Laundry in a hard water area. Can I replace fabric softener with white vinegar?

[aboveandover]

We live in a very hard water area and also have to have the washing machine in the corner of a downstairs room (our house has an unusual layout) so things take a while to dry. I use a dehumidifier and the tumble dryer.

Our machine is clean and it's fairly new. I've been using non-bio gel and fabric conditioner and the clothes feel scratchy and stiff when drying.

I've tried a capful of white vinegar in the fabric conditioner drawer plus switched to powder and it's come out a lot softer.

Can I permanently replace the fabric conditioner with white vinegar in every wash?

I put a tablespoon of soda crystals in with the detergent, plumber told me to do that ( thats all Calgon is, just compressed into a tablet)

We have hard water - I just use soda crystals in the drawer for each wash. Ordinary powder goes in the drum. No conditioner or capsules, having read how they gum up the machine with gunk. As once advised on here by Piglet John, I did a very hot empty wash with just soda crystals - OMG, the dirty grey foam that appeared! Had to do it twice!

I’ve never used conditioner or capsules since.

Don't your clothes smell of vinegar though if you put it in the wash?

I have yes. I sometimes add a few drops of essential oil too. I also use soda crystals in with the powder to soften the water. It makes a noticeable difference if you use the soda crystals and white vinegar imo. I tried a conditioner again after a while of doing this and really noticed how weird and almost slimy it made my clothes feel.

Yes, in fact I think the vinegar keeps your machine clean and pong-free too.

It dissipates very quickly so no.

Where can you buy these soda crystals?

You really can't smell anything after the vinegar.

I usually put the powder in the drawer so can I just sprinkle some soda crystals on top of that?

Thanks!

Soda crystals are usually in Home Bargs.

I guess I need to double check all of this with the washing machine manufacturer.

I use washing soda as in a hard water area. It's great at removing dirt in household cleaning and washing clothes or other items but it doesn't make the clothes feel soft - depending on how much you use, it can make them feel stiff and hard so go easy on it at first to see how you get on.

Supermarkets sell it under the name Soda Crystals. My local supermarkets Sainsbury's and Waitrose both sell it. It's exactly the same brand and product but Waitrose's is currently better value for a larger size.

Any supermarket or hardware store. Very cheap compared to Calgon.

I should add that once a month I run the machine empty on delicate cycle with a cup of white vinegar in the drum.

You can buy soda crystals in Asda too.

Another one here that lives in a very hard water area. We regularly descale our machine with a Dr Beckmann (I think) descaler.

I have another question for those living in hard water areas and hope you don't mind me adding it here.

We thought our bathroom basin was blocked up with gunge, but on unscrewing the u-bend, it seems that the reason that the water wasn't draining properly was that there was a huge amount of limescale in it. (It has probably lined the other pipes too). So does anyone know of anything we can tip down the plug hole to dissolve the limescale? We regularly have to descale the kettle etc, but this is in a different league.

Try citric acid for your kettle, it's so much cheaper than the Dr Beckmans. You can buy a tub on Amazon.

I'm not sure about using it for your pipes, but I don't see why not. Definitely worth a google.

greengreengreengrass

Neat white vinegar should dissolve it overnight

i switched to white vinegar years ago and never looked back. it’s actually better for the machine too because fabric softener just gunk’s everything up over time.
if you find the stiffness still bothers you on things like bedding, it might be the fabric itself. i moved over to an idustmite bedding set and it stays so much softer than standard cotton because it’s eucalyptus silk. it handles the hard water washes much better and doesn't get that scratchy feel. definitely keep up with the vinegar though, it’s a total game changer for the towels

Im in a very hard water area and just put a calgon tablet in the drawer of every wash. Keeps the machine clean and clothes stay nicer longer

Soda crystals - any supermarket or hardware store.
Vinegar - use white vinegar, not the brown stuff you put on chips. Doesn’t smell. Works well.

White vinegar does leave a smell if you use a bit too much!

Fabric conditioner will ruin your clothes. It might make them feel soft at first but it will affect the fibres long term as it leaves a coating on them fibres which will lead to them eventually feeling rough.