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’ve been wondering myself about the musky towels… They are horrible! lol I am excited to try this. I too have a top loading washer, which locks when in use. Do I add the 1/4 cup vinegar where you’d normally put the softener?
That’s what I’d do, Ann.
All of this comments included is soooo interesting!!!
Been doing this for a couple months after seeing on here. Really works!!! Between this and leaving washer door open when not in use- the washer actually smells really good! Like the detergent! No more smell at all in washer or towels.
I use vinegar in EVERY load I do. I have 2 cats and if I don’t clean their litter box DAILY they like to use the dirty laundry. At one point I was washing every load twice and couldn’t get rid of the smell…..since vinegar is sooo powerful I gave it a shot….got my clothes smelling clean and softer in 1wash!!!! I probably add too much, I tend to use about 1-2 cups per load and have never had a problem with my clothes smelling like that nasty vinegar smell. Wouldn’t wash any other way!
I have used the vinegar trick as a replacement for fabric softener for awhile. I also add several drops of Tea Tree Oil with the vinegar to help with the fresh smell. Works beautifully
We have a brand new – fancy-dancy top loader washer. The first NEW appliances I have ever had. The lid locks once you start the cycle, so I can’t add during the the rinse cycle.
My Mom is over-the-top nuts about Vinegar and Baking Soda use for anything in the house. So after listening and listening to her talk about it – I’ve compromised on THIS:
I buy some good smelling fabric softener and mix ‘just a tad’ into my jug that I put my vinegar in. It’s already pre-mixed and a smaller container to handle than the big gallon jug. I just seem to pour that stuff everywhere if it’s in such a big container.
It softens wonderfully and I still get the hint of ‘exhilaration’ smell by adding traditional softener.
I’m working on the full monty – but until I get there… my mixture is going to be just fine.
I have also read you can add a little hair condition with the vinegar to give it the good smell. Haven’t tried it myself yet but it is on my to do list as soon as my fabric softener is all gone.
I’ve tried using conditioner with the vinegar but the vinegar cleans away all the scent. I dropped the conditioner and stuck with the vinegar because it works! Even though I’ve had no problem using vinegar as a laundry softener, I plan on making wool dryer balls this week for added benefit (and I think it will be fun). I will be testing out soaking the wool balls in my favorite smelling softener, not for softening, but I to like scented laundry.
I’ve been using vinegar for about a year, due to the musty towel odors, and it is doing a fabulous job. I also stopped adding dryer softener sheets to the towels. Vinegar is a natural softener. I love the way the towels smell now. FYI, I have been rinsing my hair with vinegar for about 5 years. I began getting small, painful acne on my scalp that was actually folliculitis – it also caused my head to itch like crazy. After googling treatments and spending money on special shampoos that were totally worthless, I decided to give it a try. It costs just pennies a week and works wonderfully. The vinegar odor disappears as soon as the hair dries.
How much vinegar do you use for your head? Like a capful or a cupfull? I have been trying to get rid of the itchys on my head for some time and none of the special shampoos seem to work.
Sandy…I’ve never had severe scalp issues, just itchy a bit. I have been reading about the MANY MANY benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for awhile. Turns out it’s awesome for skin and hair. I bought a refillable ketchup bottle and I filled it half with ACV and half with water. That ratio can be adjusted to each persons needs. I leave the bottle in the shower. After shampooing I run the thin tip of the bottle filled with ACV mixture along the hair lines of my scalp then finger massage. I also put some into my hair. It naturally conditions the hair and you do not need to use store bought conditioner (save $$ big time). Yes, it smells bad and be careful not to get any in your eyes. Once you’re hair is dry, the smell is gone. It has helped my itchy scalp and after almost 4 months of doing this, my hair is growing faster and is healthier.
Another way I use ACV is by using a water/ACV mixture (again, adjusted to personal needs) as a facial toner. I don’t have bad break outs, but my friend does. I gave her the mixture and saw her two weeks later…Big Improvement for her!
I hope this helps!
I made sure to buy a washer with the “Sanitary Wash” option, which means it heats the water to 90C – very nice for boiling the germs out of towels and sheets (our grandmothers used to do that too, but stovetop). Between running that cycle periodically, and _always_ leaving the door open, so far we’ve been spared the mildew. The vinegar is cheaper though, and certainly smaller carbon footprint!
This is brilliant! Can you clarify if you add the vinegar in addition to your normal laundry detergent or alone? Is there any risk in mixing vinegar with your normal laundry detergent?
Yes, I still use my normal laundry detergent along with the distilled white vinegar. I’ve not had any issues with using both.
A friend of mine suggested VODKA for the same reason. Kind of expensive compared to vinegar, but I bet the laundry is happy. Done the vinegar and the leaving open the washer door post laundry. Now, if I could just get the spouse to quit nagging me about putting too much in at once …