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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.
- Wrap the yarn until it forms a ball about the size of a tennis ball.
- Secure the end of the yarn by weaving it through a few layers using your needle.
- Insert each ball into a piece of pantyhose and tie the end.
- 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.
- Just take a few pieces of cotton (like an old shirt) and cut into squares.
- Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, such as citrus, lemon, grapefruit.
- 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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I use soap nuts to wash with, but missed the clean fresh smell so I added a few drops of a few different essential oils to the rinse cycle and the clothes spelled awesome, not sure how cost efficient that will be though…LOL I stopped using dryer sheets. I will try some of your suggestions.
Great idea Edie! I can’t wait to give that a try!
Thanks for these! I just ran out of dryer sheets and dont want to buy more. I will try the wool ball as I am a knitter so I have plenty to use! Do you think I could out some essential oils on that as well?
Hi Sam – I think some EOs would work nicely! That is a great idea. Hope you enjoy!
This is wonderful for me, as I’m allergic to almost all fabric softeners and dryer sheets. I still like to have soft, cling free clothes though. 🙂 thanks
I’m happy to hear this article was of help for you! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Wow, the first suggestion in the comments is simple but good!
I know, right!? Love this post! 🙂
This is perfect! I love these ideas, thank you for posting this 🙂
Thanks Ashley! Happy it was helpful! 🙂
LOVE anything natural like this!!!
Thanks Adrienne! Mindy did a great job on this post!
Such great ideas, I have to try the baking soda trick!
Hope it works well for you Sylvie! Mindy gave us some great non-toxic alternatives!
Jessica, This is such a great article. I had no idea that baking soda or white vinegar could be used for a fabric softener. These are a great alternative to the toxic stuff sold in the stores and inexpensive. Thanks so much.
Me either! Mindy did a great job on this article!
I love number 5, the home made dryer sheet idea–I hadn’t heard of doing that before. I am eager to try it!
Me too! I am going to do this soon! Enjoy!
Wonderful ideas. I’m wondering for #5. Adding the oil to the cotton sheets , could the oil possibly stain the clothes it comes in contact with in the dryer? Sorry if it seems like a silly question. I’m new to essential oils etc.
Hi Belle – I am not 100% sure, but I can tell you that I use lavender oil right on my pillowcase some nights before bed and it does not leave any stains.
You can also use epsom salts in the rinse. You may scent them with essential oils, but I do not. I found big bags cheap at the dollar store.
Great tip Dana! Thanks! 🙂
What about using kombucha? I use white vinegar (for numerous things) but have been told kombucha is great to clean with so I thought maybe it’d be good as a fabric softener as well.
Hi Amy – I think the kombucha would stain. Black tea does stain clothing, so I would be afraid to risk it.
Interesting about fabric softener sheets – if you look at the Bounce box, it even says that they should not touch your skin – how funny considering you’re putting them in the dryer on fabrics that will touch your skin…
I have been doing the vinegar, love it. My biggest problem is finding a way to make my towels more absorbent again – I use a homemade detergent, and my towels often spread the water instead of absorbing it…would love any inputs anyone has.
Thanks for the other ideas – I definitely want to make the wool balls.
🙂
Hi Kerstin – Great question on the towels! I will see if I can find some info regarding that. Glad the post was helpful! 🙂
Just to note, if you add a drop or two of essential oil to a wool dryer ball at the end of the dryer cycle, and set machine for 10 minutes on fluff with no heat, it will leave your clothes smelling fresh and wonderful! I like to use lavender oil.
Yes! This is a great way to freshen clothes! I love lavender too. 🙂
I use home made garbage enzyme for all cleaning in the kitchen and bathrooms and also in the garden as a growth enzyme.
Hi Prema! Awesome! So glad you’ve found a non-toxic solution that works for you! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I would pure love to stop with all harmful chemicals, but wouldn’t everything smell like a chip shop with the vinigar technique? I don’t use a tumble dryer, so I can’t freshen everything up after the wash. Thanks xx
Hi Jazzy! Thanks for stopping by! Nope, there is no vinegar smell after using, believe it or not! I use vinegar in my loads of wash almost every time and there is never any scent leftover. If you want to test it out for yourself, I’d test it on a small load of towels or something that can easily be re-washed in case you do feel that there is a smell leftover. Let me know what you think if you try it! 🙂
I put the EOs on my dryer balls so the heat of the dryer releases the scent, I also use the white vinegar in the wash cycle…
Hi Ann! Yes! That’s a great idea. I’ve heard others say they do the same thing. Vinegar in the wash makes such a huge difference. I do that too. 🙂