That headline is partly true, but it oversimplifies things. White vinegar can be a useful laundry aid when used correctly, though it’s not a miracle cleaner.
Here’s how to use it effectively:
- For softer towels: Add ½ cup (120 mL) of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser during the rinse cycle. It helps remove detergent residue that can make towels feel stiff. Don’t pour it directly onto fabrics.
- For dingy whites: Add ½–1 cup (120–240 mL) of white vinegar to the wash with your regular detergent. It can help remove mineral deposits and soap residue, making whites appear brighter. It will not bleach fabrics like chlorine bleach does.
- To reduce odors: Vinegar can help neutralize some lingering smells in clothing and towels by removing odor-causing residues.
A few important cautions:
- Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. This can produce toxic chlorine gas.
- Avoid using vinegar frequently on natural stone sinks or washing machine parts that the manufacturer says are not acid-resistant. Most modern washing machines tolerate occasional use, but it’s a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s care recommendations.
- Vinegar is not a disinfectant for laundry in the way bleach is, and it won’t restore severely yellowed or stained fabrics on its own.
So, if someone says “most people use vinegar wrong,” the biggest correction is this: use it in the rinse cycle (via the fabric softener dispenser) for soft towels, and use it as a laundry additive—not as a replacement for detergent.
