Yes—vinegar can be useful in laundry, but the claim that there is one “secret” method is overstated.
The right way to use vinegar in laundry
For softer towels: Add about ½ cup of plain white distilled vinegar to the washing machine’s fabric-softener dispenser during the rinse cycle. It can help remove detergent and mineral residue that makes towels feel stiff.
For odors: Vinegar can help reduce some odors by helping remove residues, but it isn’t a substitute for proper washing when clothes are heavily soiled.
For white clothes: Vinegar may help remove some buildup and odors, but it does not reliably bleach whites. For significant whitening, oxygen bleach is generally more appropriate.
Important: don’t mix vinegar with bleach
Never combine vinegar with chlorine bleach. The mixture can produce dangerous chlorine gas. Also avoid mixing vinegar with other cleaning chemicals unless the product instructions specifically say it’s safe.
One more point: don’t routinely pour vinegar directly into the detergent compartment. The fabric-softener dispenser is preferable because it releases the vinegar during the rinse rather than interfering with the detergent’s cleaning action.
If your towels are stiff, a common culprit is too much detergent or fabric softener, not a lack of vinegar.
