this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2025
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[–] mycelium_underground@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You definitely don't need that much vinigar. That said most new washing machine are using a chemical resistant silicone or TPE instead of more traditional rubber compound. This eliminated the already miniscule risk of acid damaging the seals.

If you add 3 cups(about 700 mL) of standard 5% acetic acid bleach to 4 gallons of water(~ 15000 mL) you end up with a 0.2% acetic acid you will end up with a pH of something like 5.5 or about the pH of healthy skin. A lot of HE washers will use a 5 gallon initial wash so it's likely to be even gentler than what I came up with in my rough napkin math guesstamate.

[–] anguo@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

While I agree with the general sentiment, the vinegar won't be released and diluted until later in the load, so it sits in its full 5% acetic acid glory for quite a while.

[–] mycelium_underground@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Most(maybe all) HE washers don't have mechanical flaps that hold back the liquids, they sit in plastic cups that empty by an overflow or auto syphon system when water comes out of a tube located above that tub or cup. It's a fancy plastic cup. Every plastic common to appliance manufacturing is resistant to 5% acetic acid. Chemical resistance of plastics chart

I just looked at the fabric softener cup in my washer, it's HDPE(high density polyethylene). If you look at that chart you will see polyethylene is resistant to even concentrated acetic acid. The plastic bottle the vinigar comes in is made from a lower density polyethylene.

By the time the vinigar leaves the cup is already being diluted by the fill water causing it to overflow or start the auto syphon. It will not damage your washer, but even if it did, you can buy replacements for the entire soap tray for relatively little online. The same can be said for most other appliance parts with the notable exceptions being large motors and some brands control boards. There are tons of write ups, tutorials and videos on how to fix broken appliances and replace parts.

[–] anguo@lemmy.ca 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Yes, I was just being pedantic. Sorry to have triggered such an involved response, but thanks for all the information! From what I understand this is more of a problem in dishwashers, if you want to use it as rinse aid.

[–] mycelium_underground@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago

No worries, I am a fan of pedantry. The amount of involved in the response was just me getting mentally stuck in a washing machine hole.