Okay, y’all. I have the very best laundry tip to share that you are not going to believe the difference it makes in your laundry.
I’ve been using this method for my laundry for a little over a year and can not believe the difference it has made.
I never, ever, ever want to go back.
Like ever.
Are you ready for the tip?
Vinegar.
Plain ol distilled white vinegar is a huge life saver, or should I say, laundry saver.
When we built our house, we bought a new washer and dryer set for our laundry room. I was beyond thrilled with this “new and improved” design and just knew that it was the best thing since sliced bread in the laundry department.
Well, after a little while I started noticing a musty smell in our laundry.
The towels seemed to be the worst.
It was horrible!
If you’ve ever had that same problem, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
I tried everything from using less detergent, cleaning out the seals of my washing machine at least once a month, buying washing machine cleaner, to calling a repairman. Then, in a conversation one day while talking to my Mama about my Grandmother hanging clothes on a drying line and ironing my Granddaddy’s overalls until they could stand up by themselves, Mama mentioned that my Grandmother was a firm believer in using white vinegar in her laundry.
Why in the world had I forgotten that little fact.
When I began using it in my laundry, I noticed no more mildew smell from my front-load washing machine, my towels seemed fluffier, and whites whiter. As a bonus during the fall and winter when we’ve been outside around our firepit, there was no more residual smell of smoke on our clothes afterward.
Using Vinegar in Laundry
I simply add 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar into each load of laundry.
For sheets, towels, and stained linens, I pour distilled white vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser of my washing machine.
As with any change in your laundry routine, I suggest you read your machine’s manual to make sure there are no issues with using vinegar in your washing machine.
I got this recipe from Maytag after experiencing the same ‘stank’ from my towels and trying everything to get rid of it.
Once a month: Put in the detergent dispenser: 1 cup bleach and 1 cup dishwashing powder (either Sunlight OR Cascade Complete – important to use only these, they have higher phosphate); then 1 cup bleach in the bleach dispenser. Use Hot water and run on the Heavy wash cycle.
Of course it helps to wipe down the gaskets, and let the washer dry out before closing the door. In our house, we could not leave the door open, so I cut a koozie up and tuck it in the lock so the washer can’t close all the way. It did burn out my light, but I no longer have the stank of mildew.
Since using vinegar to clean it out, I now use it instead of fabric softener (but add dryer sheets periodically), and sometimes baking soda in the loads that are stinky or full sweaty workout stuff and LOVE how fresh my laundry smells.
Something else you can do is add hydrogen peroxide to the wash. That is the “secret” ingredient in all the “oxy” type products. Cheap and brightens laundry right up.
Great tip! I’ve been using vinegar for a while, and it’s awesome!
This is such a great tip! I am totally going to try this!
No one mentioned leaving the washer door open until the rim is dry. I leave my washer door open for a couple of hours after I finish my laundry and do not have any smell.
Jody, I KNOW you’re on the right track. I’ve been doing laundry regularly for over 50 years and have never experienced any bad smell so many have mentioned. I, too, hold the lid of my top loading washer open between loads with a tennis ball that’s dedicated to this task.
I love using vinegar in my wash. We have well water and over time my towels start to smell musty. Vinegar does the trick everytime! 🙂
I’ve been putting Borax in with our towels for a while and it completely got rid of the musty smell in our frontloader. 1/2 c. in the drum right before you put the towels in.
Giving this a try today. My towels have been smelling funky for a while now. Hope this works. BTW I read an article about putting aspirin in with laundry to help fight underarm stains. About six per load. While we haven’t got new undershirts for DH the existing stains have lightened, and I don’t use bleach, more mishaps than worth it when teens are around.
I’m going to start doing this more often! I’ve only used it when someone, ok it’s me, forgets to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer for a day or two. A little vinegar in the rinse freshens them right up. Now, I’m going to use it for everything! Thanks!
I used to do this faithfully several years ago and just got out of the habit. Thank you so much for posting this reminder. I am going to stop and get a gallon jug of vinegar on my way home. No more smelly towels for my family! Thanks!