Bleaching Your Clothes with Vinegar
The mere mention of bleach can send shivers down the spine of many, as the strong odor and potential to discolor clothes keeps people away from experimenting with it. The good news is that you can safely bleach your whites with the help of vinegar. Not only is it a natural alternative, it is also inexpensive and available in every kitchen.
How Does Vinegar Bleach Clothes?
Vinegar naturally contains acetic acid, which has a mild bleaching effect that contains tissue-safe or oxidizing bleaching agents. The acetic acid in vinegar acts by making the color pigments in clothing more polar and less prone to attaching to the fibers. It is this process that actually bleaches the clothing.
How to Bleach Clothes with Vinegar
Using vinegar to bleach your clothes is a simple and straightforward process.
- Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 1 quart of warm water in a bucket.
- Soak the clothing in the mixture for up to 1 hour.
- After 1 hour, rinse the clothes in cold water and then wring out the excess liquid.
- Run the clothes through your washer and dryer as normal.
Advantages of Bleaching Clothes with Vinegar
Some of the advantages to using vinegar to bleach clothes are:
- Affordable: Vinegar is inexpensive, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
- Environmentally Friendly: Vinegar is natural and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that could harm the environment.
- Gentler than Bleach: Vinegar is significantly gentler than bleach, so you don’t have to worry about your clothes getting damaged.
Conclusion
Vinegar is a great alternative to bleach if you want to give your whites a quick and easy boost. The acidic power of vinegar is just enough to gently bleach your clothes, while still leaving them intact. So the next time you are in a pinch and need to brighten up your whites, grab a bottle of vinegar and get to bleaching!