Yes, white distilled vinegar can be useful in laundry, especially for reducing detergent and mineral residue, but it isn’t a miracle whitener.
The right way to use it
Wash normally with your usual detergent.
Put about ½ cup (120 mL) of white distilled vinegar in the fabric-softener dispenser, so it is released during the rinse cycle.
For smaller loads, you can use less.
Let the washing machine complete its normal cycle.
Don’t mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. The combination can release dangerous chlorine gas.
Don’t pour vinegar directly onto clothes and don’t use it on every type of fabric without checking the care label.
What about “whiter than white”?
Vinegar can help remove some residue and odors, which may make whites and towels look and feel cleaner, but it isn’t a true bleach. For noticeably dingy whites, a color-safe oxygen bleach is generally more appropriate.
And if towels feel stiff, using too much detergent or fabric softener is often part of the problem. A thorough rinse and the correct amount of detergent may make a bigger difference than vinegar.
