The Uses of Vinegar

[ReadingMama]

I really like vinegar for cleaning and am looking into using more for laundry. What do you use it for? Also, do you use it full strength for cleaning or do you dilute it with water? I've been diluting it half and half.

[Gumby]

Vinegar in the rinse cycle. Pour in a cup or so maybe, depending on the load size of course. It takes the place of fabric softener (so I've heard anyway, never used the stuff). Also nice to use if you ever get new clothes with that new clothes stink.

And I do half and half with water for cleaning too

[Loreana]

I use vinegar in the rinse cycle instead of softener. Although I only use it every once in a while for towels, sheets, dipes and cleaning rags. It is supposed to work like softener in that it helps to get rid of any soap residue, but unlike softener it rinses clean... The towels smell like vinegar when I do this, so make sure you like the smell...

Also, for cleaning rags, maybe if a little bit stays on them they are more effective? Or towels stay cleaner longer? This is just my personal theory though, probably not true...

[jimblejamble]

Will adding essential oils help the smell?

[sweetcheeks]

I, personally, have never had any problems w/my house or clothes smelling like vinegar. I use a half water, half vinegar solution for cleaning and the smell dissipates quickly. However, in the winter, I do like to add a couple drops of citrus-y EO when I'm mopping floors just to make it smell nice inside and remind me of summer. And the smell rinses right out of the clothes -- I have a FLing machine and just fill up the softener dispenser up to the fill line w/vinegar.

[jimblejamble]

Thank you!