This common household ingredient is the secret to soft towels, whiter whites and eliminate bad odors

Sometimes, the solution to a problem is much simpler than we thought. In the household, things can be solved in a much easier, and environment-friendly way than by using chemical-laden products, with the help of natural cleaning items. They are cheaper, harmless, and effective. My aunt from Dallas, Texas told me about this.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are talking about the amazing vinegar. When used in the laundry routine, distilled white vinegar can help you get rid of stains and odors, and soften hardened towels.

Its acidity makes it a potent and versatile cleaning agent in the household, so here is how it can boost the quality of the wash:

• Vinegar will eliminate bad odors from your clothes, as it will destroy the bacteria that cause them. Add 2 cups of distilled vinegar to a washer filled with hot water, add the mildewy towels, and run the normal cycle. Add a cup to the rinse cycle for clothes, and for very strong odors, presoak those items in one cup of vinegar mixed with cold water, and let them sit for twenty minutes before washing.
• Spray the stains with vinegar, leave them for 15 minutes, and wash them. For milder stains, soak the item in a mixture of 2 cups of warm water and 1 cup of vinegar. For stubborn stains, mix vinegar and baking soda to make a paste, and use the paste onto the stains.
• It is excellent for the whites, and it will leave them stainless. To get rid of the stubborn underarm stains, soak the whites in a half-gallon of hot water mixed with two cups of vinegar overnight before washing.
• Add a cup of distilled vinegar to the final rinse cycle to keep the dark colors of the clothes.
• To reverse dye-damage, add one cup of vinegar to your wash cycle along with your regular detergent.
• Add half a cup of vinegar into the rinse cycle to fight static and lint, and to remove pet hair from the laundry.
• Add a half cup of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser to soften the clothes, towels, and linens.

However, to enjoy the magic of vinegar in the laundry, make sure you follow these tips:

• Choose distilled white vinegar if you intend to use it for laundry only, as it contains no tannins that can stain clothes. Plus, it is cheaper.
• If you must use cider vinegar, use less and dilute it with water before pouring directly on clothes.
• Don’t mix vinegar and detergent. If you’re using detergent, add the vinegar to the rinse cycle after the detergent is out.
• If too concentrated, it can stain delicate fabrics.
• If you want to brighten the clothes, add vinegar to the bleach dispenser. If you want to get rid of the odors, add it to the washing basin during the rinse cycle, or use it instead of the detergent. To soften the items, add it to the softening dispenser.
• Due to the strength of vinegar, check if your washing machine is made with materials that will withstand it.
• Use vinegar sparingly, as its excessive use can clog pipes and hoses and damage the washing machine.