Vinegar truly is a miracle product. Sure, certain types of vinegar taste great with fries. But distilled vinegar can be used for just about anything around the house.

From cleaning and disinfecting to removing salt stains from boots, everyone should have a jug of distilled vinegar in their home. And after reading the following tips, you’re going to want to keep a jug in your laundry room, too!

1. Whiter Whites

Forget bleach and chemical-packed whiteners. Just toss a cup to a cup and a half of vinegar in with your laundry to see your whites look fresh and new again.

2. Protects Dark Clothing

While distilled vinegar can make your whites whiter, it can also make your darks darker. How? Well, laundry detergent and other residue sticks to dark clothing, making it appear lighter and worn out over time. Toss some vinegar in with your clothing and it will help to combat detergent and other chemicals from embedding themselves in your darks.

3. Removes Odors

One of the best qualities about distilled vinegar is its ability to remove unpleasant odors. If you’re dealing with stinky sports gear or just generally unpleasant clothing odors, toss a cup of vinegar in with your laundry.

4. Natural Fabric Softener

Because of the reasoning in #2, distilled vinegar is an excellent natural fabric softener. To make your clothing, towels, and bedding extra soft, add a cup to a cup and a half of distilled vinegar into the washing machine.

5. Removes Stains

Dealing with a tough stain? Just spray some vinegar directly onto the area in question, then let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Afterwards, wash as you normally would and the stain should be gone.