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Dear Cath - March 2019
Q. Hi Cath, I use the homemade washing powder; should , or do I need to, add white vinegar to the rinse cycle? Some say this helps to prevent built up soap scum. We do live in an area with hard water. I have a front load washer and always do warm or hot washes. I have noticed a big difference with the laundry since using this as clothes are a lot softer and no strong chemical smell. Also most of all it works great! Thanks for your advice. Von
A. I'm so glad you're loving the washing powder and I think you've answered your question - the clothes are softer so you don't need a rinse aid. Now I'll answer your question - no, you don't need to use anything else unless you really want to. White vinegar in the rinse cycle helps to remove the residue you find in commercial washing powders. As there are no additives in Cheapskates Washing Powder, there really is nothing left that water won't rinse out. BUT vinegar is good for cleaning your washing machine. I empty and clean the lint filter and wipe the machine down after every use, and once a month it gets a "deep" clean.
Here is how I clean my washing machine:
First thing you need to do is find out if your washing machine actually has a lint filter. My HE machine doesn't, check your handbook to find out if your machine has a lint filter.
If your washing machine is a top loader it should have a lint filter in the agitator. Pull out the top of the agitator and it should have some kind of little bag or basket attached to it.
Gently take it off and give it a good clean. You may need to empty the lint out of it first. Then rinse it under hot water. If you use fabric softener then you will also need to soak it for a few minutes in white vinegar. Fabric softeners leave a film over the mesh that actually stops the water from getting through. You need to get rid of this build up. Take a cloth and clean inside the agitator - if you haven't done this before it may be black and slimy - just keep rinsing your cloth. I wrap a cloth around the handle of a wooden spoon to be able to reach the bottom.f
Front loaders have different lint filters - check your handbook to find out where it is and how to get to it.
If you empty and rinse the lint filter after every wash you'll stop those black flakes of gunk that sometimes appear on your washing - that's the old muck out of the lint filter flowing back up into the bowl. Yuk!
While the lint filter is soaking, get a cloth and a bucket of warm water and add a splash of vinegar (about 1 cup). Use this to wipe around the top of the bowl, under the lid, over the outside of the cabinet etc. Don't forget the inside of the agitator and the fabric softener dispenser. If it's particularly grungy, sprinkle with bi-carb and use this as a scouring powder. Just watch your fingers - the edges of all those ridges and rims can be sharp (guess how I know!).
Put the lint filter back together and replace the top of the agitator. Then run your washing machine through a full cycle on the longest and hottest wash cycle (this is the only time I use a hot wash) and add a full 2 litre bottle of vinegar to it. Don't add any clothes or other detergents; let the vinegar work its magic. The vinegar will remove the scum and gunk and any hard-water build up in the bowl and hoses.
Wipe over the outside of the machine with a damp cloth and dry.
You washing machine will sparkle inside and out. Do this on a regular basis and you'll extend the life of your machine and save on costly maintenance calls.
A. I'm so glad you're loving the washing powder and I think you've answered your question - the clothes are softer so you don't need a rinse aid. Now I'll answer your question - no, you don't need to use anything else unless you really want to. White vinegar in the rinse cycle helps to remove the residue you find in commercial washing powders. As there are no additives in Cheapskates Washing Powder, there really is nothing left that water won't rinse out. BUT vinegar is good for cleaning your washing machine. I empty and clean the lint filter and wipe the machine down after every use, and once a month it gets a "deep" clean.
Here is how I clean my washing machine:
First thing you need to do is find out if your washing machine actually has a lint filter. My HE machine doesn't, check your handbook to find out if your machine has a lint filter.
If your washing machine is a top loader it should have a lint filter in the agitator. Pull out the top of the agitator and it should have some kind of little bag or basket attached to it.
Gently take it off and give it a good clean. You may need to empty the lint out of it first. Then rinse it under hot water. If you use fabric softener then you will also need to soak it for a few minutes in white vinegar. Fabric softeners leave a film over the mesh that actually stops the water from getting through. You need to get rid of this build up. Take a cloth and clean inside the agitator - if you haven't done this before it may be black and slimy - just keep rinsing your cloth. I wrap a cloth around the handle of a wooden spoon to be able to reach the bottom.f
Front loaders have different lint filters - check your handbook to find out where it is and how to get to it.
If you empty and rinse the lint filter after every wash you'll stop those black flakes of gunk that sometimes appear on your washing - that's the old muck out of the lint filter flowing back up into the bowl. Yuk!
While the lint filter is soaking, get a cloth and a bucket of warm water and add a splash of vinegar (about 1 cup). Use this to wipe around the top of the bowl, under the lid, over the outside of the cabinet etc. Don't forget the inside of the agitator and the fabric softener dispenser. If it's particularly grungy, sprinkle with bi-carb and use this as a scouring powder. Just watch your fingers - the edges of all those ridges and rims can be sharp (guess how I know!).
Put the lint filter back together and replace the top of the agitator. Then run your washing machine through a full cycle on the longest and hottest wash cycle (this is the only time I use a hot wash) and add a full 2 litre bottle of vinegar to it. Don't add any clothes or other detergents; let the vinegar work its magic. The vinegar will remove the scum and gunk and any hard-water build up in the bowl and hoses.
Wipe over the outside of the machine with a damp cloth and dry.
You washing machine will sparkle inside and out. Do this on a regular basis and you'll extend the life of your machine and save on costly maintenance calls.