Vinegar belongs in the jar: but in the washing machine it has an even better effect

We all have vinegar at home. It belongs inseparably to cooking, preserving and household maintenance, it is especially popular for preserving and sterilizing jars. Its acidity and antimicrobial properties help keep food fresh. And it is these properties that can help in the home in other ways too.

Vinegar is often recommended as a household helper that will substitute very well for some common cleaning products. There is also various advice on how to use it in laundry. Vinegar can soften clothes, remove odors, dissolve deposits, and even disinfect. But do these properties also have risks?

The benefits of using vinegar in the washing machine

One of the often mentioned benefits is that vinegar neutralises odours. Studies and practical guides show that using distilled white vinegar can remove sweat residue from clothes and eliminate any odours. Vinegar also dissolves alkaline deposits in hard water. This makes the clothes feel softer after washing.

A study once examined common detergents and found that a 10% vinegar solution was able to quickly and completely inactivate flu-type viral particles. As a result, vinegar was included in the list of potential substances with significant antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Further research titled Did Granny know best? examined the effects of acetic acid on various bacteria and viruses. This study proved that the use of vinegar in washing can significantly reduce bacteria such as E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and others. The authors of the research warn that home doses may not be sufficient. Conventional vinegar has a different concentration.

Risk of damage to washing machines

Although vinegar can be used in the laundry and should not harm the laundry, it can cause problems in the washing machine. This is despite the fact that some people recommend it for cleaning the appliance itself. It is said that vinegar removes limescale, so rinsing the washing machine drum with it once in a while is not a bad idea. But experts differ on this.

Some brands specifically recommend avoiding vinegar in a regular cycle, as the acidity can interfere with the internal environment of the washing machine and damage some parts. Also, user discussions show that after prolonged use of vinegar, problems with leaks or degradation of seals have begun to appear. Thus, if you want to clean your laundry with vinegar, it is better to do it only when washing by hand.