Does Vinegar Kill Viruses in Laundry?

Vinegar is a common household item that can be used for many purposes, including cleaning. It is an affordable, natural alternative to store-bought cleansers and can be found in the kitchen pantry. Vinegar has also been known to help remove stains from fabric and can be added to the laundry cycle to disinfect clothing and linen. However, some people are concerned that using vinegar to disinfect could cause harm to the skin and the environment.

In this article, we will look at does vinegar kill viruses in laundry and find out the truth about whether or not it does. We will also discuss how to safely use vinegar in the wash to eliminate germs and bacteria.

Does white vinegar kill viruses in laundry?

While vinegar has a number of uses around the house, one of its most popular applications is as an all-natural laundry detergent. It can be used to eliminate odor, brighten colors, and remove sweat stains from clothing. White vinegar is also an effective fabric softener, preventing static and keeping clothes feeling fresh and soft. While there are a number of different vinegar washing recipes, most of them are based on adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle of the washing machine.

A quick search of the internet will reveal a wide variety of different methods for using white vinegar in the laundry. Some of these include soaking items in a solution of 1 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water, or simply adding a cup of the liquid to the rinse cycle of the washing machine. The acetic acid in the vinegar is said to kill bacteria and germs, eliminating odor and keeping clothing fresh and clean.

But does this really work? While there is certainly nothing wrong with using a natural, non-toxic cleaner to clean the home, if you’re looking to disinfect or sanitize, there are better options. In fact, according to a study published in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, vinegar is less effective than commercial disinfectants like Lysol and Clorox at killing both bacteria and the flu virus.

Vinegar does not kill the coronavirus, and can actually leave up to 20% of the germs behind. To be considered a true disinfectant, the EPA requires that cleaners kill 99.9% of germs on contact. This is why you need to use a disinfectant such as bleach, or a cleaning product with a high concentration of ethyl alcohol (like rubbing alcohol) to thoroughly clean surfaces that are at risk for food contamination, such as countertops or the shelves and drawers of your fridge.

So while a quick spray of diluted white vinegar might work for some messes, to truly sanitize and disinfect your home, you should stick with the more powerful cleaners and disinfectants recommended by the CDC. In addition, never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide or bleach, as this can produce toxic vapors that are dangerous to breathe. This will also lessen their cleaning power.