Cheap white vinegar can be used in the laundry to whiten, brighten, remove odor and soften clothes without tough chemicals. All kinds of vinegar contain acetic acid that can brighten, soften and kill odors in your laundry. Cider vinegar is made out of apple juice and has the same ability as the white vinegar.

For best effects it is better to use white distilled vinegar, it is tannins free- natural dyes, and it is far cheaper than any other vinegar. But, if all you have at hand is apple cider vinegar, it can work just fine, but make sure to use lesser amounts and dilute it.

  • Clear Colors

The white distilled vinegar is mild enough not to damage the clothes but strong enough to clean residues and stains, formed from dirt, deodorants or even detergents and soaps. Add ½ cup white vinegar to the last cycle. If your washing machine has an automatic dispenser, pour the vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser at the beginning of the washing cycle. The result will surprise you- the clothes will be in clearer and brighter colors.

 

  • Remove Mold Odor

For whatever reason, sometimes the washer begins to smell bad, leaving the clothes with sour odor instead of fresh and clean fragrance. Sometimes the detergent- fabric softener combination is to blame, sometimes leaving the washed wet clothes in the hamper for too long.

To get rid of this nasty odor, fill the washer with hot water, add 3 cups of white vinegar and run some short cycle. The odor will be gone by the next normal cycle and the clothes will finally smell fresh.

 

  • Alternative Fabric Softener

If you stopped using commercial fabric softeners that are often heavily scented, probably your clothes are hard and stiff, white distilled vinegar is also an option. It will act as a natural softener and will not leave detergent residue on your clothes and fabrics.  Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the last rinse cycle, or if you are using the automatic dispenser, add the vinegar to the fabric softener container. You shouldn’t worry that your clothes will smell like vinegar, because the vinegar scent will disappear, leaving your clothes fresh and soft.