Vinegar is often overlooked in the laundry room, but it’s one of the best natural products to brighten whites and soften towels. If your laundry looks dull or your towels feel scratchy, vinegar might be the answer.
When added to the rinse cycle, vinegar dissolves detergent residue that can make fabrics stiff. Simply pour half to one cup of white distilled vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser. It leaves clothes feeling soft and fresh without relying on artificial scents.
The smell of vinegar fades completely once clothes dry, so no worries about lingering odors. Vinegar’s acidity also breaks down soap scum and mineral deposits that cause whites to yellow or gray. Adding a cup during rinsing can restore brightness to towels, sheets, and shirts. For stubborn stains, a paste of vinegar and baking soda applied before washing can help lift marks.
Vinegar is great at removing odors, too. It breaks down smelly molecules in workout clothes, towels, and pet bedding. For stronger smells, soak items in a vinegar-water solution for 30 minutes before washing. This leaves fabrics smelling fresh and neutral.
It also reduces lint and static cling when added to the rinse cycle, which is helpful for towels and synthetic fabrics. In areas with hard water, vinegar helps break down minerals that dull and stiffen fabrics. Adding it regularly can keep laundry soft and bright.
You can even use vinegar in the dryer by applying some to a cloth or dryer ball to reduce wrinkles and soften clothes. Just be sure never to mix vinegar with bleach, and avoid using it on delicate fabrics like silk or wool. Stick to about one cup per load to prevent any strong vinegar smell.
Vinegar is a simple, eco-friendly way to improve your laundry results. It softens, brightens, deodorizes, and fights hard water effects—all naturally and affordably.
