This headline is about using white distilled vinegar in laundry as an alternative to fabric softener and as a way to help remove detergent residue and odors.
The right way to use it
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Use plain white distilled vinegar, not flavored or colored vinegar.
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For a typical washing machine, add roughly ½ cup (120 mL) to the fabric-softener compartment so it is released during the rinse cycle. For a smaller load, less may be sufficient.
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Don’t pour vinegar directly onto clothes when you can use the dispenser, particularly with delicate fabrics.
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Don’t combine vinegar with chlorine bleach. Mixing them can produce dangerous chlorine gas.
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Vinegar isn’t a magic whitening agent. It can help remove residue and odors, which may make whites and towels feel fresher, but oxygen bleach or a suitable laundry detergent is more effective for significant whitening.
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Avoid relying on vinegar every wash if your machine manufacturer advises against acidic products, since repeated use may affect some rubber components over time.
For towels
Vinegar can help remove detergent and softener buildup, which can make towels feel less absorbent. If towels have become coated with fabric softener, washing them without softener and occasionally using vinegar in the rinse can help restore absorbency.
So the “secret” isn’t that vinegar magically makes everything whiter and softer—it’s mainly that using the correct amount in the rinse compartment can help reduce residue without coating fabrics the way conventional fabric softener can.
