Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar in My Laundry?

Vinegar is a real powerhouse when it comes to treating stains, softening water, and giving a boost to regular laundry detergent.

When cleaning clothes, distilled white vinegar is preferred, but apple cider vinegar works just as well if that’s what you have on hand.

This article covers several ways you can use vinegar to do a better job with your laundry. We’ll start with the basics. But none of the tips listed here should be tried with just a dry-clean cloth.

Apple cider vinegar is believed to be somewhat of a miracle worker—just ask anyone who has ever used it to treat a cold or soothe their scalp.

But this fermented wonder can also be used to make your home a whole lot cleaner.

Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar in My Laundry?

Yes, You can use apple cider vinegar in your laundry. Add two cups of apple cider vinegar as a detergent and let the machine run without any clothes and voila. Your machine will be cleaner than ever.

You can also use apple cider vinegar to make your laundry cleaner, odor-free, and germ-free by pouring a cup with each load.

Vinegar to Clean Washing Machine?

You can use apple cider vinegar to clean the washing machine. It can clean the washing machine deeply and properly.

Some Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar in Laundry

You can also use apple cider vinegar to make your laundry cleaner, odor-free, and germ-free by pouring a cup with each load.

It’s not often — or, um, ever — that we take the time to clean our washing machines. Add two cups of apple cider vinegar as a detergent and let the machine run without any clothes and voila. Your machine will be cleaner than ever.

Role of Vinegar in Laundry

Role of vinegar in the laundry on different types of clothes.

Delicate: If you’re hand-washing delicate items, follow the garment’s care instructions, and add 1 or 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the final rinse to help remove soap residue.

Blankets: When washing cotton or washable wool blankets, add 2 cups of vinegar to the last rinse cycle. This will help remove the soap and make the blanket soft and fluffy.

New clothing: Some new clothing may be treated with a chemical that can irritate sensitive skin. Soak new clothing in 1 gallon of water mixed with 1/2 cup vinegar. Rinse, then wash as usual.

Silk: Dip (do not soak) silk in a mixture of 1/2 cup mild detergent, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and 2 quarts cold water. Wash thoroughly, then roll up in a heavy towel to absorb excess moisture. Iron while still moist.

Cloth softener: Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the last rinse cycle of your wash to soften clothes.

Leather: Clean the leather with a mixture of 1 cup boiled linseed oil and 1 cup vinegar. Apply carefully to any spots with a soft cloth. let dry.

As you’ll see in the next section, vinegar can also be used for special laundry needs.

Lint: Reduce lint buildup and keep pet hair from sticking to clothing by adding vinegar to the final rinse cycle.

Static cling: A good way to control static cling is to add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the last rinse cycle of your wash.

Role of vinegar in the laundry on different types of stains.

Coffee and tea: For coffee stains or tea stains that have been set, soak the item in a solution of 1/3 cup vinegar to 2/3 cup water, then hang the cloth to dry in the sun.

Juice: Dried red berry juice can be extracted from bleach-safe clothing by soaking it in a solution of 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water. Then wash as usual.

Colors: Any colored fabric that has discolored can be brightened by soaking it in 1 gallon of warm water and 1 cup of vinegar. Follow this up by rinsing with clean water.

Ink: Spraying old ink stains on cotton fabric with hair spray can help. Pat with vinegar to remove the sticky spray.

Yellowing: When hand-washing linen, wool, or silk, prevent them from turning yellow by adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water.

A basic mixture of half water and half vinegar can do the trick with many common stains on the fabric. Keep a spray bottle of it in your laundry room. Spray the mixture on the stain before washing it for an extra boost.

Stain removal: Vinegar is a good ally in the fight against laundry stains. Here are a few examples:

Grass: Soaking severe grass stains on white clothing in full-strength vinegar for half an hour before washing can help.

Pre-treatment: For synthetic blends or older stains on natural materials, soak the stain in ammonia before applying vinegar and water.

Gum: If sticky spots remain after removing a piece of gum from clothing, soak the gum stains in vinegar for 10 to 15 minutes. Laundry as usual.

Mildew: A mixture of salt, vinegar, and water gets rid of mildew stains on most fabrics. Use up to full-strength vinegar if mildew is widespread.

More Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar in Home

You can use apple cider vinegar for many works at home. You can read some of the works here.

Carpet stains don’t even match apple cider vinegar. Add a few tablespoons of salt to the vinegar and rub it over the stains before vacuuming. You can also mix it with water to use in your carpet steamer to remove stains.

A 1:1 solution of apple cider vinegar and water makes a great cleaner for the entire kitchen—it can also kill bacteria.

Use it to scour your countertops, microwave, stovetop, and more. And because this solution is diluted, you don’t have to worry about the acid inside your vinegar eating into surfaces or reducing their shine.

Fight bathtub mildew with an apple cider vinegar rinse. Depending on the severity of your mildew problem, you can go with apple cider vinegar or dilute it with a little water. Add some essential oils to freshen up the smell of lemon in the bathroom.

A relaxing night out might tempt you to light some candles and the wax may be over. Once the wax is brittle to the touch, you can scrape it off with a spatula or credit card.

A little diluted apple cider vinegar will remove the rest of the residue. Use a dishcloth dampened with the solution to rub it in.

Apple cider vinegar does double duty in the garden. By putting it directly on weed-prone areas, you can wipe out unwanted growth from your flower beds.

Adding apple cider vinegar to your dishwasher’s wash cycle can remove stains from dishware such as coffee cups and wine glasses. A quarter cup should do it.

On the other hand, mixing 10 ounces of vinegar with 10 gallons of water is a good fertilizer for the soil.

A water-apple cider vinegar solution can also be used in your home to streak windows in the living room. The same solution can safely clean your walls, even painted ones.

A clogged drain is also no match for apple cider vinegar. First, pour about a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of warm water.

After about 15 minutes – you probably remember how the baking soda and vinegar reacted from all those elementary school volcano-related projects – wash it off with boiling water.

A little more ACV can also be used to clean, deodorize, and remove stains from your dishwasher when a few minutes are added to the wash cycle.

Your mom always begged you to use a coaster and, in your house, you took a stand against it… and now you have water spots on the table. However, full-strength vinegar can remove stains.

Final Words

Of course, these are just some of the ways apple vinegar can improve your home and your life in general. So, head over to your nearest store, grab a gallon, and get to work.