Green Cleaning—Uses for Vinegar in the Laundry Room

Frugal Friday

So many cleaning products on the market are full of dangerous chemicals that can harm both the environment and your health. They are also expensive. So why not look to the past for both inexpensive and healthier alternatives. Over the next few weeks, we're going to look at ways to use common household products to clean your home. This week, we'll look at using vinegar in the laundry room.

• Run water through your iron to clear out residue build-up. When the iron is still warm, run it across your ironing board to freshen the cover.
• Rub a paste of vinegar and baking soda into cuffs and collars to get rid of stains.
• Add vinegar to loads of dark clothing to keep colors bright, prevent colors from running, and also to deodorize the clothes.
• Soak shirts in vinegar to remove underarm stains and odors.
• Use to remove stains—cola, grease (from suede), tar from jeans, grass, coffee, tea, fruits and berries.
• Use to remove odors, such as bleach or smoke.
• Add vinegar to your rinse cycle to soften the fabric and reduce static cling.

Next week: Using vinegar in the kitchen.