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Vinegar in laundry  

post #1 of 16
7/8/08 at 3:48pm
Thread Starter 
if you use vinegar with regular laundry as a fabric softener, when do you add it and do you do an extra rinse? i put it in a downy ball and when the cycle is over there is still vinegar/water still in the ball so i usually pour that into the wash and do a rinse cycle...is that defeating the purpose?
post #2 of 16
7/8/08 at 4:29pm
I don't know if it is defeating the purpose or not, but that is the type of thing that happens to me. I don't do a repeat rinse though. I just figured it was water getting back into the ball after it opens to let the vinegar out. I don't worry much about it.
post #3 of 16
7/8/08 at 8:50pm
My washing machine has a softener dispenser in the middle of the agitator. I just pour the vinegar in it at the beginning.
post #4 of 16
7/8/08 at 11:36pm
I put mine in the spot for softener before it begins. I never do a second rinse. It seems to work great. I have never smelt the vinegar smell if that was a concern for you.
post #5 of 16
7/9/08 at 10:21am
Thread Starter 
i tried putting it into the fabric softener compartment but it just pours straight into the machine...i don't know why it doesn't work right...i tried everything to figure out why but there just isnt the right thing inside of it to stop it
post #6 of 16
7/9/08 at 10:25am
After using vinegar for a couple of years, I'm convinced that it doesn't really matter when the vinegar goes in, even if it goes straight into the machine at the beginning.
post #7 of 16
7/9/08 at 10:32am
My machine has the dispenser on the agitator. THere is a band around it that secures the dispenser. If that band isn't pushed down, then whatever I pour in would come out. If you want to remove the dispenser to clean it, you slide the band up & pull the dispenser out. Then when you reinstall it, you slide the band down. Is yours like that?
post #8 of 16
7/9/08 at 1:28pm
Thread Starter 
No, my machine isn't like that. It has a drawer at the back of the machine (on the inside) for the detergent and fabric softener.
post #9 of 16
7/9/08 at 1:36pm
Before my front loader, I added it in in the beginning. You'll totally notice the difference no matter when you add it. When I wash towels, the water gets really really scummy immediately during the initial wash cycle when I add the vinegar. I love using it!

So, don't worry, just throw some in.
post #10 of 16
7/13/08 at 3:08am
I have the same compartment in the middle of my washer. I add the vinegar there and a drop or 2 of lemon essential oil. Works great!
post #11 of 16
7/15/08 at 2:05pm
Just an FYI- over time vinegar can break down elastic.

Psst-soapnuts are great at making clothes uber soft too
post #12 of 16
7/15/08 at 8:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jojo F. View Post
Just an FYI- over time vinegar can break down elastic.

Psst-soapnuts are great at making clothes uber soft too
Do soapnuts work well in hard water?
post #13 of 16
7/16/08 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lab80 View Post
Do soapnuts work well in hard water?
I just looked and they say they work well in hard water too.

http://www.envirohealthtech.com/soapnuts.htm
Right under "Why Use Soapnuts?"
post #14 of 16
7/17/08 at 1:42am
I would love to use soap nuts...but man...it's so expensive for us As a family of 6 w/ cloth dipes and towels/sheets...well we wash a lot! I tried to get soapnuts a while back..but we realized we just can't afford it! Now another babe and more cloth dipes to come...:

Glad you like them JoJo!
post #15 of 16
7/17/08 at 11:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LemonJuice View Post
I would love to use soap nuts...but man...it's so expensive for us As a family of 6 w/ cloth dipes and towels/sheets...well we wash a lot! I tried to get soapnuts a while back..but we realized we just can't afford it! Now another babe and more cloth dipes to come...:

Glad you like them JoJo!
You have been busy in Green Living I see

Honestly- I can get A LOT of use out of them. Even after I *think* they are done I boil them and get a TON more liquid soap out of them.
post #16 of 16
7/17/08 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jojo F. View Post
You have been busy in Green Living I see

Honestly- I can get A LOT of use out of them. Even after I *think* they are done I boil them and get a TON more liquid soap out of them.
yes, yes I have : I usually don't pop in every day b/c it's kinda slow...wait a bit and then hit it all up!!!!

I may have to try the soap nuts one day....what the heck...I can say it's for a bday gift, right?!
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