Vinegar as a fabric softener?

youngmum_2

Sorry to start yet another post on this but I just can't bring myself to do this!

I try to follow all the advice on this forum (which has been an absolute godsend and saved me a fortune - I also plan to start the PIN challenge next month) but this one thing I'm resistant to.

I always buy ASDA's own Fabric Conditioner at 2 for £1 so don't think I pay through the nose for it. If I WAS going to do it, would ASDA's own white distilled vinegar at 46p be the way to go? How much do you use?

I think what is really putting me off is worrying my clothes will smell like a chippy after!

Can anyone convince me?

squeaky

First of all, while I've been wandering about all over the place collecting threads for the indexes I've seen several references to this, lots of posters who use vinegar and not a single one has complained about any sort of smell and has in fact gladly recommended it to anyone who cared to ask.

Yes, the clear or white vinegar is the preferred choice.

Quantity has tended to vary a bit around 1-2tbsps or 1/2 to 1 capful (of your previous conditioner bottle) per wash.

The site is really slow at the moment, but if you look at our "Save Zillions on Cleaning Index" you'll see posts about this that might help you. There are others in the Cleaning section of the MEGA Index sticky. You won't find a bad word said about it. Honest

calleyw

I use both vinegar and fabric conditioner.

Vinegar I use for towels and bedding. And conditioner for everything else. As I found on cotton shirts I can't get the creases out when ironing if using vinegar.

And no you don't smell like a chippie either.

Yours

Calley

Ticklemouse

youngmum - convince yourself by telling yourself that fabric conditioner isn't good for your skin, or that of your kids. It's full of artificial fragrances and other chemicals that do no good whatsoever and if your kids have or are prone to asthma or chest infections, then you're doing them no good at all.

Basically, all you are doing is coating the fibres of your clothes in some sort of greasy gloop, which is why they feel softer. They take longer to dry, as the oil keeps the water in.

I just use a couple of tablespoons in my wash. I don't measure it, just splosh a bit in. You can add a drop of essential oil if you want, but I don't. The vinegar smell goes almost at once, if it is there (depends on how much you use). Mr TM said he didn't want to go round smelling like a chippy at work, so I wasn't to use it - then I informed him I'd been using it for 2 weeks and he'd never noticed - and he irons his own shirts, so if there was a smell, he'd have noticed.

Try it - the worst thing that can happen is that you wash your clothes again to get rid of the vinegar, but I promise you, you won't need to.

TM

greenlogo

I started using vinegar in my wash about a month ago, and even slopping in FAR too much and filling the whole entire fabric conditioner bit (and a bit over... ) by accident didn't make my laundry smell at all of vinegar.

I'm not a fan of fabric softener as I've sensitive skin sometimes, but vinegar is like magic, makes your towels soft and really absorbent and even gets rid of most of the washing powder smell so your clothes just smell of NOTHING AT ALL .

KTFrugal

Just to add to Ticklemouse's comment about the unwanted chemicals, since using vinegar instead of fabric softener, my son's excema has cleared up. And this is after years of the poor wee soul having various creams slopped all over him.

Vinegar is definately the way to go.

katiepops_2

I wouldn't use anything else! I know it's lovely to put on clothes that smell gorgeous when you've used fabric conditioner, but my clothes still smell fresh and clean using vinegar instead - and I use soda crystals and just one dessertspoon of washing powder instead of tablets these days. My three year old appears to be a connisseur of clean clothes - he always has to smell things before he puts them on, and as he proclaims that his clothes smell 'fwesh', who am I to complain?

Kate

kscour

I've been converted too - sometimes there's a v. slight vinegary smell when I open the washer door but once the clothes have been on the line for 2 secs its gone. Clothes smell nice as well - they don't smell of meadow flowers or anything just clean. And my towels are getting more fluffy by the wash. I tried the soda crystals on a whim as I had read about them on here and saw them in Tescos - what a revolution! No idea how they work and I don't care. They've saved me a small fortune already in washing powder and OH's filthy clothes (he's a very grubby Steel fabricator) come out immaculate, much cleaner than before and on an economy wash too. I mix up the fabric conditioner in an old fabric condition bottle 50/50 with water and a few drops of smelly essential oil.

VickyA_2

Oooh yes, vinegar is definitely the way to go. Even my OH is getting into the swing of things - and it supposedly keeps the limescale down on the element/where ever (not that I've ever checked because I can't get to it!:D).

Hurrah for vinegar!

Rebob

I have started to use vinegar in the towels and although not as soft as fabric conditioner would make them they are more absorbant. I also use washing powder and soda crystals 50/50. I also use less powder in total. Clothes are cleaner now and less itchy. Hubby is a plater/welder and his working clothes are cleaner than ever!

daffynspacegirl

Try https://www.tipking.com for vinegar uses/ directions. If you want soft towels use a little amount of wash powder, after all most towels are used to dry so dont get that dirty ( I gotta thank my mum for that trick).