Vinegar is a Fabric Softener

Written by Charlotte Wood (last updated August 9, 2021)

Fabric softener is definitely one of those products that make your laundry fun. Who doesn't want soft laundry? Fabric softener is now considered a mandatory laundry supply item and is used all over to make your clothes, linens, and anything else you wash in the washing machine soft. However, you may not have known that vinegar can actually be used as a natural fabric softener. This means you don't need to really go out and buy another cleaning product—you can just use the vinegar within your own home!

As a natural fabric softener, vinegar is used like any other fabric softener. When you usually pour in the nice smelling, store-bought fabric softener, replace a slightly diluted solution of water and vinegar. The vinegar will act as any other fabric softener and won't affect the way your washer runs or the way your laundry turns out. You don't want to put in too much, but enough so it gets the job done.

The one drawback to using vinegar, however, is that it will make your clothes smell a bit funky. You will also find that clothes will rinse better if a cup of white vinegar is added to the last rinse water. The acid in the vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics but strong enough to dissolve the alkalis in soaps and detergents. Also remember to try this on a less-loved piece of clothing to make sure all goes correctly.

The thing to remember with the vinegar approach is that using vinegar isn't the only way to go about things. You can accomplish the same things with the generic and name brands you find at the store and honestly, the specific fabric softeners will probably yield better results than the vinegar, but for all intents and purposes, vinegar works and is excellent for a cheap, functional alternative.

Author Bio

Charlotte Wood

MORE FROM CHARLOTTE

Cleaning Up Your Yard

Cleaning up your yard may be a daunting and overwhelming task, but really, you just need to know the right way to go ...

Discover More

Why Does Sunscreen Have an Expiration Date?

You may wonder if sunscreen has an expiration date, and if it does, why? Sunscreen doesn't last forever and here's why.

Discover More

Picking the Right Wine

Wine is quite a different world and sometimes it's hard to know what you should do regarding wine and your meals. Here is ...

Discover More

Tough Tools for Tough Cleaning Jobs O-Cel-O sponges and Scotch Brite scrubbers are truly a fashion-meets-function success story. The highly absorbent and durable sponges in this handy six-pack make quick work of tough cleaning problems in any kitchen, bathroom, or garage. Check out Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scrub Sponges today!

More Cleaning Tips

Washing Clothes with Decals and Sticker Designs

Encountering disaster when it comes to clothes with graphics or decals on them is always a possibility when caring for ...

Discover More

Did Your Colors Run in the Wash?

Having color run in your wash is always frustrating. While frustrating, many don't know how to deal with color bleeding. ...

Discover More

Washing Delicates

Although we should all wash our hands, when the tag on an article of clothing instructs to "hand wash," its not talking ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 6 + 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.