Can I put vinegar in my washing machine?

Table of Contents

What is vinegar?

Vinegar is an acidic liquid that is commonly used for cooking, cleaning, and other household purposes. The main ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid, which gives vinegar its sour taste and strong odor.

Vinegar is made through the fermentation of ethanol, often from plant-based sources like grapes, apples, rice, or grains. Through this fermentation process, the natural sugars in the starting ingredients are converted into acetic acid. The acetic acid concentration in vinegar typically ranges from 4-8%.

Some common types of vinegar include:

White vinegar: Made from grains like wheat or corn, white vinegar has a harsh flavor and aroma.
Apple cider vinegar: Made from apples, apple cider vinegar has a mellow, fruity flavor.

Wine vinegar: Produced from red or white wine, it retains some of the flavor of the original wine.
Rice vinegar: Made from rice wine, rice vinegar is popular in Asian cooking.
Balsamic vinegar: An aged, concentrated vinegar with a complex sweet and sour flavor.

In addition to being used as an ingredient, vinegar can also be an effective natural cleaner due to its antibacterial properties. Many people use diluted vinegar solutions for cleaning countertops, windows, floors, and other surfaces.

Is it safe to put vinegar in a washing machine?

Yes, it is generally safe to use vinegar in your washing machine. Here are some key points about adding vinegar to wash cycles:

Vinegar is an acidic solution, with a typical pH around 2-3. This acidity helps break down dirt, debris, and stains on clothing.

White distilled vinegar is usually recommended for laundry purposes. It has a lower acetic acid concentration (4-7%) than other vinegars, making it a better choice for fabric.
Vinegar is a natural softener and static reducer. The acetic acid interacts with the positively charged cations in hard water to prevent them from binding to fabric.
It acts as a natural fabric brightener by removing dulling soap residue and minerals.

Vinegar contains antibacterial properties that help sanitize laundry and eliminate odors.
It is affordable, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly compared to harsher detergents and chemical cleaners.

However, there are also some potential downsides to be aware of:

Undiluted vinegar has a strong odor that can transfer to clothes. Be sure to dilute it properly.
Vinegar should not come into direct contact with the washing machine drum, which can be damaged by prolonged exposure.
Too much vinegar can damage elastic, cationic fabrics, and clothing dyes.

It is not as effective at cleaning oils and grease as laundry detergent.

How much vinegar should I use in the washing machine?

The amount of vinegar you should use depends on the size of your load and washing machine:

For a top-loading machine: Use 1/4 – 1/2 cup of vinegar per load.

For a front-loading high-efficiency (HE) washer: Use 1/4 – 1/3 cup per load.
For a medium/large capacity washer: Use up to 1 cup vinegar per load.
For a small portable washing machine: Use 1-2 tablespoons vinegar per load.

To maximize cleaning power, create a vinegar washing solution by diluting with water:

For regular loads: Mix 1 cup vinegar with 1 cup water.
For extra dirty loads: Mix 1 cup vinegar with 1/2 cup water.

For brightening whites: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 1 gallon water.

If using vinegar with laundry detergent, add the vinegar to the washing machine drum first before adding clothes and detergent. This allows the vinegar to distribute evenly.

Should I use vinegar every time I do laundry?

No, vinegar does not need to be used in every laundry load. Here are some guidelines on when to use vinegar:

For everyday laundry, use detergent only.
Add vinegar periodically, such as once per week or every 3-4 loads, for its brightening, deodorizing, and sanitizing effects.
Use vinegar for specific laundry loads:
- Towels or workout clothes to remove odors
- Diapers to sanitize
- Whites to brighten
- Greasy clothes to cut through oil and grime
Increase vinegar frequency if you have hard water to help soften laundry.

Overusing vinegar can lead to damaged fabrics and washing machine parts. Moderation is key.

What are the benefits of using vinegar in laundry?

There are several advantages that make vinegar a useful laundry aid:

Natural softener: Vinegar naturally softens fabrics by removing soap residue and mineral buildup.
Acts as a fabric brightener: The acetic acid in vinegar dissolves alkali detergent to restore brightness, especially to white fabrics.

Removes odors: The antibacterial aspects of vinegar kill odor-causing bacteria in clothes.
Cuts grease: Vinegar can help break down fats, oils and grease that get embedded in fabrics.
Prevents dye transfer: By keeping fabric fibers from absorbing dyes, vinegar prevents colors from bleeding into other clothes.

Cleans the washing machine: Periodically running a vinegar-only cycle helps remove soap scum and mineral deposits that can build up in the drum and pipes.

In addition to these laundry benefits, vinegar is affordable, non-toxic, and better for the environment compared to fabric softeners and dryer sheets filled with chemicals.

Can vinegar replace laundry detergent?

No, vinegar should not be used to completely replace laundry detergent. Here’s why:

Vinegar does not contain surfactants, which are cleaning agents that penetrate fabrics to remove dirt and stains.
It does not have enough alkaline compounds to effectively sanitize laundry and remove heavy soils.
Vinegar does not contain enzymes that break down protein-based stains.

It lacks optical brighteners that fluoresce to make clothes appear brighter white.
Detergents are specifically formulated to work in various water conditions, while vinegar is not.

However, vinegar can be used as a supplement to enhance and boost your regular laundry detergent. The ideal laundry routine would be to use a small amount of vinegar occasionally, along with detergent for each load.

How should I use vinegar with laundry detergent?

Here are some tips for combining vinegar and laundry detergent:

Add the vinegar to the washing machine drum first before adding clothes and detergent.
Use a reduced amount of detergent, such as 3/4 or 2/3 of the recommended dose, when adding vinegar.

Select a mild, gentle detergent. Avoid bleaches and fabric softener sheets.
For front-loading HE washers, use only HE (high-efficiency) detergent.
White vinegar works best. Avoid darker vinegars like balsamic, red wine, etc.

Always dilute vinegar with water before adding to the wash.
Run an extra rinse cycle to remove vinegar odor if needed.

The vinegar will boost the cleaning effects of the detergent while the detergent will tackle tougher soils that vinegar can’t handle alone.

What vinegar and laundry detergent mixture should I use?

Here are some recommended vinegar and detergent mixtures:

For regular loads:

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 cup warm water
2/3 dose of mild detergent (or per package instructions)

For extra dirty loads:

1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup warm water
Regular dose of detergent

For brightening whites:

1/2 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water

Regular dose oxygen bleach detergent

The exact mixture can be adjusted based on load size, soil level, and personal preference. Always start with smaller amounts of vinegar and gradually increase until you find the ideal laundry booster solution.

What kind of detergent works best with vinegar?

These types of laundry detergent work optimally when paired with vinegar:

Powder detergent: Powder detergents dissolve easily for better distribution of vinegar and detergent.
Non-cationic detergent: Cationic detergents contain positively charged compounds that negate the benefits of negatively charged vinegar.
Low-suds detergent: Vinegar helps stabilize suds, so a low-suds detergent prevents over-sudsing.

Fragrance-free: Vinegar’s scent comes through if paired with an unscented or lightly scented detergent.
HE (High-Efficiency) detergent: For front-loading washing machines, use only an HE detergent.
Non-chlorine bleach: Vinegar can react with chlorine bleach to create hazardous gas.

Avoid using vinegar with fabric softener, as the vinegar’s effects will be canceled out. Liquid detergents may also not fully dissolve when combined with vinegar.

Can I use vinegar with bleach?

No, vinegar should never be mixed directly with bleach or chlorine-based products.

The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with the sodium hypochlorite in bleach to produce chlorine gas, which is highly toxic and can cause serious health issues through inhalation.

However, vinegar can safely be used along with oxygen bleach, an alternative to chlorine bleach that uses hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient. Oxygen bleach is chlorine-free, so it will not react with vinegar.

If using vinegar for laundry brightening purposes, choose an oxygen bleach detergent for best results. Make sure to add the vinegar during the wash cycle and the oxygen bleach detergent during the rinse cycle to keep these products separated.

Does vinegar help with hard water stains?

Yes, vinegar can help reduce hard water stains on laundry. Hard water contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium that bind to fabric fibers and soap residue to cause dingy mineral buildup.

Because vinegar is acidic, it helps dissolve and prevent this mineral scale formation. The vinegar interacts with the positively charged mineral ions, preventing them from binding with negatively charged fabric surfaces.

To get rid of existing hard water stains:

Soak clothes in a solution of 1 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water for 1 hour before washing.

Alternatively, boil some white vinegar in the stained item of clothing to help loosen mineral deposits.
For periodic mineral scale removal in the washing machine, run a vinegar-only cycle once a month.

Using vinegar regularly minimizes the recurrence of hard water laundry stains over time. Bleach is not effective for hard water stains, so vinegar is a good natural alternative.

Does vinegar kill mold and mildew in the washing machine?

Yes, vinegar is an effective disinfectant against mold, mildew, and bacteria growth within your washing machine.

Mold and mildew thrive in the damp, humid environment inside your washer. Vinegar helps control mold and mildew growth in two ways:

Its acetic acid component dissolves soap scum and biofilms where mold feeds and breeds.

It kills mold and mildew on contact due to its antimicrobial, antibacterial properties.

To clean a top-loading washer with vinegar:

Start with an empty washing machine drum.

Fill with 2 cups of distilled white vinegar.
Run a hot wash cycle for the full cycle.
If needed, scrub the drum with a vinegar-dampened cloth after to remove any remaining grime.

Run an additional rinse cycle to remove any vinegar odor.

For a front-loading washer, run the vinegar cycle through the detergent dispenser for optimal distribution. Wipe down any exterior mold spots with undiluted vinegar.

Be sure to leave the door open between washes to allow moisture to evaporate and prevent mold regrowth. Repeat the vinegar wash cycle monthly.

Will vinegar damage my washing machine?

Vinegar is safe for washing machines when used properly. However, there are a few precautions to take:

Always dilute vinegar with water. Undiluted vinegar may damage rubber seals and plastic components.
Limit vinegar wash cycles to once per month. Frequent high-acid cycles could corrode metal over time.

Use only gentle, non-cationic detergents with vinegar. Harsh chemicals increase corrosion risk.
Rinse the drum thoroughly after a vinegar cycle. Residual vinegar can degrade surfaces.
Check the machine manual. Some brands specify not to use vinegar.

Spot clean vinegar spills immediately. Drips on the exterior can damage paint.

Proper ventilation to dry out the machine between washes also helps prevent deterioration from high moisture.

Overall, periodic vinegar use provides more benefits than risks for washing machines. But moderation and smart practices will keep your washer safe.

Conclusion

Adding vinegar to your laundry routine helps boost cleaning, brighten fabrics, soften, sanitize, and deodorize clothes. White distilled vinegar is the best type to use at a dose of 1/4 to 1 cup per load, diluted with water.

While vinegar shouldn’t replace laundry detergent completely, it makes an excellent non-toxic, eco-friendly detergent booster. Use vinegar periodically on problem laundry loads and to keep your washing machine itself clean and mold-free. With the proper precautions, vinegar can be a safe, effective laundry aid.