Vinegar is a multifunctional product that does more than just working in your kitchen. You'll want to keep a large bottle of it in your laundry room too. It works well for a variety of functions and cost less than using the alternative products. White vinegar doesn't smell good but mysteriously the odor doesn't linger in your laundry. It seems like a miracle product if you haven't tried it for these uses.
Fabric Softener
White vinegar costs much less than any fabric softener available and works better. By using about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to your last rinse cycle, it will soften your clothes. It dissolves the alkalies from soap and detergent. It prevents yellowing and aids in reducing static cling. Vinegar also brings out the colors in your bright clothing while it removes white soap marks on your dark clothes. Your sweaters will be fluffier.
Stain Remover
White distilled vinegar works well as a stain remover. Use it straight on a mustard stain before washing as usual. Mixing vinegar with water into a spray bottle it can then be applied to a spaghetti/ tomato sauce stain, barbecue stain or ketchup stain. Some stains can be soaked out of clothing with a mixture of equal parts milk and white distilled vinegar. Collar stains and perspiration stains can be easily removed with vinegar. Just use the vinegar full strength on the clothing before laundering as usual.
Removing Odor
If you have clothing that can't be washed or can only be dry-cleaned and they have an odor you can get the smell out with this trick. Think about the last time you were in a smoky bar and you will know what I'm talking about here. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into a hot steamy bathtub. Hang your smelly clothing above the tub and close the curtain or door and allow the steam to work on the clothing. The steam will penetrate the clothing and remove the odors from the fibers without having to wash the garments.
So before you turn to expensive laundry products try using vinegar. It will save space on your shelf because you don't have to buy a specialized product for each of these needs, one bottle of vinegar will do the trick.
