When to use vinegar in wash routine?

[momma_dna]

It's a rinsing agent and acts as a fabric softener so it will work best during your rinse cycle or your final rinse wash There is no need to add baking soda when you add vinegar as detergents are basic when it comes to ph level so vinegar helps bring the ph back to normal. If you add baking soda when you add vinegar, they will zero each other our leaving your water and diapers still at basic ph levels.

[AHASRADA]

I use vinegar in the presoak with Bac Out to eliminate the ammonia, and it works well.

I used to use it in the next-to-the-last rinse also, since I heard it helps rinse out the detergent. However, the diapers felt sticky when I took them out, as if they had residue. Since I use Charlie's, which is a clean-rinsing detergent, I decided to skip the vinegar at the end, and I have no more sticky-feeling diapers.

[TrennaII]

For ammonia: Put up to a cup in the prewash.

To make diapers softer by removing detergent residue: Put in the rinse. The rinse cycle of the wash or in any subsequent rinses works the same.

I've read to not use it in hard water because it can increase ammonia issues.

Some diaper manufacturers say not to use it on PUL but some PUL manufacturers/sellers (Wazoodle) say it's fine.

I haven't had any trouble adding it to the fabric softener cup for softening, or to the prewash for cleaning.

BUT ... in a half vinegar, half water spray for cleaning, I'm noticing the flats that got sent to be cleaning rags are getting holes. So it's possible at high concentrations, its acidic nature is rough on fabric. However the tiny bit in the wash is a different story.

Like everything ... moderation.

[Fishie Kisses]

Originally Posted by kkleinman I just put it in the fabric softener compartment when I start the actual wash cycle.

This

[littleleaf]

I use it in the prewash.

Specifically, I use it to neutralize the urine toward a more neutral pH (I have read that detergents generally work better in a neutral pH environment)... urine is a base, vinegar is an acid.

We have hard water and the vinegar has worked great.