If you’ve been doing some reading around, you may know that vinegar can clean laundry, remove stains and prevent static in clothes when added to a washing cycle.
But you might also have heard that adding vinegar to your washing machine is bad. So, what’s the real story?
Using vinegar in the washing machine is fine, so long as you don’t overdo it. If you start adding huge amounts of vinegar to your loads every single day, then the seals and hoses on your washing machine will start to perish.
What I mean by this is, excessive use of vinegar in a washing machine starts to break down one of the most important parts of a washing machine – the part that stops the appliance from leaking.
Not to mention the substantial rotting damage it can cause to the hoses at the back of the appliance too.
So, while vinegar is good at cleaning and refreshing clothes, you should use it in moderation in order to keep your washing machine alive.
How to Use Vinegar Safely in the Washing Machine
As long as you are careful and you stick to guidelines when using vinegar to clean your clothes, there shouldn’t be a problem using the product in your washing.
Read our guide to washing laundry with vinegar. In this post, you’ll find methods and tips on how to use vinegar effectively in your washing machine.
Keep in mind that you need to stick to the amount stated in the methods sections and don’t overdo it!
In addition to this, only white vinegar should be used when cleaning laundry or the washing machine itself. You should refrain from using any other vinegar, like malt vinegar because this won’t clean your clothes and it certainly won’t maintain your appliance.
What Products Can You Use Instead of Vinegar in the Washing Machine?
If you want to steer clear of vinegar, you can always try other specialised clothes cleaning products. In fact, there are so many products to choose from that it would be impossible to list all of them!
Check out some examples below, but remember to pick a product to suit the problem you have – general clean, stain removal, or renewing colour.
If you just want to generally clean your clothes you can try any well-known brand like Ariel or Persil, or you could even buy a shop’s own branded goody! Usually, you can buy these products in liquid or pod form, and the box will tell you how many uses you’ll get out of the pack.
If you want to breathe new life into your dark coloured clothes, you could try something like Surf Perfect Black Washing Liquid. This item is designed to hold the colours in your dark clothes for longer, so it’s perfect for jeans!
And, if you need to remove stains, without using vinegar, you could try Vanish Fabric Stain Remover or Ecover Stain Remover.
Vanish has been a household name for years and you can purchase various variations of this product too, and it is almost always available in supermarkets up and down the UK.
Ecover is a biodegradable stain remover that is plant-based. It can be a little harder to come by, but it is available in Waitrose and on Ocado.
As I mentioned above, there are so many goodies to choose from. Check out our post on the best laundry detergents for colours for more information on the products I’ve mentioned above, and to read about some new items too!
Is it Safe to Clean a Washing Machine with Vinegar?
As with your laundry, it’s fine to clean your washing machine with vinegar, if need be. But do make sure that you don’t use huge amounts of vinegar, and don’t go over the top with the cleaning.
Further to this, you could also try some other products that can be bought in most supermarkets to clean your washing machine instead.
Products like Calgon and Dettol Antibacterial Washing Machine Cleaner have been created to clean washing machines, so you can rest assured that they will not cause substantial damage to your appliance.
Check out our step-by-step guide to cleaning your washing machine for some more ideas!
Bethan has a passion for exploring, reading, cooking and gardening! When she’s not creating culinary delights for her family, she’s concocting potions to keep her house clean!
