Millions of Australians have been warned to stop using an everyday cleaner in their washing machines.
Vinegar has long been a popular laundry product for many Aussies, replacing fabric softener as a preferred way to keep clothes – and especially towels – soft and fluffy.
Now a washing machine repairman – who claims to work for Fisher & Paykel – has issued a stern warning about using vinegar, saying it could destroy the pipes of your appliance.
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The service worker’s daughter-in-law shared his concerns on a popular Facebook group, urging home owners to rethink their laundry routine.
She also shared two images of various pipe parts from a washing machine, which she claims have been severely damaged from vinegar use.
“My partner’s father works for F&P [Fisher & Paykel],” she wrote on the Cleaning & Organising Inspiration Australia Facebook page.
“This is what happens to one of the pipes in your washing machine when you use vinegar to soften your towels.
“Needless to say he was happy to hear that I’ve never used vinegar.”
The post prompted an intense reaction on the Facebook page, with many shocked to hear that vinegar could have such a devastating effect on a washing machine.
“Won’t be doing that again,” said one. “It works so well though.”
Added another: “I’m so glad that I have not used vinegar in my machine.”
Wrote a third: “Never again.”
Others said they weren’t surprised to read the latest warning about using vinegar in your appliance.
“Vinegar is not great at all to use in a washing machine, I have tried so many times to tell people and I’ve given up,” one Facebook user responded.
Another wrote: “When we got our new washing machine many years back, the guy that delivered it said not to use vinegar in your washing machine as it causes damage to it.”
One more said: “It also can damage the rubber seal. Friend has had to replace hers in a 24-month-old front loader machine because the vinegar has damaged hers and it literally split.
“First she knew about it was the water cascading out of the front.”
Added another: “I’ve always been told to never use vinegar or softener in my machine – I only use laundry liquid and that’s it.”
However others were sceptical, saying they’d used vinegar on their washing machine for years with no problems.
“I have been using it un my washing machine for 25 years, no problems – and 15 years in dishwasher,” wrote one.
Another said: “I’m sorry, but I have used vinegar for over 30 years as softener and it has never caused damage to my washing machines.
“When I had my 15-year-old machine serviced, the agent asked me what I used as he had never seen a machine that old have such clean undamaged pipes.
“I told him Nutri-Clean CLC and vinegar he said to keep using it as cheap washing detergents and fabric softener are what kill machines and their pipes.”
One more said: “Been using vinegar for at least 25 years and never had that problem!”
Others were confused by the warning, given that some manufacturers and service workers have recommended vinegar in the past.
“My washing machine repairman has said it’s fine to use vinegar in your machine,” said one. “So many different viewpoints it’s hard to know what is right!”
It’s advised that users should always manufacturer’s recommendations about what cleaning agents should be used in your washing machine. These can be found in your appliance manual.
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