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Does anyone use white vinegar in their washing machine

(25 Posts)
jeanie99 Tue 04-Feb-25 00:42:14

I read to make towels softer use half a cup of vinegar in the compartment used for fabric conditioner.
I would be interested to know if using it is a success for you.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 04-Feb-25 01:34:35

Try it, it wouldn't do any harm.

Might smell though

choughdancer Tue 04-Feb-25 09:45:19

I've been doing it for years and it works really well. No vinegar smell!

Shinamae Tue 04-Feb-25 09:47:05

I’ve also done it for years. I put a splash of floral disinfectant in the conditioner drawer then top it up with white vinegar absolutely no vinegar smell

Sparklefizz Tue 04-Feb-25 10:12:05

It doesn't smell at all but I can't say it's made much difference to my towels.

Claremont Tue 04-Feb-25 12:32:47

Yes, I do, with towels. I also regularly put a good splash of white vinegar into the dishwasher before starting the programme to clean it and get rid of limescale.

Claremont Tue 04-Feb-25 12:33:16

Use it to clean the kettle regularly, and to clean taps, etc.

Witzend Tue 04-Feb-25 12:36:42

We just use soda crystals in every wash, no conditioner. We live in a hard water area though.

MayBee70 Tue 04-Feb-25 12:53:32

I haven’t used conditioner for years and now don’t understand why I ever did. I just assumed all my washing would come out creased if I didn’t. I now use vinegar but not all the time. It doesn’t smell. I do use distilled malt vinegar because a large container that I bought contained another ingredient and I wasn’t sure about adding that to my machine or washing.

keepingquiet Tue 04-Feb-25 12:57:36

I don't use conditioner or vinegar. I was told vinergar is corrosive so will affect the working life of your washing machine, don't know if this is true or not but not willing to risk it.

No one has ever told me my clothes smell and I just wipe out the drum and seal on a regular basis with a damp kitchen towel.

Boz Tue 04-Feb-25 13:28:23

I have a selection of coverless duvets that I always use white vinegar on, as I do not like the artificial smell of fab. con. near my face in bed.
I believe the white vinegar just dissolves the detergent and leaves a nice clean finish; never any smell and the detergent compartments of the machine keeps clean - probably the 'works' as well.

AuntieE Tue 04-Feb-25 13:30:26

I find it useful, but we don't have malt vinegar in Denmark, so I don't know if that is what you mean by white vinegar. If it is, I have n o idea if it works.

Delila Tue 04-Feb-25 14:13:04

I used it for towels several times, with detergent powder, but stopped because it left a faint lingering smell of vinegar.

MayBee70 Tue 04-Feb-25 15:05:57

keepingquiet

I don't use conditioner or vinegar. I was told vinergar is corrosive so will affect the working life of your washing machine, don't know if this is true or not but not willing to risk it.

No one has ever told me my clothes smell and I just wipe out the drum and seal on a regular basis with a damp kitchen towel.

Yes, I read that. Which is why I don’t use it all the time. Then again washing up pods are supposed to be bad for the machine, too. I just use ordinary powder and nowhere near the amount they tell you to use.

Claremont Tue 04-Feb-25 15:13:30

I don't use it all the time and avoid all rubber seals, and only leave it 1 minute or 2 before putting machine on.

AreWeThereYet Tue 04-Feb-25 17:00:05

I've been doing it for years too, I use it instead of fabric conditioner all the time. The smell wears off very quickly.

I kept reading that it would wear the seals on the machine eventually, but when my 25 year old Zanussi washer/tumble dryer finally died a couple of years ago I'd been using vinegar in it for over 10 years and the seals were still intact. On modern machines it's more likely to be the computerised parts that fail first.

Stansgran Tue 04-Feb-25 20:35:33

I use vinegar in the dishwasher as sometimes when I open the door there is a water spill from the top steam vent.i gather that it blocks up occasionally and a squirt of white vinegar clears it.
To replace the part according to the man who repairs things would be hundreds of pounds.

Graceless Tue 04-Feb-25 20:42:21

I use white vinegar everywhere, wonderful stuff. And no , it doesn't leave a smell

NonGrannyMoll Tue 04-Feb-25 20:47:07

White vinegar is pretty good for freshening up all sorts of things. It also seems to have a mild bleaching effect , for example on tile grout. I've heard that over-use of it will corrode aluminium but am not sure about the kind of metals used in washing machines.

Patsy70 Tue 04-Feb-25 21:30:36

Graceless

I use white vinegar everywhere, wonderful stuff. And no , it doesn't leave a smell

Me too! 😊

RedRidingHood Tue 04-Feb-25 22:21:49

I used it in every wash. I put powder directly in the drum, never liquid and never in the drawer. I put the white vinegar in the drawer. I've done this for years and it seems to keep the washer fresh. Before that it would smell fusty sometimes .
I live in a very hard water area.

jeanie99 Thu 13-Feb-25 18:56:20

Thank you everyone for your comments.

I have given it a try, nothing different after two washes but I guess it takes time.
Have to say I was somewhat concerned regarding someone saying it can do damage to the machine.
I thought also of steeping a towel in vinegar but haven't got around to it yet.
I'll get back to you all if I get some positive results.

Claremont Thu 13-Feb-25 18:58:36

Great to de-scale the kettle and the coffe machine, tiles and taps in bathroom, windows, windscreen, etc, etc,.

Oreo Thu 13-Feb-25 21:49:47

Claremont

Yes, I do, with towels. I also regularly put a good splash of white vinegar into the dishwasher before starting the programme to clean it and get rid of limescale.

I tried that a little while ago and it ruined the cutlery.

Oreo Thu 13-Feb-25 21:50:42

Claremont

Great to de-scale the kettle and the coffe machine, tiles and taps in bathroom, windows, windscreen, etc, etc,.

Good for those things tho, especially tiles and windows.