Laundry soap, softener, bleach, laundry soaks, stain removers. There are so many options that it can be hard to choose the right one and, even worse, it can get pricey. One of the all-time best laundry products is plain old white vinegar. Vinegar is renowned for use in cleaning almost everything from windows to dishwasher interiors. And, as anyone who lives in an area with hard water can tell you, its acidic properties make it a great de-scaler for kettles, shower heads, faucets, and anywhere else you get a build-up of minerals. But did you know that it also has many uses in the laundry room? It’s true! You can use white vinegar to kill mold and fungi, soften your fabric, aid with staining and more. Read more to learn how to vinegar can help you with this.
How vinegar helps kill mold and fungi, remove discoloration, odor and stains
- Vinegar as a fabric softener: Vinegar can actually be used as a fabric softener. It will help to remove lint from clothes and it will get your clothes softer. Not only that, white vinegar costs much less! If you have a front load washing machine, simply add one cup of vinegar into the soap dispenser. For a top loading machine, just add it at the beginning of the cycle.
- Vinegar removes lingering odours: There are some clothes that never do smell quite right, no matter how many times you wash them. That can happen when bacteria get stuck in the fibres. The vinegar, as it softens the fabric, will also kill those bacteria to remove those lingering odours. Just add a cup into your load for fresh-smelling, odor-free clothes.
- Vinegar to kill the mold: Clothes that were stored for a long period of time can get a strange moldy odor. The good news is that these fungi causing the odor are not immortal. Vinegar kills mold and fungi easily! Soak the items in a container with one cup of vinegar and enough water to fully cover and leave in soak for at least an hour. Then, wash it as normal in your washing machine.
- Bye-bye stains! Vinegar can be a great ally when it comes to removing some stains out of your clothes. Mix one cup of water with three tablespoons of vinegar and two tablespoons of liquid dish detergent. Put the mixture on the stain and scrub. Use this pre-treatment on your clothes for a few minutes then add the pieces into your load and wash as normal.
- Discolouration and staining: Vinegar is a great solution to fix discoloration. Leave the piece soaking for ten minutes in a mixture of one to two cups of vinegar and enough water to cover the garment completely. Then wash it normally.
Of course, you should always read and follow the washing instructions labels on clothes and other washable items for best results.
Read more about how to get mold out of your clothes here.
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Cleaning your washing machine with Vinegar!
An easy way to clean the inside of the washing machine is to simply put two cups of vinegar and let it execute a complete cycle, without clothes or soap. It will wash away soap residues and disinfect. This process works best for periodic cleaning.
If your washing machine has a build-up, fill it up with very hot water, and add 2 gallons of white vinegar. Start the cycle but stop at the 8 to 10-minute mark, turn off your machine and leave the mixture there overnight. The next day, empty the machine and run a normal cycle.
For the very best in repair and maintenance of all your appliances, call the experts at C&W Appliance Service at (855) 358-1496 or (214) 358-1496. You can also learn more here.
