When Should You Avoid Using Vinegar In Laundry?

Vinegar’s low pH gets neutralized almost immediately when it comes into contact with water, meaning it loses its cleaning power almost as soon as you use it.

Why is using vinegar in laundry not as effective?

Additionally, using vinegar with your laundry detergent in the washing machine can decrease your laundry detergent’s ability to clean away food stains by impacting stain-fighting ingredients called enzymes, so you may need to rewash the item.

What are the dangers of washing clothes with vinegar?

Never mix vinegar or any other low pH product with chlorine bleach as it can create a dangerous gas.

Do you want to smell like vinegar?

Vinegar also has a very distinct odor that many people find off-putting. Therefore, if you soak clothes in vinegar or use vinegar in your washer, you may need to wash clothes again to remove the vinegar odor.

Bonus: Downy Rinse & Refresh Helps Remove Odors Better

Downy Rinse & Refresh replaces your liquid fabric softener and acts as a laundry detergent booster to help remove stubborn odors and residues deep within fabrics. Unlike traditional liquid fabric softeners, Downy Rinse & Refresh rinses away residues for fresher, softer and brighter fabrics vs detergent alone.