Can You Use Vinegar and Laundry Detergent Together?

If you want to put fresh, soft white towels in your bathroom you might be tempted to wash your towels with detergent and vinegar at the same time.

After all, vinegar is known for softening up rough towels and making whites bright again. And detergent is used for general cleaning.

But is this a good idea?

You can use both vinegar and laundry detergent to clean a single batch of clothes, but you should ideally use the products separately. You need to be mindful about when you add vinegar to your wash and the quantities of the products you use. Too much vinegar and detergent can result in oily clothes.

How to Use Vinegar and Detergent in the Wash

It’s really not uncommon to wash clothes in vinegar and detergent, but the key is to use them separately, as much as possible.

The reason you need to do this is that using both products at once may not clean your clothes properly. And, ultimately, you may have to rewash/strip your clothes because they feel funny.

So, how do you use both products to clean one pile of laundry?

Run a normal washing cycle and add detergent to the drawer. You need to pop the detergent into the detergent compartment in the drawer.

Then, once the initial cycle is over and the laundry is going into the ‘rinse cycle’ you need to add in the vinegar. Add the vinegar to the fabric softener compartment in the drawer. This will then work its way into your clothes.

The washing machine will run and finish its cycle as normal.

QUICK TIP: If you’re following a particular washing method, always stick to the amounts you are told to use.

 

How to Mix Vinegar and Detergent Together

Naturally, there may be occasions when vinegar and detergent will be mixed together. This typically occurs when an individual hand washes their clothes.

While it is better to keep the two products separate, to prevent future issues, you can mix tiny amounts of both products together, if you have to.

In this case, you should half the amount of vinegar and detergent you use, and you should rinse your clothes thoroughly to make sure that no product is left behind.

 

Can You Use any Type of Vinegar and Detergent to Wash Your Clothes?

When washing clothes, or treating stains on garments, you should only ever use white vinegar. The acidic nature of the vinegar is perfect for tearing through the dirt on clothing, plus it has a neutral colour so it won’t mark your outfits.

Don’t use malt vinegar as it has a strong smell and a dark colour.

When combining vinegar with a laundry detergent, it’s best to use a liquid detergent, but if you can’t use a liquid detergent, it’s okay. You will add in the vinegar after the wash cycle, assuming you are using a washing machine.