You’ve probably heard someone mention using vinegar in the laundry, but maybe you’ve never given it a shot. It might sound a little old-fashioned, but vinegar is one of the most underrated things you can add to your wash routine. And it’s not just a random internet hack, it actually works.
A 2019 study in the Journal of Environmental Health found that vinegar can reduce bacteria on fabrics and help eliminate odors, even in low concentrations. That means it’s not only cheap and eco-friendly, but it’s also backed by science.
This guide covers 12 practical, no-nonsense ways for how to use vinegar in laundry, whether you want fresher-smelling clothes, softer towels, or a cleaner washing machine.
1. Soften Your Laundry Naturally
Most fabric softeners leave behind a residue that can clog up your washer and stiffen towels over time. Vinegar is a cleaner alternative; it breaks down leftover detergent and mineral deposits that make fabrics feel rough.
To use vinegar as a softener, pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar into the washing machine using the fabric softener dispenser. That way, it’s released during the rinse cycle and doesn’t mess with your detergent.
Once you start doing this, you’ll notice your clothes coming out feeling cleaner and softer, especially if you live in a hard water area. It’s a simple tweak that upgrades your laundry routine without adding extra products.
2. Remove Funky Odors for Good
Nothing’s worse than pulling out clean laundry that still smells like yesterday’s gym session. Odor-causing bacteria often survive regular detergent, especially in synthetic fabrics. What does vinegar do for laundry here? It kills off that bacteria and neutralizes smells, without using heavy fragrances to mask them.
Just add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. If you’re using a front-loader, pour vinegar in the washing machine fabric softener compartment. If it’s a top-loader, wait until the rinse cycle begins and pour it straight into the drum.
This method works great for towels, workout gear, kitchen rags, anything that tends to hang onto smells.
3. Brighten Dull Whites and Colors
If your white shirts are looking a little gray or your brights are starting to fade, detergent buildup might be the culprit. Vinegar helps by cutting through residue and mineral deposits that dull fabric colors.
To brighten up your laundry, add 1 cup of distilled vinegar in the washing machine during the rinse cycle. For deeper yellowing or dinginess, pre-soak whites in a mix of hot water and vinegar for a couple of hours.
What does vinegar do for laundry in this case? It restores the fabric’s original brightness, boosts rinsing, and helps your detergent work more effectively.
4. Soften Stiff Towels
If your towels feel more like sandpaper than something you want on your skin, vinegar can help. Over time, fabric softener and detergent build up and block absorbency. Vinegar strips that off and brings back softness.
Wash towels with hot water and add 1 cup of vinegar in the washing machine drum during the rinse cycle, no detergent needed. Follow up with a second rinse if you’re dealing with years of buildup.
When used monthly, vinegar keeps towels soft and absorbent without the need for fabric softeners.
5. Treat Sweat and Deodorant Stains
Those yellowish armpit stains and deodorant crust can be stubborn. The mix of antiperspirant, body oils, and detergent leaves a chemical cocktail in your fabric. Vinegar can break it down.
Spray a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water directly onto stained areas before washing. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes. For tough buildup, scrub gently with a soft brush.
This method is a natural way to handle stains, no need for harsh bleach or expensive stain removers. Just be sure you’re using the right kind of vinegar for laundry: distilled white vinegar.
6. Lock in Dark Colors and Prevent Fading
Dark jeans and black T-shirts don’t stay dark forever. Dye tends to loosen in the wash, especially early on. Using vinegar helps set the color and minimizes fading.
Before the first wash, soak dark clothes in cold water and vinegar in the washing machine for about 30 minutes. Going forward, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle when you wash dark loads.
This use is especially helpful for maintaining rich colors and preventing bleeding. Wondering what kind of vinegar for laundry works here? Stick to distilled white vinegar to avoid unwanted discoloration.
7. Remove Lint and Pet Hair from Clothes
If you’re always battling dog fur or fuzz on your black shirts, vinegar can help relax fabric fibers so hair and lint come off more easily in the wash.
Add 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. You can also pour vinegar in the washing machine’s fabric softener compartment to make the process hands-off.
It won’t replace a lint roller entirely, but it’ll make a big difference, especially with fleece blankets, sweaters, and towels that attract everything.
8. Reduce Static Without Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are convenient, but they can coat clothes and irritate sensitive skin. Plus, they aren’t always great for your dryer. Vinegar is a cleaner way to cut down on static.
Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle using the softener slot. It helps balance the pH of the water and prevents static cling before your clothes hit the dryer.
It’s another win for those looking for a more natural, skin-friendly laundry routine.
9. Boost Detergent in Hard Water
If your detergent doesn’t seem to work that well, hard water minerals could be the issue. These minerals prevent soap from dissolving fully and leave residue behind.
Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle to help neutralize the minerals. Using vinegar in the washing machine with each load improves overall cleaning power and helps your detergent rinse clean.
What does vinegar do for laundry here? It acts like a natural water softener, giving your detergent a better chance to do its job.
10. Refresh Musty Clothes from Storage
Clothes that have been packed away for months often pick up that classic musty closet smell. A vinegar rinse knocks it out fast.
Wash the clothes as you normally would, but add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. If you’re unsure where to put vinegar in the washing machine, use the softener tray so it disperses evenly.
This also works great for blankets, seasonal jackets, and anything that’s been in storage bins for a while.
11. Clean the Washer Itself
Even your washer needs a good clean now and then. Detergent residue, mold, and bacteria build up inside over time, especially in front-loaders. Vinegar cuts through that gunk and helps prevent odors.
Run an empty cycle on hot with 2 cups of vinegar poured straight into the drum. If you’re wondering where to put vinegar in the washing machine, skip the detergent tray for this one, just pour it in the drum.
Do this once a month to keep your machine clean and running well.
12. Fix That “Oops, Left the Laundry in Too Long” Smell
We’ve all forgotten a load of wet laundry. When clothes sit too long in a closed washer, they smell like mildew. Regular detergent won’t always fix that, but vinegar can.
Rewash the clothes with 1 cup of vinegar and no detergent. Then do a second wash with your usual detergent. You can pour vinegar in the washing machine drum or use the softener tray, either works.
This method saves your clothes from that funky, sour smell that sets in if left untreated.
Why Vinegar Deserves a Spot in Your Laundry Routine
Most people think of laundry as something you just get through. Toss in detergent, hit start, and move on. But when you take a closer look, at the smells that linger, the towels that don’t absorb anymore, the clothes that fade too fast, you start to see where your routine might be falling short. That’s where vinegar quietly steps in. It’s not flashy. It’s not new. But it solves problems most of us didn’t even realize had simple fixes.
Adding vinegar to your laundry goes beyond a basic cleaning trick, it’s a small shift in how you care for the things you wear and use every day. And sometimes, that kind of shift is all it takes to turn “just clean enough” into something that actually feels fresh, soft, and right.