The "best" homemade fabric softener often comes down to your preference, but the most popular and effective options are using white vinegar (with or without essential oils) for liquid softener or a mix of Epsom salts, baking soda, and essential oils for dry softener crystals, both working to soften clothes and reduce static without harsh chemicals. For dryer use, wool dryer balls with a few drops of essential oil are a top choice for speeding drying and softening.
Top 7 Natural Fabric Softener Alternatives
More reasons to strengthen the argument for ditching commercial fabric softeners, is that it is way more economical to make your own (you'll see why later on). Then there is the fact that you'll be reducing your household waste and minimising your impact on the environment.
In place of fabric softener, use about 1/4 cup plain distilled white vinegar. If you want some fragrance add a few drops of lavender or lemon oil. Clothes come out soft, clean, and not smelling like vinegar. Fabric softener causes buildup on your machine and your clothes, causing both to wear out faster.
Tips on How to Soften Laundry Without Fabric Softener
The "30 wear rule" (or #30Wears) is a sustainable fashion guideline encouraging consumers to ask, "Will I wear this item at least 30 times?" before buying, promoting mindful consumption, quality over quantity, and longevity to combat fast fashion's waste by focusing on versatile, durable pieces that offer better cost-per-wear.
The premise behind this hack is simple: By adding fabric softener to your toilet tank, every flush releases a burst of fragrance, making your bathroom smell like freshly laundered clothes.
So instead of using fabric softeners, use vinegar to soften your towels while keeping them nice and absorbent. Every six weeks wash your towels once normally and then a second time without detergent but with one cup of vinegar. Vinegar will get rid of any build up on your towels making them feel soft again.
The waxy residue from fabric softeners will clog the fibers on microfibers and towels, which will make it harder for the fabric to soak up liquid and reduce efficiency. If you really want to continue using fabric softener on towels, Balanzat recommends skipping it every three to four washes. Athletic wear.
♻️✨ Here's what you'll need: - 3 cups borax - 2 cups baking soda - 1 cup washing soda - 1 grated bar of Fels Naptha soap (smells divine!)
Vinegar: White vinegar can act as a natural fabric softener and odor neutralizer. Adding half a cup to one cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help soften fabrics, reduce static cling, and remove detergent residues.
Fortunately we have a natural alternative. This naturally-scented fabric softener is easy to make, low cost and biodegradable, and will leave your laundry soft and fresh. Directions: Mix together 2 cups of Epsom salt and 20-30 drops of your favourite essential oil.
This common problem affects most people at some point, but the good news? It's completely fixable once you understand the root cause. Clothes smell after washing due to bacteria buildup in your washing machine, leaving wet clothes in the washer too long (8+ hours), or using too much/too little detergent.
Adding vinegar directly to the wash with your laundry detergent may compromise its cleaning performance. Laundry detergents are formulated for specific pH levels, which may be disrupted by the acidity of vinegar, leading to less effective cleaning. It's best to avoid mixing them to ensure optimal results.
Adding Vinegar to Your Machine as a Fabric Softener:
Vinegar, particularly distilled white vinegar, is an excellent natural fabric softener and deodorizer. Add a cup of vinegar to your machine during the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener to remove odors and leave your laundry smelling fresh.
Baking soda is a budget-friendly, natural fabric softener that both softens clothes and removes unpleasant odors from fabrics. Add between half a cup to one cup of baking soda to your washing machine during either the regular wash or rinse cycle. For first-time users, start with half a cup.
The most worrisome preservatives in fabric softeners include the potent skin allergen methylisothiazolinone, and glutaral, known to trigger asthma and skin allergies. Glutaral, or glutaraldehyde, is also toxic to marine life. Among artificial colors, D&C violet 2 has been linked to cancer.
Problem signs include:
Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe
Ingredients: Lard (food grade), Water (aqua), & Sodium Hydroxide (lye). Join the Detergent-FREE generation. NOTE: Plain soap works BEST against the virus.
Before the widespread use of detergents, people used various substances like ashes, clay, and sand to clean their clothes. The first synthetic detergent, called "Dreft," was developed in the early 20th century.