In the laundry department, the workhorse ingredient cleans washing machines and deodorizes, brightens, and softens clothes. Unlike other high-acidity vinegars, it’s white and won’t stain fabrics. And while it may smell a little funky in the bottle, when used correctly, it won’t make your delicates stink like a pickle jar. Plus, it’s safe for those with sensitive skin that tends to flare up with traditional chemical-heavy detergents and gentler on the environment than petroleum-based laundry products that can pollute waterways once washed down the drain. If your machine doesn’t have a detergent compartment, you can pour the half-cup of vinegar into your main drum after diluting with a cup of water. The water is important here: Since vinegar is acidic, you don’t want to put it directly onto your clothes. Convinced yet? With countless (well, at least nine) applications for laundry day and beyond, white vinegar earns a rightful spot in anyone’s green-cleaning repertoire. Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
