Vinegar: The Secret to Brighter Clothes and Softer Towels (But Many People Don’t Use It Correctly). This is the correct way.

5. **Cuts Through Soap Scum**: Fabric softeners and detergents often leave a residue behind, which can make clothes feel less soft and even contribute to skin irritation. Vinegar helps remove this buildup, allowing your laundry to come out cleaner and fresher.

### The Correct Way to Use Vinegar in Your Laundry:

Now that we know vinegar can do wonders for your laundry, let’s discuss the proper way to use it. Using vinegar incorrectly can lead to less-than-optimal results. Here’s how to get the most out of vinegar in your laundry:

#### 1. **Add Vinegar During the Rinse Cycle**:
One of the most common mistakes people make when using vinegar in laundry is adding it directly into the wash cycle with detergent. While vinegar can help to remove detergent buildup, adding it in with detergent may cancel out its effectiveness.

The right way to use vinegar is to add it during the **rinse cycle**, when your clothes are washed and ready to be rinsed of all the detergent. This ensures that the vinegar has time to break down any detergent or fabric softener residue without interfering with the cleaning process.

You can either:
– **Add vinegar to the fabric softener compartment** of your washing machine (most machines have a compartment for fabric softener that releases at the right time in the rinse cycle).
– **Pour vinegar directly into the drum** of your washing machine during the rinse cycle if your machine doesn’t have a fabric softener compartment.

#### 2. **Use the Right Amount**:
Vinegar is incredibly effective, so a little goes a long way. You don’t need to overload your laundry with vinegar to get the benefits. Typically, **half a cup to a full cup** of distilled white vinegar is sufficient for a regular load of laundry.

If you have a particularly large load or are dealing with stubborn odors or detergent buildup, you can add a little extra vinegar, but avoid using too much. Overdoing it could lead to a vinegary smell or cause excess acid, which could be harsh on delicate fabrics.

#### 3. **Choose the Right Type of Vinegar**:
The best type of vinegar to use for laundry is **white distilled vinegar**. This is because it is colorless and has no added fragrances or dyes, making it safe for all types of fabrics. **Apple cider vinegar** may have a stronger odor and could stain lighter fabrics, so it’s not recommended for laundry.

#### 4. **Don’t Mix Vinegar with Bleach**:
While vinegar is a powerful cleaner, it’s important to avoid mixing it with bleach in the washing machine. Combining these two ingredients can create harmful fumes and may even damage your clothes. Stick to using vinegar alone or with your regular detergent for the best results.

#### 5. **Use Vinegar to Pre-Soak Stubborn Clothes**:
For clothes that have a lot of buildup, stains, or odors (like gym clothes or towels that have a mildew smell), you can pre-soak them in a mixture of water and vinegar. Fill a bucket or your washing machine with warm water and add about one cup of vinegar. Let the clothes soak for 30 minutes to an hour before washing them as usual. This pre-soak helps to break down odors and buildup for a deeper clean.

### Other Ways to Use Vinegar for Laundry:

– **Softening Towels**: For towels that have become stiff over time, add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle and run the towels through a gentle wash. This will help restore their softness and absorbency.

– **Brightening Whites**: Vinegar works wonders on white clothes, especially when you need to restore their brightness. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle for whiter whites and to remove any yellowing caused by sweat or deodorant.

– **Dealing with Pet Odors**: If your laundry has stubborn pet odors, vinegar can help neutralize them. Simply add half a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle to remove any lingering smells from your clothes or bedding.

### Why Vinegar is a Better Alternative to Fabric Softener:

– **Non-toxic and Eco-Friendly**: Vinegar is a natural, non-toxic solution that’s gentle on both your clothes and the environment. Unlike conventional fabric softeners, which are often filled with chemicals and fragrances, vinegar is safe, eco-friendly, and budget-friendly.

– **No Chemical Residue**: Fabric softeners often leave a waxy coating on clothes, which can build up over time and make fabrics feel stiff. Vinegar helps to dissolve any detergent or fabric softener buildup and leaves no residue behind, ensuring your clothes feel fresh and clean.

– **Prevents Fading**: Fabric softeners can contribute to fading over time, but vinegar helps to maintain the vibrancy of your clothes, keeping them looking newer for longer.

### Conclusion

Vinegar is a laundry game-changer—if you know how to use it properly. By adding it during the rinse cycle and using the right amount, you can brighten your clothes, soften your towels, and keep your laundry smelling fresh and clean. Whether you’re looking to reduce fabric softener buildup, remove odors, or restore the softness to your towels, vinegar is the secret ingredient that can work wonders.

Don’t miss out on the laundry-enhancing benefits of vinegar. Incorporate it into your routine today and experience the difference for yourself—your clothes and towels will thank you!