Laundry Uses for Vinegar

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

10 Feb 2009 02:52 PM

Vinegar has so many uses in the laundry room. It is inexpensive and convenient. The next time you have a laundry dilemma, check this list to see if it can be solved by the simple use of vinegar.

If you accidentally use too much soap and the suds are overflowing, pour in a little vinegar to cut it down.

To freshen up the washing machine after a bout with moldy clothes, or just as part of a regular routine, pour a cup of vinegar into the machine and run it through a regular cycle.

If you get a grease stain on suede, use vinegar to get it out. Simply dip a clean toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush at the stain. Be careful not to soak it.

When you first bring bright clothes home, such as reds, you want to be careful that the colors don't bleed into the rest of your wash. And what do you do when you have a red and white shirt? One great way to set the colors is to use vinegar. Use full strength vinegar as a soak for the clothes before you wash them. Just 10 minutes will do it.

Reduce the amount of lint that comes off of your clothes by adding 1/2 cup of full strength vinegar to your washer's rinse cycle.

Adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle will also brighten up your clothes. Use it in place of color safe bleach.

To freshen clothes without washing them (this is especially good to get out the smell of smoke), put a few inches of very hot water in the bathtub and add vinegar. Hang the clothes above the steam to freshen them. As a bonus, this also usually gets out any wrinkles.

If you have any yellowing from perspiration stains or ring around the collar, use a solution of one part vinegar to three or four parts of water and soak. Rinse when you are done.

What uses do you have for vinegar?

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

Related Articles:

Frugal Laundry: Make Your Own "Detergent"

Make Your Own Fabric Softener

Vinegar in The Garden

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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