5 Non-Toxic Homemade Fabric Softener Recipes

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{Note from Jessica: Today’s post is shared by my sweet friend Mindy. Mindy is a whole food lover with a passion for sharing natural and safe alternatives to conventional beauty products. Transitioning to a healthier lifestyle can seem overwhelming. So at her blog, Simple Pure Beauty, she likes to keep things simple by sharing safe, natural beauty product recipes and remedies using very few ingredients. Stop by Mindy’s blog to learn about natural remedies, simple whole food cooking and creating safe, healthy environments for our families.}

I have to admit, I’ve always loved the smell of a fresh load of laundry. What I didn’t realize was that when I was using conventional fabric softeners, I was coating our clothes in chemicals which my family was later breathing and absorbing into their skin.

I know it’s hard to resist the promise of clothes that smell like a  Mountain Spring or April Fresh…

But According to Wikepedia:

Fabric softeners contain chemicals that impregnate fabric and are released over time. These chemicals may come in direct contact with the skin and may be absorbed or inhaled. Certain ingredients release formaldehyde, which has been linked to cancer in laboratory tests. Among other softener components are benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant), and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen). Some chemicals are neurostimulants or irritators and may be linked to central nervous system toxin exposure symptoms like headaches, disorientation, mood swings, numbness in face or extremities, memory loss, or irritability.

But who wants crunchy jeans and a static filled wardrobe?

Thankfully, there are other more natural alternatives for softening and freshening your wardrobe and linens.

Here are 5 Simple Homemade Fabric Softener Recipes

1. Baking Soda

To reduce static and soften your laundry using baking soda, add 1/2 cup of baking soda during the rinse cycle.

2. White Vinegar 

Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle to soften fabrics. It can also be added to a downy ball at the beginning of the cycle for more convenience.

3. Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls are great for reducing static and drying time. Just toss a few in the dryer with your clothes. Super simple. Wool dryer balls are easy to make. You just need 100% pure wool yarn, pantyhose and a large-eyed needle. If you’re not the DIY type, you can find them on Amazon here.

1. Wrap the yarn until it forms a ball about the size of a tennis ball.
2. Secure the end of the yarn by weaving it through a few layers using your needle.
3. Insert each ball into a piece of pantyhose and tie the end.
4. Wash the dryer balls in hot water & dry.

Now they are ready to go.

4. Soap Nuts

Soap nuts are a great alternative to conventional laundry detergent, but they are also a great alternative to liquid fabric softener. The soap nuts (like these) contain saponins that foam during the cycle. The saponins clean and soften your laundry.

5. Homemade Dryer Sheets

Who doesn’t want their clothes to smell fresh and clean? For the longest time, I just didn’t use any fabric softener or dryer sheets. But I love this simple way to make homemade dryer sheets.

1. Just take a few pieces of cotton (like an old shirt) and cut into squares.
2. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, such as citrus, lemon, grapefruit.
3. Toss it in the dryer with your clothes.

You should be able to get a few uses out of each sheet before adding more essential oil.

I get really excited when I can swap out chemical laden, cancer-causing products for homemade and natural cleaning products.

What are some of your favorite homemade cleaning products? 

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