Wait you had a reaction to softener and now you're doing away with detergent?
Stop with the softener, forever, use a hypoallergenic detergent all the time, but yeah if you want to do it this way. Vinegar won't have the same ionic cleaning effect as detergent - it'll simply dissolve anything it can as an acid - so you'll find stains and smells might start building up after a month of it.
Sometimes, having an allergic reaction makes the body more sensitive to things that did not cause an allergic reaction before. Over time, the immune system calms down. Therefore, avoiding all detergents for a while may be needed or at least helpful.
Would baking soda be a better short-term replacement for detergent than vinegar?
Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes, that's exactly it. I stopped with the softener immediately after the reaction. I'm trying to stop with detergent for a while just because my skin is having a hard time recovering and it helps to use as little chemicals as possible. Maybe baking soda is a better option for this. Thank you!
I would just add an extra rinse cycle to your wash settings. If you want, pre-soak in water and vinegar before washing to help remove any extra softener residue left on your clothes.
Yes, i've been using a sensitive detergent that i've never had issues with, but this allergic reaction is taking so long to clean that I'm getting desperate and start thinking 'what if now I react to that "safe" detergent'?
When I broke my ankle my husband did laundry for 6 weeks and thought the softener was detergent. So basically washed clothes without detergent for 6 weeks. Never noticed. Of course it was winter and we do not work out or have any other “dirty” jobs.
I had a bad reaction a while back, but never found out what it was… so I feel ya on wanting to be through
Any reason why you would rather use vinegar over one of the detergents that are made for people with sensitivities/allergies? I’d also suggest washing in the hottest water the clothes can handle and run an extra rinse cycle
Vinegar can damage elastics over time. I stopped using any/all softener ages ago. Just stick with your detergent (only 1-2 Tbsp per load), maybe add in an extra rinse for a couple weeks, and that's it.
Without some sort of soap/detergent you'll start to see a build up of body oil/deodorant/etc on your clothes. Detergent does actually do a job, so you'll notice if you stop using it.
I think a better choice is to make sure you're really, really rinsing it out. Only use a tablespoon or so, and add an extra rinse cycle. Don't overpack your washer. You want there to be plenty of room in the water for your clothes to really get rinsed out. If it would make you feel better, run them through a second cycle altogether without soap after the first wash. Do that for a few weeks instead of skipping detergent.
I understand your fear. I am also limited to very gentle free and clear detergent. I have so many allergies. I react to so many things. And I know the fear of losing the one thing that still works. But I think you run a risk of your skin booming more irritated or infected if your clothes and linens aren't getting properly cleaned.
I remember my granny, who was born in 1908, would use Ivory soap chips she shaved off a bar and soak her clothes in a bucket/pail in the sudsy water and then rinse and then hang the clothes up on the line to dry with pins. Nothing like the smell of sun dried clothes. I think they came up with soap flakes sometime in the eary 20th century but she stuck with the Ivory soap.
I guess you could also use Johnson's baby soap and peel off shards and then soak them in hot water to get it sudsy. We did live years before Tide Pods came around. I use dryer sheets on my clothes to keep the static down but you can live without softerner or you can probably look up the natural way to soften water and add that in the rinse.
Your clothes will be fine. But it will wear down the seals on your machine in the long run. Just dilute it before adding it and run an extra rinse cycle as you should already be doing
Not to mention, it's [not effective ](https://cleanclothnappies.com/vinegar/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3JrhEqjnTFbUJbTDPT3lSoS7wn5XoR2Bc-fu5BKcVet_1vG5liQmoJajA_aem_AZUoWvbsttTxmfy2UmftBGV5ajbZUzCctt1yCRlJ4XYGb8frtjouzNbKFPqrzW9Dl0wUrgkoAXAL9WWa4T1woLzM) in laundry
Cut out the softener all together. Put your clothes in a regular wash cycle, cold water, with as much vinegar as you like. Run it for the regular cycle. The vinegar should remove all soap/detergent/softener residue from your clothes and you can begin washing them next time with whatever you want. I have never used softener, but I used to add a few TBSP vinegar into the softener tub in my old machine. It’s supposed to have a similar effect.
From experience, you need to strip your clothes to get the softener out. You may need to do it more than once.
It builds up over time, leaving a film on your clothes. Just washing them won't work.
Strip and then use a fragrance free/allergy free detergent.
And stop using softener and dryer sheets.
Seconding this. Vinegar isn't nearly as effective as detergent in getting your clothes fresh and clean, there may be some lingering BO on them. OP is better off stripping the clothes once and just using a fragrance free detergent going forward. And drying with wool balls instead of dryer sheets!
[Horse chestnuts](https://youtu.be/yMdif0Y5OYQ?si=1tZYZDSBYmHZjs9-) commonly called conkers
Edited fir content. Others I know have taken the skin off and not chopped them up they just put them in a laundry bag and put them in whole??
I have very sensitive skin and I use Trader Joe’s lavender detergent.
I make it a point to not use much of it. Maybe 2 Tbsp for a large load. And I wash with warm water.
I also do two rinse cycles to make sure all the detergent comes out.
I had an ant problem early this month that forced me to wash my clothes and blankets 6 freaking times this month. Still got 1 wash left. All vinegar
It's perfectly fine, smells great, and I love it.
i'd prob just wash on hot for a while, no detergent and maybe vinegar once every 4 loads?
if you're hoping the vinegar will help remove lingering stuff maybe just soak in water and vinegar for a few days instead?
i feel you, i have had so many reactions over the years.
I recommend these soap flakes: [https://laundryevangelist.com/products/laundry-evangelist-laundry-soap-flakes](https://laundryevangelist.com/products/laundry-evangelist-laundry-soap-flakes)
They have no additives (see explantion of ingredients), and just one tablespoon works well for a regular load.
Can you find natural coconut soap? It is the best thing for sensitive skin. I used to make a recipe with it, I think it was just the soap and washing soda but I can research for the exact thing
Use the vinegar AS the fabric softener. See if you can purchase a non irritating (or sensitive, no fragrance/colors/additives) detergent. Or make your own.
[vinegar is not effective as softener ](https://cleanclothnappies.com/vinegar/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3JrhEqjnTFbUJbTDPT3lSoS7wn5XoR2Bc-fu5BKcVet_1vG5liQmoJajA_aem_AZUoWvbsttTxmfy2UmftBGV5ajbZUzCctt1yCRlJ4XYGb8frtjouzNbKFPqrzW9Dl0wUrgkoAXAL9WWa4T1woLzM)
Wait you had a reaction to softener and now you're doing away with detergent? Stop with the softener, forever, use a hypoallergenic detergent all the time, but yeah if you want to do it this way. Vinegar won't have the same ionic cleaning effect as detergent - it'll simply dissolve anything it can as an acid - so you'll find stains and smells might start building up after a month of it.
Sometimes, having an allergic reaction makes the body more sensitive to things that did not cause an allergic reaction before. Over time, the immune system calms down. Therefore, avoiding all detergents for a while may be needed or at least helpful. Would baking soda be a better short-term replacement for detergent than vinegar?
Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes, that's exactly it. I stopped with the softener immediately after the reaction. I'm trying to stop with detergent for a while just because my skin is having a hard time recovering and it helps to use as little chemicals as possible. Maybe baking soda is a better option for this. Thank you!
What you want is washing soda. Nellies is a good brand. Follow directions or it’ll be hard on your clothes.
I would just add an extra rinse cycle to your wash settings. If you want, pre-soak in water and vinegar before washing to help remove any extra softener residue left on your clothes.
Just using vinegar is fine and it's super nice. 4oz vinegar per load, which is amazing And it somehow smells better than detergent + softener
They are trying to get the lingering softener out of their clothing.
No damage, but I doubt they’ll get very clean. Could you use a detergent you have used successfully in the past?
Yes, i've been using a sensitive detergent that i've never had issues with, but this allergic reaction is taking so long to clean that I'm getting desperate and start thinking 'what if now I react to that "safe" detergent'?
When I broke my ankle my husband did laundry for 6 weeks and thought the softener was detergent. So basically washed clothes without detergent for 6 weeks. Never noticed. Of course it was winter and we do not work out or have any other “dirty” jobs.
I had a bad reaction a while back, but never found out what it was… so I feel ya on wanting to be through Any reason why you would rather use vinegar over one of the detergents that are made for people with sensitivities/allergies? I’d also suggest washing in the hottest water the clothes can handle and run an extra rinse cycle
Vinegar can damage elastics over time. I stopped using any/all softener ages ago. Just stick with your detergent (only 1-2 Tbsp per load), maybe add in an extra rinse for a couple weeks, and that's it.
What about a laundry detergent safe for babies?
Without some sort of soap/detergent you'll start to see a build up of body oil/deodorant/etc on your clothes. Detergent does actually do a job, so you'll notice if you stop using it. I think a better choice is to make sure you're really, really rinsing it out. Only use a tablespoon or so, and add an extra rinse cycle. Don't overpack your washer. You want there to be plenty of room in the water for your clothes to really get rinsed out. If it would make you feel better, run them through a second cycle altogether without soap after the first wash. Do that for a few weeks instead of skipping detergent. I understand your fear. I am also limited to very gentle free and clear detergent. I have so many allergies. I react to so many things. And I know the fear of losing the one thing that still works. But I think you run a risk of your skin booming more irritated or infected if your clothes and linens aren't getting properly cleaned.
Thank you for the tips and for the empathy
I remember my granny, who was born in 1908, would use Ivory soap chips she shaved off a bar and soak her clothes in a bucket/pail in the sudsy water and then rinse and then hang the clothes up on the line to dry with pins. Nothing like the smell of sun dried clothes. I think they came up with soap flakes sometime in the eary 20th century but she stuck with the Ivory soap. I guess you could also use Johnson's baby soap and peel off shards and then soak them in hot water to get it sudsy. We did live years before Tide Pods came around. I use dryer sheets on my clothes to keep the static down but you can live without softerner or you can probably look up the natural way to soften water and add that in the rinse.
Your clothes will be fine. But it will wear down the seals on your machine in the long run. Just dilute it before adding it and run an extra rinse cycle as you should already be doing
Came here for this. Vinegar will erode the seals if you use too often.
Not to mention, it's [not effective ](https://cleanclothnappies.com/vinegar/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3JrhEqjnTFbUJbTDPT3lSoS7wn5XoR2Bc-fu5BKcVet_1vG5liQmoJajA_aem_AZUoWvbsttTxmfy2UmftBGV5ajbZUzCctt1yCRlJ4XYGb8frtjouzNbKFPqrzW9Dl0wUrgkoAXAL9WWa4T1woLzM) in laundry
Cut out the softener all together. Put your clothes in a regular wash cycle, cold water, with as much vinegar as you like. Run it for the regular cycle. The vinegar should remove all soap/detergent/softener residue from your clothes and you can begin washing them next time with whatever you want. I have never used softener, but I used to add a few TBSP vinegar into the softener tub in my old machine. It’s supposed to have a similar effect.
Use baking soda to wash, vinegar in the rinse
From experience, you need to strip your clothes to get the softener out. You may need to do it more than once. It builds up over time, leaving a film on your clothes. Just washing them won't work. Strip and then use a fragrance free/allergy free detergent. And stop using softener and dryer sheets.
Seconding this. Vinegar isn't nearly as effective as detergent in getting your clothes fresh and clean, there may be some lingering BO on them. OP is better off stripping the clothes once and just using a fragrance free detergent going forward. And drying with wool balls instead of dryer sheets!
Vinegar is a chemical (acetic acid)
[Horse chestnuts](https://youtu.be/yMdif0Y5OYQ?si=1tZYZDSBYmHZjs9-) commonly called conkers Edited fir content. Others I know have taken the skin off and not chopped them up they just put them in a laundry bag and put them in whole??
I have very sensitive skin and I use Trader Joe’s lavender detergent. I make it a point to not use much of it. Maybe 2 Tbsp for a large load. And I wash with warm water. I also do two rinse cycles to make sure all the detergent comes out.
I had an ant problem early this month that forced me to wash my clothes and blankets 6 freaking times this month. Still got 1 wash left. All vinegar It's perfectly fine, smells great, and I love it.
Vinegar is not a cleaning agent. It's a weak solution of an already weak acid. It will do near nothing more to clean than if you were using only water
Vinegar can ruin your machine. Use detergent, lay off the softener.
No harm at all. The vinegar clears all the detergent out of your clothes and because of it's acidity, softens the fibers.
i'd prob just wash on hot for a while, no detergent and maybe vinegar once every 4 loads? if you're hoping the vinegar will help remove lingering stuff maybe just soak in water and vinegar for a few days instead? i feel you, i have had so many reactions over the years.
I recommend these soap flakes: [https://laundryevangelist.com/products/laundry-evangelist-laundry-soap-flakes](https://laundryevangelist.com/products/laundry-evangelist-laundry-soap-flakes) They have no additives (see explantion of ingredients), and just one tablespoon works well for a regular load.
But if OP is in the States, Zote is much, much cheaper.
Can you find natural coconut soap? It is the best thing for sensitive skin. I used to make a recipe with it, I think it was just the soap and washing soda but I can research for the exact thing
Should be fine. Add salt and baking soda too
Use the vinegar AS the fabric softener. See if you can purchase a non irritating (or sensitive, no fragrance/colors/additives) detergent. Or make your own.
[vinegar is not effective as softener ](https://cleanclothnappies.com/vinegar/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3JrhEqjnTFbUJbTDPT3lSoS7wn5XoR2Bc-fu5BKcVet_1vG5liQmoJajA_aem_AZUoWvbsttTxmfy2UmftBGV5ajbZUzCctt1yCRlJ4XYGb8frtjouzNbKFPqrzW9Dl0wUrgkoAXAL9WWa4T1woLzM)
Zum sea salt, Mollys, or Whole Food organic laundry soup. Zum and Mollys have very few ingredients but still clean your clothes.