Vinegar for fabric softener & static solution?

[tranmama]

I really cannot stand the smell of vinegar, but I decided to try it out with a few drops of TTO for a few loads of cloth diapers. My laundry room is also my food pantry. Since I hate the vinegar smell, I read that I could mix a little TTO into the vinegar to help mask the smell. So I did. I used it in the liquid softener dispenser of my washer. My laundry room/pantry smelled like just straight vinegar for a week. The TTO did nothing to mask the smell. I really don't like the smell of TTO, though, either! I really want to eliminate liquid softeners and dryer sheets, and I know I've read that once you start using a more natural, environmentally-friendly product, you really don't need a softener anymore. I really would prefer one, though, and I know vinegar would be most environmentally-friendly choice. I'd use it if I could just cover up the smell!

If any of you vinegar-users have any EO recommendations for truly masking the smell of the vinegar, or at least do a better job than the TTO, could you please tell me?!

Also, what is the absolute best, earth-friendly way to eliminate static? I hate that the most!

[Fiestabeth]

I did vinegar for about 6 months, and also couldn't handle the smell. I tried adding both TTO and lavender EO. Neither really worked. I currently use Eco-products detergent and liquid fabric softener.

[snitker79]

Are you using a large amount of Vinegar? I use it in a downy ball and it only takes about an oz or so to fill it to the line and I've not ever really smelled vinegar at all and I don't use oils either. I'm still battling the static myself, so can't help you there.

[thixle]

I like it in the downey ball, too (but mine broke ) And after the rinse cycle, there is barely a hint of smell, gone by the time the clothes are dry.
I've also dumped it in the fabric softener part, and it did make the smell more powerful in the room, but not on the clothes- bu tit disapated in a few hours.

If it really smelled like vinegar for a week, it is possible your washer isn't draining all the way and some of the vinegar is sitting in the outer drum of your machine or in the fabric softener dispenser... Or you have a super sense of smell

[papschmitty]

My DH can't stand the smell of vinegar. He'll literally gag if I open a bottle while he's in the room. I put probably about 1/8 c. in my fabric softener compartment of my washer. He has NO CLUE that I do this. There isn't a hint of smell at all. I converted my coworker to using vinegar too. She said she had a vinegar smell until she started just filling the Downy ball to about half the recommended level. I don't have a ton of experience with EOs but from what I have used, I think peppermint masks the vinegar smell the best in my cleaning products.

I'm still waiting for the magic solution to static cling. Anybody????