Vinegar in the laundry: the right way to use it
The viral claim that vinegar is the secret to “whiter whites and softer towels” is partly true—but it’s often overstated. White distilled vinegar can help remove detergent residue, mineral buildup and some odors, particularly from towels. It is not a replacement for laundry detergent or a powerful whitening agent.
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Clorox™
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🧺 For stiff, scratchy towels
Towels can become rough when detergent and hard-water minerals accumulate in their fibers. Vinegar can help dissolve some of that buildup and restore absorbency.
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Clorox™
A sensible approach is:
Use plain white distilled vinegar—not flavored or cleaning vinegar.
Check the towel’s care label.
For a buildup problem, a vinegar soak can be useful; Clorox specifically recommends 5% white vinegar for this purpose.
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Clorox™
Rinse thoroughly and then wash normally with detergent.
Dry the towels completely, preferably without excessive heat.
👕 What about making whites whiter?
This is where the viral claim goes too far. Vinegar may remove mineral or detergent buildup that makes whites look dull, but bleach or appropriate oxygen-based whitening products are much more effective for actual whitening.
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Clorox™
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⚠️ The most important mistake to avoid
Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. The combination can produce toxic chlorine gas.
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Whirlpool
Also, don’t assume that putting vinegar in every washing-machine load is beneficial. Some major appliance manufacturers, including Whirlpool and Maytag, advise against routinely putting vinegar directly into the washer because its acidity may damage rubber components over time.
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Maytag
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So what’s the “right way”?
Think of vinegar as an occasional buildup/odor treatment, rather than a miracle laundry softener:
Detergent → cleans the laundry
Vinegar → can help with certain residue/mineral problems
Proper drying → helps towels stay fluffy and fresh
For towels that are persistently stiff or musty, the more important fixes may actually be using the correct amount of detergent, avoiding overloading the washer, rinsing thoroughly, and drying them completely.
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The Spruce
Bottom line: Vinegar can be useful, especially for towels affected by hard-water or detergent buildup, but “vinegar makes everything whiter and softer” is an exaggeration. And never combine it with bleach.
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