How to Use Vinegar in the Laundry

Vinegar was discovered more than 10,000 years ago. The amazing chemical comes from bacteria turning alcohol into acetic acid, which most people know as vinegar.Since then vinegar has found any number of uses from cooking to household chores but one of the best ways to make use of vinegar's restorative and whitening powers are to us it in laundry. Follow these tips for using white vinegar in the laundry, and it can do everything from removing sweat stains to reducing lint.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• White Vinegar
• Laundry
• Washing Machine
• Dryer

How to Use Vinegar in the Laundry

1. Get rid of sweat stains. Perspiration marks can be eliminated by soaking the area with white vinegar before laundering the clothes in the normal manner. This also deodorizes the garment as well.

2. Use to soften fabric. Use white vinegar as you would liquid fabric softener during the wash cycle. To remove the stiffness from new jeans, simple wash the jeans inside out with ½ a pint of white vinegar added the laundry.

3. Prevent fading. To prevent color fading on towels add ¼ pint of white vinegar to the wash. For handmade quilts or larger textiles soak the item in lots of cold water and ½ pint of white vinegar on the first laundering.

4. Eliminate colors running. When you wash any colors you are afraid might run, such as that new red shirt or blue jeans first add white vinegar to cold water. Next add the detergent and finally the cloths to prevent colors, running.

5. Reduce lint. Add ¼ to ½ pint of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. You will notice a distinct reduction in the amount of lint on your clothing.

6. Remove tar. To remove tar or any other sticky substance from your clothes, pour a little white vinegar over the stain, let set for a moment then launder as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• These hints are all meant to be performed using WHITE vinegar.
• Vinegar is an acid so always protect your eyes.

[tashiacalhoun]

on 6/12/2008 Great information! I have been using vinegar as a fabric softener and I love it! My clothes look and feel great!