Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips for a Cleaner Closet and Planet—How to Use Vinegar to Wash Clothes
Laundry is a routine part of life. However, its impact on the environment and your wardrobe is far from ordinary. Each year, the average household washes roughly 300 loads, and consumes thousands of gallons of water and significant amounts of energy – all while releasing chemicals and microplastics into the environment.
These effects add up, especially in multi-family rental buildings where shared laundry spaces mean efficiency and cost savings matter more than ever. Residents must strike a balance between convenience and the need to reduce their utility bills and minimize their collective environmental impact.
Fortunately, making your laundry routine more sustainable doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple changes like choosing eco-friendly detergents and washing with cold water can protect your favorite garments, save money, and help create a cleaner planet. In this article, you’ll find practical tips tailored for multi-family renters, including how using vinegar to wash clothes can be a game-changer for both your closet and the environment.
Why sustainable laundry practices matter
With millions of washing machines in use and billions of loads done annually, even small changes in daily habits can make a meaningful difference. Adopting sustainable laundry practices helps residents, especially those in multi-family buildings, conserve resources, reduce pollution, and save on utility costs. Simple steps, such as choosing eco-friendly products and using vinegar to wash clothes, can add up to significant benefits for the environment and your wallet.
The environmental impact of traditional laundry
The average American family washes about 300 to 400 loads of laundry per year, using between 14 and 57 gallons of water per load and accounting for 5 to 10 percent of household energy use. Many conventional detergents and dryer sheets contain hazardous chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which are carcinogens. These substances pollute water sources and harm aquatic life.
Traditional laundry detergents come in bulky plastic bottles, contributing to the plastic pollution crisis. Over 1 billion high-density polyethylene jugs are discarded in the U.S. annually.
Washing synthetic fabrics releases microplastics into waterways, making up nearly 35% of all microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans. A single load of polyester clothes discharges hundreds of thousands of microfibers.
Use vinegar to wash clothes = eco-friendly solution
In multi-family rental buildings, even modest changes in laundry habits can add up to significant water, energy, and cost savings. For example, using ENERGY STAR-certified washers and dryers can save 20 to 40 percent on energy and water use per load, reducing utility bills and environmental impact for everyone in the building.
When you use vinegar to wash clothes, it is an easy, affordable way to cut back on harsh chemicals, soften fabrics, and keep machines clean while reducing your carbon footprint. This simple switch supports a cleaner closet and a healthier planet. Unlike many store-bought laundry products, white vinegar is biodegradable, non-toxic, and free from synthetic fragrances and dyes, making it gentle on the environment and your skin.
Practical ways to use vinegar to wash clothes include:
- Soften fabrics to remove odors. Add a half cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. This naturally softens your clothes and neutralizes stubborn smells.
- Remove stains naturally. For tough stains, dilute white vinegar with water and apply it directly to the affected area before washing. Vinegar breaks down detergent and residue stains, making it easier to lift dirt from fabrics.
Vinegar is generally safe for use with most fabrics and washing machines, including those in shared laundry rooms. It also keeps machines cleaner by dissolving limescale and detergent residues.
Address common concerns
Choosing to use vinegar to wash clothes is a simple switch that benefits your wardrobe, your wallet, and the planet. Just remember to use vinegar sparingly and avoid pouring it directly onto delicate fabrics like silk or wool.
Still, some people worry that their clothes may smell like vinegar. The distinctive vinegar scent dissipates during the wash and rinse cycles, leaving clothes odorless and fresh. Vinegar is also non-toxic and won’t harm washing machines.
Laundry habits for a greener tomorrow
Adopting eco-friendly laundry habits doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your routine. A few mindful changes can make a big difference. Wash clothes only when necessary and consider airing out or spot cleaning between wears to extend the life of your garments and save resources.
Turning clothes inside out before washing helps preserve colors and reduces the release of microplastics. If possible, use a microfiber filter to capture synthetic fibers and prevent them from entering our waterways. Incorporating these simple steps – along with using vinegar to wash clothes – protects your wardrobe, lowers your environmental impact, and creates a cleaner planet for everyone.
Automatic Laundry specializes in efficient commercial laundry equipment. We install eco-friendly laundry equipment in apartment buildings, condos, college campuses, and other multi-housing facilities. Give us a call today to discuss your options.
Sources
- Laundry Practices and Water Conservation. nps.gov. Accessed June 10, 2025.
- The Health and Environmental Impacts of Laundry Practices. unsustainablemagazine.com. Accessed June 10, 2025.
- Public Health Statement. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed June 10, 2025.
- How to Clean Laundry with Vinegar: 8 Earth-Friendly Uses and Benefits. healthline.com. Accessed June 10, 2025.
