Spraying white vinegar onto socks and underwear before washing helps eliminate trapped odours and break down mineral buildup on fabric fibres, according to a report by news website Cronista.
The treatment targets items that come into direct daily contact with sweat, bodily moisture, and microorganisms. Over time, these factors leave behind persistent smells alongside soap scum and mineral deposits left behind by tap water.
White vinegar contains acetic acid, a mild acid that neutralizes alkaline odours and dissolves mineral traces left by hard water. The acid also acts on certain microorganisms, leaving laundered fabrics feeling softer and fresher after drying.
However, experts emphasize that white vinegar should serve only as a wash additive. It is not designed to replace laundry soap or dedicated chemical disinfectants entirely.
How to apply vinegar safely
To apply the life hack safely, clothing should be laid out flat on a clean surface or placed directly inside the washing machine drum. Particular attention should be given to specific fabric zones where sweat and body odours accumulate most heavily.
Users should spray a moderate amount of white vinegar onto the affected areas without soaking the fabric to saturation. The garments must be left to stand for 10 to 15 minutes before initiating a normal wash cycle with standard detergent.
After the machine finishes its cycle, items can be dried using standard methods, such as hanging them on an outdoor clothesline or using an electric tumble dryer.
Other laundry maintenance tips
Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, a Kyiv-based publisher that frequently covers practical household advice, previously reported on similar laundry methods. The outlet highlighted a low-cost additive mixed with laundry powder that restores softness to stiff towels while protecting washing machine components from mineral scale.
UNIAN also detailed methods for treating second-hand clothing purchases, noting that standard fabric washing removes surface dirt but differs fundamentally from full hygiene disinfection.
