Are you tired of using harsh chemicals and expensive detergents to keep your clothes clean? If so, try a natural alternative that has been around for centuries – apple cider vinegar.
Not only is it a cost-effective solution, but it is also an eco-friendly option that can help keep your clothes looking and smelling fresh. It can help remove stains, brighten colors, and soften fabrics.
In this article, we will show you how to use apple cider vinegar in your laundry and share some tips and tricks to get the best results.
Key Takeaways
Apple cider vinegar is a natural and eco-friendly alternative to harsh chemicals and detergents.
It can help remove stains, brighten colors, and soften fabrics in your laundry.
Follow our tips and tricks to brew the perfect vinegar laundry elixir and avoid using vinegar in certain situations.
The Magic Potion for Your Clothes
If you’re looking for a natural and affordable way to freshen up your laundry, look no further than apple cider vinegar. This “magic potion” has been used for centuries to clean and brighten clothes, and it’s still just as effective today. Here’s how to use apple cider vinegar in your laundry routine.
Brightening Whites
Are your white clothes looking a little dull?
💡 Add 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar to your wash cycle to brighten them up.
The acidity of the vinegar helps to break down dirt and grime, while also removing any buildup from fabric softeners or detergents.
Plus, it’s a natural alternative to bleach, which can be harsh on fabrics and the environment.
Banishing Stains
Apple cider vinegar can also help to remove stubborn stains from clothes.
Simply mix equal parts vinegar and water, and apply the solution directly to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wash the garment as usual.
For extra tough stains, you can also add a tablespoon of baking soda to the mixture.
If you’re looking for a natural fabric softener, apple cider vinegar is a great option. With apple cider vinegar, you can brighten whites, banish stains, and soften fabrics – all without harsh chemicals or expensive products.
💡 Add 1/2 cup to your rinse cycle to help soften fabrics and reduce static cling. It also helps to remove any detergent residue, leaving your clothes feeling fresh and clean.
Give it a try and see the difference it can make in your laundry routine.
Brewing the Perfect Vinegar Laundry Elixir
If you’re looking for a natural and inexpensive way to freshen up your laundry, look no further than apple cider vinegar. This magical elixir can help remove stains, brighten colors, and even soften fabrics. But before you start pouring vinegar all over your clothes, there are a few things you need to know.
Vinegar to Detergent Ratio
The first thing to consider when using apple cider vinegar in your laundry is the ratio of vinegar to detergent. Using too much vinegar, may leave your clothes smelling. On the other hand, using too little vinegar won’t give you the desired results. So, what’s the sweet spot?
A good rule of thumb is to add 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar to your washing machine during the rinse cycle.
This will help remove any leftover detergent residue and leave your clothes feeling soft and fresh. If you have particularly dirty or smelly clothes, you can add up to 1 cup of vinegar per load.
The Ideal Water Temperature
Another thing to consider when using apple cider vinegar in your laundry is the water temperature.
What’s the ideal water temperature for using apple cider vinegar in your laundry? The answer depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
To remove stains or kill bacteria: use hot water.
To preserve colors and protect delicate fabrics: use cold water.
While hot water is great for removing stains and killing bacteria, it can also damage some fabrics and cause colors to fade. On the other hand, cold water is gentle on fabrics but may not be as effective at removing stains.
A Cautionary Sniff: When Not to Use Vinegar
While apple cider vinegar is a versatile and effective laundry aid, there are a few situations where you might want to avoid using it.
Here are some scenarios where a sniff of caution is in order:
On delicate fabrics: Vinegar can be too harsh for delicate fabrics such as silk or lace. It’s best to avoid using vinegar on these fabrics altogether or to test a small, inconspicuous area first.
With bleach or ammonia: Mixing vinegar with bleach or ammonia is dangerous and can create toxic fumes. Never mix vinegar with these chemicals.
On stains that require hot water:Vinegar is most effective when used in cold or warm water. If you have a stain that requires hot water to remove, it’s best to avoid using vinegar.
On colored fabrics: While vinegar is safe to use on most fabrics, it can cause colors to fade or bleed on certain materials. Be sure to test a small area first or avoid using vinegar on colored fabrics altogether.
When you don’t want your laundry to smell like vinegar: While vinegar is a great natural deodorizer, some people may not enjoy the smell of vinegar on their clothes. The odor will dissipate in the rinse cycle and dryer though. If you’re finding the scent is lingering, cut back on the amount you’re using.
The Takeaway
Using apple cider vinegar in your laundry can be a great way to freshen up your clothes and save money on expensive detergents.
Remember, while vinegar can be a great addition to your laundry routine, it’s important to use it safely and appropriately. Just remember to use the right ratio of vinegar to detergent and choose the right water temperature for your needs.
💡 Adding 1/2 cup to 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to your wash or rinse cycle is a good rule of thumb.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your laundry comes out clean, bright and fresh every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the secret to using apple cider vinegar without turning my laundry room into a salad bar?
You won’t need to wear a hazmat suit or a gas mask to use apple cider vinegar in your laundry.
Just add one cup of apple cider vinegar to your washing machine during the rinse cycle.
The vinegar smell will dissipate as your clothes dry, leaving them smelling fresh and clean.
Will my front load washer start to smell like a traditional U.K. chip shop if I splash in some apple cider vinegar?
Nope, your front load washer won’t smell like a chip shop if you use apple cider vinegar. In fact, apple cider vinegar can help deodorize and sanitize your washer, while keeping it smelling fresh.
To clean your washing machine with apple cider vinegar add one cup to your washing machine and run a hot cycle with no clothes.
In the epic battle of vinegars, who wins for freshest laundry: Apple cider or white?
Sorry, white vinegar, but apple cider vinegar takes the crown for freshest laundry.
While white vinegar is a great fabric softener and stain remover, apple cider vinegar has natural anti-bacterial properties that can help kill odor-causing bacteria and leave your clothes smelling fresh.
How much apple cider vinegar do I need to create the ultimate laundry potion?
You don’t need a lot of apple cider vinegar to create the ultimate laundry potion.
Just add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to your wash cycle or during the rinse cycle to help freshen and brighten your clothes.
Can apple cider vinegar banish tough stains from my favorite shirt?
For tough stains, pre-treat with a stain remover and then wash with apple cider vinegar to help remove any remaining residue.
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Open up my medicine cabinet and it’s immediately obvious: this girl is a skincare junkie. I’ve tested all the best moisturizers, decided which eye creams are worth the splurge, and found serums to rival any in-office treatment. But with so many brands entering the space every day, it can feel impossible to keep up—and decide where to direct your beauty budget. The brand that sits front and center on my (admittedly overcrowded) skincare shelf? Jordan Harper’s Barefaced.
Now, I’m wary of anything buzzy. As much as I love diving into trends and dissecting new-to-me beauty rituals and routines, I want the science and anecdotal evidence as proof. With celeb backing and the expertise of a nurse practitioner advising every formulation, I knew I needed to get my hands on Barefaced for myself.
Jordan Harper, Founder of Barefaced, Shares Her Glowy Skin Secrets
Barefaced first came on my radar after I caught tennis darling and lifestyle brand founder Paige Lorenze dishing about the products on Instagram stories. Her AM skincare ritual leans on the brand’s antioxidant-packed Toning Pads to exfoliate and the Overachiever to hydrate and soothe. At the end of the day, the Hydrating Lotion and Everyday Eye Hero offer some much-needed moisture before going to bed.
But because I know that so much of social media is smoke and mirrors, I went straight to the source to better understand the efficacy behind these buzzed-about products—and why our favorite celebs can’t get enough.
Jordan Harper
Jordan Harper is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner and Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist focusing on preventative/restorative skincare solutions. She is also the founder of the skincare brand, Barefaced whose mission is to simplify skincare and help you achieve healthy, vibrant, beautiful skin.
Paige Lorenze uses Barefaced to get her signature glow. How do the Barefaced products in her skincare routine work together to give her that coveted, lit-from-within complexion?
At Barefaced, our philosophy is “Less but Better.” We intentionally formulate all our products to work synergistically, ensuring you get the maximum benefit from each. Using the core four products, we call them the Bare Necessities, to promote long-term skin health is what really gives the lit-from-within glow.
When your skin is properly exfoliated, hydrated, and protected the glow speaks for itself!
What should everyone include in their morning and evening skincare routines?
After treating thousands of patients as a nurse practitioner, I recognized a common theme: my patients didn’t know which products they actually needed for their skin to be healthy. You can do all the face masks and hydrating serums you want but if you’re not using the core four products to prevent, protect, correct, and repair the skin, your skin lacks the essential nutrients it needs to be healthy. Remember, glowing skin is healthy skin.
The core four products include an exfoliant, vitamin C, a retinoid, and SPF. At Barefaced, we understand that the skincare industry is vast and starting a daily routine can feel overwhelming and confusing. To simplify this process, we’ve curated The Bare Necessities bundle. This collection features the core four products essential for improving skin health and strengthening the skin barrier.
Exfoliant
These treatment pads are packed with AHAs, BHAs, antioxidants, and hydrating ingredients to tackle dullness, rough texture, and breakouts.
Vitamin C
Formulated with pro-collagen ingredients, Liquid Gold brightens, defends against damaging environmental stressors, and minimizes the appearance of premature fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinoid
Our key ingredient, RetinAL, surpasses all retinols in strength by about 20 times while working about 11 times faster. Encapsulated in a time-released formulation, RetinAL Skin Therapy also includes bakuchiol and other soothing ingredients to ensure it’s well tolerated with minimal sensitivity.
Sunscreen
These broad-spectrum, oil-free SPFs are crafted for everyday wear, catering to all skin types and tones.
We always say, if you’re not wearing a daily sunscreen, investing in other skincare is a waster. Daily SPF is the ultimate anti-aging product. What sets [our sunscreens] apart is their added skin benefits. They’re more than just sunscreen, formulated with these key ingredients:
Caffeine. Works as an antioxidant to delay the skin’s aging process and helps tighten the skin/pores.
Niacinamide. Provides anti-aging benefits while brightening, helping control oil production and reducing redness.
Lactic Acid. Helps reduce the appearance of dark spots, boosts natural moisture levels of the skin, and improves skin’s firmness.
Hyaluronic Acid. Provides intense hydration and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
How to Build on Your Basic Skincare Routine
Once you’ve established this strong foundation, you can gradually expand your routine to target specific concerns like breakouts, dark spots, or skin aging. Prioritizing healthy skin initially before tackling other concerns is vital, as healthy skin is better equipped to address your additional concerns more effectively.
There’s never a better time of year than *right now* to simplify your meals. (And life, for that matter!) The warmer season sees us soaking up long, late-into-the-evening al fresco dinners, complete with fresh and vibrant mains and summer side dishes that inspire. With the weather ripe for outdoor dining, having an arsenal of delicious and easy-to-prep side dishes is the easiest way to elevate any meal. From refreshing dips to tangy slaws and fruit-forward salads, the possibilities are endless. We’re here to guide you through a selection of delicious summer side dishes sure to please any crowd.
15 Summer Side Dishes Your Guests Will Devour
Whether you’re planning a beach picnic, backyard barbecue, or a casual get-together with friends on the patio, these summer side dishes are perfect no matter the occasion. Each recipe makes the most of all the fresh, seasonal ingredients at your fingertips. And what’s more, they celebrate the essence of summer—lending a burst of color and crisp flavor to your table. With your grocery list at the ready, let’s dive into all the best summer side dishes to accompany your summer feasts.
Why We Love It: When summer rolls around, I’m all about dishes that balance sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. Creating a recipe that hits this trifecta is hard—but this watermelon feta salad delivers. The feta’s rich, salty bite contrasts with the sweet, juicy watermelon. And the jalapeño’s punchy spice is all I need to confirm: this is the official side dish of the summer.
Hero Ingredient: Basil leaves might be my favorite summer ingredient. The aromatic herb enhances this salad’s overall flavor profile, tying all of its elements together.
Why We Love It: I’ve never met a spread I didn’t love—and proceeded to dive into, crudité-first. This spread is not only packed with fresh summer flavor (think: peas, garlic, lemon juice, and a little heat from the red pepper flakes), but it’s also a breeze to whip up. Pull out your food processor and you’re already halfway there.
Hero Ingredient: I love a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg sprinkled into my creamy dips. It’s warm, nutty, and—with a hint of clove and tobacco—adds a beautiful complexity to this simpler-than-it-seems summer side.
Why We Love It: It’s an unspoken rule: guacamole is a must on any summer table. And though people like to keep theirs simple, I’m here for this Indian-inspired spin. Corn (sliced freshly off the cob) is a summertime classic. When mixed with a vibrant medley of avocados, jalapeño, cilantro, and unexpected spices, you have a summer side that’s right at home alongside your favorite tacos, protein of choice, or with as many tortilla chips as you can manage.
Hero Ingredient: Chaat masala—end stop. It adds a complex blend of tart, spicy, salty, and tangy flavors that awards this dish the title of The Most Interesting Guacamole in the World.
Why We Love It: When the temps reach into the triple digits, the oven is off and we need sides that deliver all the fresh flavor. This snap pea salad satisfies with an addictively crunchy texture. The goat cheese and feta, plus the creamy white beans, keep things interesting and make this salad more satiating than your typical summer go-to.
Hero Ingredient: This mustard-y champagne vinaigrette has quickly become a staple drizzled atop all of my salads. You’ll love its sharp acidity and slightly sweet tang.
Why We Love It: When you want a summer side that leans closer to the satisfying end of the spectrum, this torn halloumi variation is your go-to. It’s comprised of a blend of simple ingredients that complement and contrast each other to create a truly addictive dish. And I love how, when you tear the halloumi, it boasts all these beautiful, craggily nooks and crispy bits that lend plenty of satisfying texture.
Hero Ingredient: Halloumi will always be the hero ingredient in my heart. Its flavor is mellow but not at all boring, and it can stand up to all sorts of cooking methods. Though it’s usually expensive, I’d argue that it deserves staple-status in your kitchen.
Why We Love It: My relationship with tomato salads: the simpler, the better. Summer is peak tomato season (I’d argue you should never buy tomatoes outside of June through September), so of course, you want their vibrancy to shine. With just six ingredients, this tomato salad follows my rules to perfection—and reaps the delicious benefits as a result.
Hero Ingredient: The tomatoes, hands down. All the other ingredients (salt, lemon juice, sunflower oil, garlic, and onion) serve simply to enhance your tomatoes’ flavor. Opt for farmer’s market, fresh tomatoes—you’ll be happy you did.
Why We Love It: While sweet potato fries may not seem like an obvious homemade summer side dish, they might be one of my favorites on this list. Why? 1) Hello, french fries. 2) Counting salt, this recipe calls for just five ingredients. So when you’re in a pinch and want to serve something statement-making, these sweet potato fries are always your answer.
Hero Ingredient: I’m a toppings girl at heart. Give me all the yogurt, mint, cilantro, red onion, and jalapeño. Oh—and a drizzle of lime for good measure.
Why We Love It: It’s not summer without a potato salad. And while potato salads of yore might have looked more like a gloppy mess than a delicious summer side dish, this recipe understood the assignment. Yukon gold potatoes roasted in olive oil get tossed with soft-boiled eggs and a smoky-spicy aioli to bring it all together. This recipe is your sign to step away from the sub-par grocery potato salad.
Hero Ingredient: I will happily devour the smoked chile aioli straight with a spoon.
Why We Love It: I’m here for the trend of deeming any salad that involves tomatoes and mozzarella a caprese—and this avocado spin is my newfound fave. I love how the avocado introduces a creamy texture and rich, buttery bite to the salad’s fresh components. The result is so satisfying, and I’m obsessed with all the colors this salad packs.
Hero Ingredient: Camille opted for burrata here, and I live by the rule that burrata makes everything better.
Why We Love It: Sure, you probably don’t need a recipe for a green salad. But—an herby, crunchy, green salad tossed with the best shallot vinaigrette of your life? For that, you need Camille’s secrets. I love the variety of greens this salad packs, and the mixed herbs add so much fresh flavor.
Why We Love It: Let this be a PSA to start adding fruit to your salads, stat. Figs, when halved lengthwise, display a beautifully ornate cross-section that yields plenty of visual interest. In terms of flavor, they add a fruity element—a mix between strawberries and dates—to the mix, and their jam-like quality plays up the creamy burrata to perfection.
Hero Ingredient: The candied nuts add a perfect crunch, and if you make extra, the leftovers are an ideal afternoon snack.
Why We Love It: To reiterate: fruit belongs in your summer salads. When strawberries are at their freshest peak-summer, this salad is a must-make. You’ll macerate the strawberries, drawing out their natural flavors and concentrating their fruity bite. Paired with freshly torn basil and burrata (bless), this salad is summer personified.
Hero Ingredient: How can wax poetic about summer-fresh strawberries and not call them this salad’s hero ingredient?
Why We Love It: When you’re keeping your salad simple, it’s all about the dressing. Case in point, this summery green salad with a ginger-packed tahini vinaigrette. And while the salad itself only calls for four ingredients—baby greens, freshly grated parmesan, roasted and salted pistachios, and furikake—it layers in so much flavor and texture that’s sure to keep all your guests satisfied.
Hero Ingredient: Furikake (a Japanese seasoning made with toasted sesame seeds, nori, salt, and sugar) is an unexpected—though obsession-inducing—topping. Get the big bottle: you’ll be putting it on everything.
Why We Love It: Every summer gathering needs a quick and easy slaw. Although pulling out the coleslaw mix and blending a quick dressing works in a pinch, this fennel salad is just as fast—and might even call for fewer ingredients.
Hero Ingredient: Fennel needs to start getting the good press it deserves. While some people are put off by the anise-like flavor, I love its fresh, pleasantly sweet bite. All of that is amplified in this simple dish—the herbs, citrus, and slight sweetness from the honey give this standout veg the star treatment.
Why We Love It: Can we—right now—all agree that bitter flavors deserve a spot in our daily diets? Bitter ingredients make the perfect foundation for creamy additions. Some examples: coffee with cream, lemon with butter, and arugula with olive oil. As Camille notes in this recipe: it’s all in the balance. And balance, this salad perfects. I’m obsessed with the spectrum of hues, flavors, and textures this salad takes on. It’s salty (prosciutto), it’s crunchy (pistachios), and it’s one of the best summer side dishes you’ll make this year.
Hero Ingredient: This salad is a compendium of underrated ingredients. Let this be a shoutout to the balsamic vinegar that yields a rich, complex sweetness to every bite.
Whenever I’m at the beach, I can feel my entire system reset. Our family’s schedule is cleared of most commitments, so the time allows us to downshift into a more relaxed state of mind. When we’re in Malibu, my favorite time of day is just before sunset, when everything’s dipped in golden light and you can find us gathered around the grill prepping ingredients from the farm stand, cold drink in hand. And this summer, our MVPs have been these grilled shrimp tacos with grapefruit-avocado salsa, also know as the best shrimp tacos on the planet. Call us obsessed.
Now, when I’m back in Austin, I’m committed to bringing that relaxed Cali vibe home. (Yes, even as I’m juggling the realities of a busy work schedule combined with carpooling our kids from one activity to another.) For me, the best way to lean into the summer spirit is to cook (and eat!) as many meals outside as possible. This shrimp taco recipe is the perfect excuse to enjoy an al fresco meal any night of the week. Let’s dive in—I’ll show you how easily they come together.
Join the Club
Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Grapefruit-Avocado Salsa:
Camille’s Cooking Club July Recipe
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Ingredients for Grilled Shrimp Tacos
This is a short and sweet ingredient list—which I consider to be a baseline requirement for any great summer recipe. Here’s what to grab at the grocery:
limes
grapefruit
honey
garlic
chili Powder
mayo
shrimp (peeled and deveined)
cabbage
corn Tortillas
avocados
cilantro
jalapeños
How to Make the Best Shrimp Taco Recipe
Marinate the shrimp
The key to keeping this recipe simple is letting our ingredients do double duty. The marinade is also used as the base for the creamy sauce, and the grapefruit salsa uses several of the ingredients in the marinade. Because again—I like a short grocery list.
To make the marinade, you’ll whisk together the zest and juice from your citrus with honey, garlic, chili powder and olive oil. Then you place the shrimp in a bowl and pour half the marinade over it. You only want this shrimp to marinate for 30 minutes to an hour at most—longer than that, and you’ll risk starting to “cook” the shrimp in the citrus. (We’re not making ceviche here.)
Make the quick crema
This sauce plays a major role in giving this shrimp taco recipe tons of flavor. All you need for the creamy sauce is your reserved marinade that gets combined with either mayo or sour cream. You’ll toss a bit of it with our shredded cabbage for a five-second slaw, then reserve the rest to drizzle over the top of the finished tacos.
Toss together your salsa
I made grapefruit the star ingredient in this addictive salsa. It’s incredibly easy and takes these tacos to the next level. Simply toss together chunks of avocado and grapefruit, then add cilantro and adjust the jalapeño to add as much heat as you like. Double the recipe and serve it as an appetizer alongside tortilla chips.
How to cook shrimp for tacos
Trust me on this: the key to the most delicious shrimp is getting that char, which means that a quick cooking method is the way to go. I like to cook shrimp on high heat in a cast-iron skillet set over the grill grates. It allows you to get that quick sear, while also ensuring that your shrimp don’t fall through the grates.
Once you’ve placed the shrimp into the pan and heard that sizzle, resist the temptation to move or flip the shrimp until the first side is nice and caramelized.
Assemble your tacos
To serve, top a charred corn tortilla with some of your cabbage slaw, grapefruit salsa, and then the grilled shrimp. Garnish with cilantro and a drizzle of crema, and serve with lime wedges. Voila—the best shrimp tacos you’ve ever had.
Tips for Shrimp Taco Success
Change up the toppings
If you want to skip the salsa, just add slices of creamy avocado, bits of fresh cilantro and a few squeezes of fresh lime. Pico de gallo is always welcome!
Switch up the protein
You could turn these into fish tacos, using the same marinade, sauce, and salsa. Cod or halibut filets work great for this recipe.
Make it easy
I rely on a few key shortcuts when I make this shrimp taco recipe:
Use a bag of pre-shredded cabbage.
Buy raw shrimp that’s already peeled and deveined.
Char the corn tortillas right on the grill, so you can keep all the cooking outdoors (with minimal clean-up!).
These shrimp tacos are simply the best. With a citrus-honey marinade and zesty grapefruit salsa, it’s a quick summer dinner that’s prepared almost entirely on the grill—and perfect for entertaining.
Zest of 1 lime and 1 grapefruit
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup grapefruit juice
1/2 cup honey
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for pan
1/4 cup mayo or sour cream
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds large or jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined
2 cups shredded green cabbage
Corn tortillas, charred over grill
For serving: cilantro leaves and lime wedges
For the grapefruit salsa:
1 grapefruit, peel and pith removed, and cut into segments
1 avocado, cut into chunks
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed, chopped
Kosher salt, to taste
Make the marinade: whisk together zest, juice, honey, garlic, chili powder, and olive oil.
Place shrimp in a bowl, then pour half the marinade over it. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix ¼ cup of the reserved marinade with ¼ cup of mayo or sour cream. This is your quick & creamy sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Make the grapefruit salsa: gently toss all ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Preheat grill to medium heat (375 F), and place a cast-iron skillet directly on the grates to preheat.
Drizzle olive oil on the bottom of the skillet, then place shrimp in the skillet and cook for 2 minutes. Baste the shrimp with the reserved marinade, then turn and cook for another two minutes, until opaque.
Remove from grill.
Toss the shredded cabbage with a couple tablespoons of the creamy sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
Assemble tacos: top a charred corn tortilla with slaw, salsa, and then shrimp. Garnish with cilantro and a drizzle of sauce, and serve with lime wedges. Enjoy!
