I started using distilled white vinegar in my laundry when I was learning how to wash cloth diapers. I fill a Downy ball 1/2 to 2/3 full and toss it in to make the diapers softer and reduce static cling. I have to admit, the first time I tried it I was convinced my diapers would come out smelling horrible. But they didn’t! Some use an extra rinse to make sure the vinegar smell doesn’t linger but I have never had to.
I still didn’t have the nerve to use it in my normal laundry.
Until I recently ran out of fabric softener. Suddenly I had the motivation. And guess what? My clothes may not smell like a fresh mountain river, but the vinegar sure does just about everything else.
From www.vinegartips.com:
Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. The acid in white distilled vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents. Besides removing soap, white distilled vinegar prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.
I had mentioned before that I make my own laundry soap. I also mentioned that I found out that the particular recipe I use can leave build-up on clothes and in the washing machine.
Well, guess what? Vinegar removes build-up, whereas fabric softener is more prone to leave build-up. Maybe I won’t have to quit using my homemade detergent after all.
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More frugal tips conveniently located here.
Vinegar is also good for coloring easter eggs. 🙂
I am just now beginning to use vinegar for most of my cleaning. It smells funny while it is still wet, but once it drys, the house smells clean, but not sickening form all those chemicals. Plus, I can let my prechoolers “help” me clean now.
Beth, I’m glad you made this post! I was about to ask how you did it. As you know, we recently moved and now I must use precious quarters to do laundry. To save money, I was hanging our clothes to dry but as you know, it makes the clothes kind of rough. I’m excited to try it!
Mommy – (it feels weird calling you that – you’re not my mommy! :-P) cleaning the whole house with vinegar? Like… furniture polish? And… for floors? Oh, if it’s true – the money I will save!
Larissa –
Don’t expect your clothes to be as soft as they are when you pull them out of the dryer. Sadly, line drying will never replace your dryer in that aspect. But yes, it does work as a fabric softener. 🙂
And I am grimacing for you in your newly coin-operated laundry situation. Have you seen the post where I shared how Josh hooked up our washer to the plumbing beneath the sink? Maybe that could work for you, too!
I did see that post. And in fact, we did have the option of getting an apartment with washer and dryer hook ups but we don’t have a washing machine and don’t really have the budget for one right now.
So how did you dry your clothes at your old apartment? Sorry, I assumed you had a washer.
Our previous two apartments both had washer/dryer hookups. When we moved here, they had to go into storage; we were intending to sell them.
Until that fateful day, when my engineering husband took a look under the sink and said, “You know, I bet I could…”
Don’t feel bad about assuming we had a washer. The first place we lived was actually a house a relative of Daniel’s was fixing up to sell for profit and it had a washer and dryer in it. They were old and it sounded like a fight club in the basement but they worked. Before you get jealous that we were living in a house, just know that we lived out of two room while they did construction on the rest of the house. Then when the master bedroom was done, we moved our bedroom in there. The other room was our kitchen cupboards/dining room/living room/storage room. Fun times. Anyhow, the last apartment we lived in was a complete apartment in the basement of a house. We had our own washer and dryer to use and the owners had their own upstairs. We were spoiled in that regard but there was no dishwasher in the kitchen. Now we have a dishwasher but no washer and dyer. 🙂 Daniel and I talked about what we wanted in an apartment the first time we were looking for one and our ideal would be to have a gas stove, dishwasher, and a washer and dryer. We’re happy if we at least get one of those wishes. So far we’ve only gotten one at a time.
Okay, so I’m a bit late commenting. That’s the story of my blogging history since. . . engagement? 😉
I’ve used vinegar as a clarifier for hair as well, and it works WONDERFULLY. Just either pour it straight on the hair (mostly aiming at the scalp, but not the eyes), or dilute it, at least a tablespoon per cup, or so. But. . . don’t use it too frequently, or it has an “ick” effect on your hair. One use every so often makes my hair light and bouncy; using it too often makes it flat and icky. You may want to use infrequently with your laundry as well, if it doesn’t start to work as nice. Just a thought :-).