Vinegar in the washing machine: how much to use, where to put it and when to avoid it
Vinegar has been used in laundry for a long time: it helps rinse out detergent and limescale residue, reduces odours and makes towels absorbent again. But it is not a miracle product: it cannot fully replace fabric softener, and in some cases it can even do harm. In this article we explain how much vinegar to use, which compartment to put it in, when it helps and when it is better left out.
Quick answer
- How much: 100–125 ml (about half a glass) of 9% white table vinegar per wash.
- Where: in the fabric softener compartment, so the vinegar goes into the final rinse.
- When: for towels, sportswear, smelly clothes and hard water.
- Never: mix it with chlorine bleach or add it together with laundry detergent.
Which vinegar is suitable for laundry
Use ordinary clear 9% white (spirit) table vinegar. (If your white vinegar is 5% acidity, use about 1.8 times as much: 180–225 ml instead of 100–125 ml.) Apple cider vinegar may contain colour, and 70–80% acetic acid essence is too strong: it would need diluting about 8–9 times, and undiluted it can damage fabrics, rubber and skin. Flavoured or coloured vinegars are not suitable for laundry.
How much vinegar to use
| What for | How much 9% vinegar | Where to add it |
|---|---|---|
| A normal rinse, reducing odours | 100–125 ml | Fabric softener compartment |
| Towels, to make them softer and more absorbent | 125 ml | Fabric softener compartment |
| Very smelly clothes, soaking before washing | 250 ml in 4–5 l of cool water, 30–60 min | A bowl or sink |
| Cleaning the washing machine | See the separate guide | Cleaning your washing machine |
Using more vinegar will not improve the result; larger amounts only harm the seals and the fabrics.
Why vinegar goes in the softener compartment, not with the detergent
Laundry detergents work in a slightly alkaline environment, while vinegar is an acid. If you add it together with the detergent, it will neutralise some of the detergent and the wash will be less effective. Enzymes also work best in the conditions they are designed for. The contents of the fabric softener compartment only reach the drum during the final rinse, when the detergent has already been rinsed out, so that is where vinegar does what it is meant to do: dissolve residue and limescale.
When vinegar really helps
Towels are stiff and do not absorb water well
The most common cause is a layer of fabric softener and detergent on the loops. Vinegar dissolves it, so the towels absorb water again. For towels, it is best to use either vinegar or a very small amount of fabric softener, but not both together. More: washing towels and bedding to remove odours.
Clothes smell damp or of sweat after washing
Vinegar helps rinse out the residue that traps odours. But sweat and body oils themselves are washed out by laundry detergent, not vinegar: protein and grease soiling is best broken down by enzyme laundry detergents. So vinegar is a helper, not a substitute for detergent. More: how to get smells out of clothes.
Hard water and rough laundry
In hard water, limescale settles on fabrics, so laundry turns rough and colours look dull. Vinegar dissolves limescale. More: washing in hard water.
White marks from detergent
If white streaks are left on dark clothes, vinegar in the rinse helps dissolve them. But check your dose first: residue is usually left behind by using too much detergent. More: detergent residue on clothes.
Can vinegar replace fabric softener?
Partly. Vinegar removes residue and limescale, so fabric ends up softer than it would with nothing at all. But fabric softener works differently: its cationic ingredients coat the fibres with a thin layer, so the fabric feels smoother, builds up less static and is easier to iron. Vinegar does not add fragrance and does not reduce static the way fabric softener does.
In practice: vinegar is often the better choice for towels and sportswear, while fabric softener suits everyday clothes, bedding and synthetic jumpers better. Ecozyme fabric softener is dosed at 10 ml per kilogram of laundry and is suitable for all fabrics except silk and wool. We wrote about when it is worth doing without fabric softener in the article do you really need fabric softener.
There is no point adding vinegar and fabric softener to the same rinse: the acid weakens the softener's effect.
When not to use vinegar
- With chlorine bleach. Vinegar and chlorine together release toxic chlorine gas. Never mix them, not even in different compartments in the same wash.
- In large amounts in every wash. Frequent, heavy use of vinegar can make the door seal and other seals age faster. Stick to 100–125 ml and use it only when needed.
- On fabrics with unstable dyes without testing first. Vinegar usually even helps colours last, but for bright or handmade fabrics, test it on a hidden area first.
- Instead of laundry detergent. Vinegar does not wash out dirt. It only helps in the rinse.
Will my clothes smell of vinegar?
No. The smell of vinegar disappears during rinsing and drying. Dry laundry smells neutral. If you can still smell it, you either used too much or the laundry was not dried properly.
Frequently asked questions
How much vinegar should I put in the washing machine when washing clothes?
100–125 ml of 9% white table vinegar in the fabric softener compartment. The amounts for cleaning the washing machine are different; you will find them in the cleaning guide.
Can I put vinegar in the detergent compartment?
It is not worth it. Vinegar will neutralise some of the detergent and your clothes will come out less clean. Put it in the fabric softener compartment.
Does vinegar bleach clothes?
No, vinegar is not a bleach. It can help white clothes look cleaner because it rinses away greyish residue, but it does not remove stains or yellowing.
Is vinegar good for washing towels?
Yes, it is one of its best uses: towels become softer, absorb water better and smell less damp.
Does vinegar damage the washing machine?
In normal amounts, and not in every wash, it does not. Adding large amounts very often can make the rubber seals age faster. Some machine manufacturers recommend avoiding vinegar, so it is worth checking the manual.
Can I use vinegar with an enzyme laundry detergent?
Yes, as long as the detergent goes into the main wash compartment and the vinegar into the fabric softener compartment. The detergent then does its job, and the vinegar only works during the rinse.
Summary
Vinegar is a cheap and useful helper in the rinse: 100–125 ml of 9% vinegar in the fabric softener compartment helps with towels, sportswear and hard water. But it replaces neither laundry detergent nor, entirely, fabric softener, and it must never be mixed with chlorine. A clean result comes from a good laundry detergent and the right dose; vinegar just helps finish the job.
