cleaning vinegar or malt vinegar) and stick to small amounts; a half-cup will do. 

Always add it to the rinse cycle if you're concerned about contact with more sensitive fabrics. And don’t use it alongside products with strong chemical ingredients, especially bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.

If you're using vinegar regularly, consider alternating with a simple detergent-only wash every now and then to maintain fabric balance and prevent over-acidifying your laundry cycles.

Alternatives to Using Vinegar in Laundry

Not into the vinegar smell, or just want something even simpler? You’ve got options. Baking soda is another household hero that helps neutralize odors and soften water, and you can also look into switching to dermatologist-tested detergent sheets, like the ones from Freddie. They dissolve in hot or cold water and are made without dyes, parabens, or bleach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Vinegar and Laundry Detergent Together?

Yes, just not in the same compartment. Vinegar should go in the fabric softener drawer or be added during the rinse cycle. That way, it won’t interfere with your detergent, and you’ll still benefit from both.

Where Do You Put Vinegar When Washing Clothes?

Add it to the fabric softener compartment if your machine has one. If not, wait for the rinse cycle and pour it directly into the drum. Don’t mix it with detergent in the main compartment, as they work better apart.

Will Clothes Smell Like Vinegar if You Wash Them With Vinegar?

Not if you use the right amount. There might be a faint whiff when the clothes first come out, still damp, but once aired, you shouldn't be able to smell the vinegar at all. 

Vinegar Plays a Role in Odor Control and Residue Management

So, is vinegar the magical cure-all we've all been waiting for? Not quite, but if you're looking for a storecupboard way to address dullness and residual buildup in light-coloured garments, you could do much worse than vinegar. It helps keep clothes fresher, softens fabric, and supports a clean washing machine, all without adding harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances.

And even better, when you pair it with Freddie’s laundry detergent sheets, you get a pairing that complements your routine. Freddie’s sheets are dermatologist-tested and designed to simplify your laundry habits.