You’re washing expensive clothes wrong – never use vinegar

When it comes to cleaning, we all look for tips and tricks to perfect our techniques online.

But, when it comes to washing clothes, it turns out we’ve been told a few lies. According to a leading expert, many TikTok hacks could lead to ruining your designer wardrobe, and should be avoided at all costs.

For example, vinegar weakens fibres, and can damage delicate fabrics like nylon, rayon, linen and cotton. Mixing vinegar with alkaline detergents also reduces cleaning efficiency and can damage clothes.

Meanwhile, baking soda’s alkaline nature can cause bright clothes to fade and lose their vibrancy. This means some hacks can do more harm than good.

With viral TikTok cleaning hacks gaining millions of views, fashion expert Giorgio Ammirabile, from CSD, is urging fashion lovers to be cautious. What may seem like a simple, cost-effective solution could end up doing more harm than good to your treasured luxury items.

“Using home remedies like baking soda and vinegar on designer clothes can be a costly mistake,” warns Giorgio Ammirabile at CSD.

“They may seem like harmless, effective solutions, but when it comes to luxury fabrics, they can cause irreversible damage.”

Instead, Giorgio advises making use of professional cleaning products for regular or tough stains, adding: “There are many effective stain remover products these days, and most stains can be removed if taken care of on time. But, before applying anything to your garment, make sure you read the care label.

“Every fabric has its own needs, and while it’s tempting to follow these DIY trends, it’s best to stick with what’s proven to work. Your wardrobe will thank you in the long run.”

Reasons why viral hacks can do more harm than good:

• ‌Vinegar – vinegar’s acidic nature doesn’t just clean – it can weaken delicate fibres like rayon, nylon, linen and even cotton. And that’s not all – if your garment uses pH-sensitive dyes, it may also experience some colour bleeding, leading to faded, lacklustre colours.
• Alkaline clash – mixing vinegar with alkaline detergents might sound like a cleaning powerhouse, but it can actually create an unwanted result. The reaction between the two can lead to less efficient cleaning, certainly not the outcome you were hoping for.
• Baking soda – think twice before sprinkling baking soda on your designer cashmere or silk. Its highly alkaline nature can strip the vibrant colours right out of protein-based fibres like wool, leaving them dull and lifeless.
• Colour-fading culprit – if you want to keep your bright, bold clothing in tip-top condition for a long time, baking soda might not be your best friend. Its alkaline properties are notorious for fading garments with pH-sensitive dyes. This could lead to your once-vibrant wardrobe looking washed out and worn.
• Hard water havoc – if you live in a hard water area, combining it with baking soda can leave a white residue on your clothes, especially for elastane and nylon fibres. The added stress can break down these fibres, leaving your clothes saggy or stretched out of shape.