SHOULD YOU USE VINEGAR IN LAUNDRY?
Using vinegar to tackle stains and odors might help streamline laundry day, but there are a few rules you need to follow. Rather than adding vinegar directly to the washing machine, it’s best to pre-treat stains with vinegar and ensure it’s rinsed out thoroughly before washing. Always check the care tag on your garments for instructions before pre-treating and washing. Read on to learn when you can and can’t use vinegar for your laundry tasks.
CAN YOU USE VINEGAR IN THE WASHING MACHINE?
Vinegar is often considered a household cleaning hack or shortcut. However, it’s best to avoid using vinegar in your washing machine because its acidity can damage certain parts, like your machine’s rubber components, over time. Vinegar may be beneficial for treating stains and odors if it is rinsed thoroughly from your garment afterward, but it should be avoided in your washing machine, both to clean clothes or to clean the machine itself.
6 WAYS TO USE VINEGAR IN LAUNDRY
Vinegar may offer versatile solutions to everyday laundry tasks, from stain removal to whitening. Read on to learn about the benefits of vinegar to potentially enhance your laundry routine.
1. DEODORANT STAIN REMOVAL
You may be able to remove deodorant stains from clothing with vinegar. Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 4 cups of warm water and test the solution on a hidden area of your shirt first. Apply the mixture to the stain, gently massaging it in. For tough stains, soak the shirt directly in the solution. Rinse thoroughly and machine wash per the care tag’s instructions.
2. BRIGHTEN YOUR WHITES
You can potentially revive the brightness of your white clothes with whitening agents like oxygen bleach, baking soda or vinegar. Always avoid combining vinegar and bleach to avoid dangerous fumes, and be sure to check the laundry care label beforehand.
3. DEEP CLEANING FOR BRAS
If you have bras that need some extra care, try these steps. Begin by pretreating sweat stains with mild detergent. Next, soak bras in a mixture of water and ¼ cup of vinegar to combat sweat odors. Then, rinse thoroughly before machine washing.
4. REMOVING COFFEE STAINS
Vinegar may work as a coffee stain remover. Simply apply a vinegar, detergent and water solution to the stained spot, then rinse completely and machine wash per the care tag instructions.
5. REMOVING GRASS STAINS
Vinegar may be useful for removing grass stains from clothing. Check your garment’s care tag before treating it, and be sure to rinse it thoroughly before placing it in the washing machine.
HOW TO USE VINEGAR IN LAUNDRY
Vinegar is a versatile and budget-friendly household staple that can be useful for some household tasks, including your laundry routine. However, while vinegar can be beneficial for pre-treating stains or whitening fabrics, it should never be directly added to the washing machine, as it may interfere with your detergent’s effectiveness and potentially damage the machine.
SUPPLIES
Vinegar
Detergent, such as Swash® Laundry Detergent1
Water
Baking soda (optional)
TOOLS
Washing machine, such as a Maytag brand washer
Bowl or large basin
STEP 1: CHECK THE CARE TAG
Before treating stains or odors with vinegar, check your garment’s care tag for washing and drying instructions and make sure that it’s okay to use vinegar. Once you’ve decided which water temperature will be best for your fabric, you are ready to begin.
STEP 2: PREPARE A CLEANING SOLUTION
Whether you are going to soak your garment in a vinegar solution or just dab it on a stain, start by creating a solution of two parts water to one part vinegar.
STEP 3: TEST THE FABRIC
Test the fabric in an inconspicuous location before using a cleaning solution, such as vinegar and water. Just dab the cleaning solution on the fabric in an unnoticeable place to help ensure that damage or discoloration does not occur.
STEP 4: TREAT THE GARMENT
Soak the garment or dab the vinegar solution on the stain. You may want to create a stain-removal paste with baking soda for more stubborn stains.
STEP 5: RINSE THOROUGHLY
It is important to rinse the item before placing it in the washing machine. You don’t want to use vinegar directly in the washing machine because it may cause damage. It can also interfere with your laundry detergent’s capabilities.
STEP 6: MACHINE WASH AND LINE DRY
Machine wash your item using the best wash cycle according to the care tag instructions, and be sure to line dry. The heat from tumble drying can cause a stain to set if it is not fully removed.
STEP 7: REPEAT, IF NEEDED
If the stain or odor removal process doesn’t work the first time, you may want to repeat the process.
HOW DO YOU WHITEN CLOTHES WITH VINEGAR?
Vinegar might be useful in brightening your white clothing. However, never mix vinegar and bleach, as it is toxic. Always check the laundry care label beforehand, too.
WHAT DOES WHITE VINEGAR DO TO COLORED CLOTHES?
Vinegar likely won’t damage colored clothing. It might even be able to help stop colors from fading.
EXPLORE MAYTAG® WASHERS
Maytag® washing machines have the major cleaning muscle you need to power through laundry day. Select models are equipped with a 16-Hr Fresh Hold® option that keeps clean clothes smelling fresh in the washer with an internal fan and intermittent tumbling for up to 16 hours after the wash cycle ends.
LEARN MORE WITH MAYTAG BRAND
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1. Swash® products and the recommending brands’ products are all owned and distributed by Whirlpool Corporation.
