I normally add a splash of vinegar to my bright fabrics to help seal the colors and clear any bleeding before putting them into my quilts (a little trick I learned from Eleanor Burns' show). But, now we have those new "high efficiency" machines where you can only use special detergents and need to add all cleansers/softeners/bleaches in certain spots before th load. Can you still use vinegar this way? It warns not to add anything but special detergents to the designated areas so I'm not sure where to add the vinegar.

I use vinegar in my HE machine all the time. I put it in where I would normally put bleach.

I have found that using Epsom salts works much better for bright and bleeding fabrics. I just throw in a couple handfuls on top of the fabrics and wash as usual. Knock on wood I've always gotten good results.

Glad you shared this. I got an HE in Nov. and have been frustrated by not being able to add anything during the cycle.

The guy that cleans my machine says to so it should be fine. (Also just a side note tide has a new cleaner for the HE machines I highly recommend it to keep the mold away works wonders!! )

I don't think that it will hurt anything. I would add it to a pre-wash cycle if it has one, if not add it as a detergent for a short load. Then wash it normally.
The (he) washers are very much like the ones used in professional laundries and sometimes we used vinegar in them.
I hope this helps.
Faith :XD:

why do you have to worry about the mold? Never had a problem like that in my reg machine.

I've never heard of adding vinegar before. How much should be added?

how much do you add ?

So do you use Epsom salts instead of dye catchers? They are not as easy to use now with my new machine because they have to be put in lingerie bags. Not a big deal, but an added step.

You bet! You just don't want something that is high sudsing as it would pretty much null how it cleans laundry.

I've always been told to add about a Tbsp for small loads and 1/4 c. for larger loads.

My husband's company sells appliances (this is where we got ours) and they coach the salesmen to warn customers not to treat these machines like normal ones. You're not supposed to put just any detergent in the machines. In the past, to help cleanse delicate fabrics, I would use small amounts of dish detergent which was recommended as being gentler on fabric than normal detergent. Now, you're not supposed to use that at all. You can only use detergents recommended for "he" machines.

What I did for this new one is wait until the washer was full of water, pause the machine to unlock the lid, and add the vinegar straight to the water. DH says that the vinegar isn't recommended in the tubing for the bleach area but there's been no definite research done on it.

I have a Whirlpool HE front loader. I have had 2 service calls on the filter clogging already! I asked the repairman why it happens. he explained that the front loader uses less water so the pump is not as strong, and doesn't push water/hair etc out as well. Also I have dogs and cats. hair! so now I will wash the dogs beds/blankets and my area rugs at the laundramat. He was nice enough to show me how to check it and fix it myself! just something to consider if you are considering a front loader.

Also something to remember about your front loaders.... If you DO happen to add too much detergent and you see lots of suds have liquid fabric softener handy to add to your washer and the suds will go away instantly.
Faith :XD:

Thank you Ps 150

I use vinegar instead of rinse in mine. I love the way it works.

Oh no! That stinks. DH's company sells these machines so he's been coached in how to sell them but for his particular store, he handles the service issues and delinquency issues (for those that don't make payments) so he knew all about the service problems with frontloaders. Ours is a Whirlpool Cabrio toploader with the dryer to match for that reason. He says we will never get the frontloaders. He always has to send the frontloaders out for service since the seals are constantly going on them. Once the customers' warranty is up, they're on their own and he feels so bad for them. He's been selling the Cabrios for a while now and not one of them has had to be serviced so we went with those.

My HE is about 4 years old, I use vinegar in place of fabric softener and have for probly 3 years,no problems :)

My washer is definitely a she -- I clall her Bessie and have for yaers. Butting a jug o vinegar or some shine that gone bad and not worth much for anthing else do keep the innards woking fresh an clean.

Lots of great ideas! Mine told me to use about a cup of Cascade once a month to keep it clean and smelling good. (powder). Keeps it clean!