Posted in Home, Home Archive, Home Recipes | Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Store bought fabric softeners are designed to reduce static in synthetic fabrics. They serve no purpose with natural fabrics. Fabric softeners work by leaving a residue on the fabric which never completely washes out. It can cause allergic reactions through skin contact and inhalation. Fabric softeners may also contain carcinogenic coal-tar dyes, ammonia and very strong scents. When fabric softeners are exposed to hot water, heat from dryers or ironing, vapors may be emitted which can be deeply inhaled, increasing their impact.- Guide to Less Toxic Products
When I stopped using fabric softener, this strange rash I used to get on my leg went away, and Sexy’s nighttime nosebleeds subsided. I tell anyone with excema or asthma to stop using store brand fabric softener immediately, since it’s known to aggravate both ailments. It’s incredibly easy to make your own fabric softener, and much healthier too! Here’s few versions that I’ve tried.
Basic DIY Fabric Softener
Lavender Fresh Fabric Softener
Lemony Fabric Softener* (this one makes your clothes really soft)
DO NOT use Apple cider Vinegar in any of the above recipes, it will stain your clothes! (save it for your hair, I’ll explain in another post)
Note: The clothes will smell really lemony when they come out of the washer, but after they dry, either in the dryer or on the line, the scent fades a bit.
*This recipe is from The Naturally Clean Home, by Karyn Siegel-Maier
About Savvy Brown
I believe being healthy doesn't have to be complicated, being green can be easy and being broke isn't an option!
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This is the best idea and cheap option to use. I have been making my own fabric softner for a year now. Boy… is it a money saver. I have used the Lavender as well as Green Apple to scent my vinegar rinse. Smells so good and the clothes do come out really soft. Go Green!
@Lowbudget thanks! Where did you find Green Apple essential oil? That sounds yummy!
thank you this was right on time. I made my own laundry detergent following your previous post. Definitely trying this
Great! How did the laundry detergent work out for you?
For the last 2 months, I have stopped using dryer sheets or anything else for that matter. All I use is a ball of aluminum foil. I have used the same one the whole time. I do about 15-20 loads/week.
@Angela REALLY?! How big of a ball of foil are you using? Why does this work?
I believe the foil ball works to eliminate static cling only. If you often forget to add your fabric softener to the wash load in time, a great solution is to pour a tiny bit on an old washcloth and toss it into the dryer with your clothes. It’s a homemade dryer sheet!
Hi Savvy,
What alternatives would you suggest for someone who lives in a high-rise building where the machines have no knob that indicates when the rinse cycle is about to begin? It’s a front-loader with a section at the top where you put in your detergent, bleach and softener. Can I just put the home-made softener where I would normally put the store-bought one? Thks in adv
@Blossom. Hi! Yes. You can just add it to where you would add the regular fabric softener. (I tried this at the laundromat once, when my washer broke). What I would do, however, is wait 10-15mins into the wash cycle before adding it.
I’ve been doing my research on natural fabric softeners and I just read that you can pour your softner in one of those softener balls. So if you already have a ball you don’t have to go through the work of waiting for the rinse cycle or cutting clothes. I’m going to find my balls now! hahahaha
Savvy, out of the recipes you gave; which one do you like the most?
I just mixed up a batch using the vinegar, baking soda and mix of myrrh and lavendar. Let’s see how this works.
I used my softener today and I’m quite impressed. I think I didn’t use enough on one load because I had static cling, but it was really bad. Most of my clothes were soft, fresh smelling and void of static (expect that one load). This is a keeper and I’ve already told my friend about it because her kids have really sensitive skin.
Now I need to find the right bleach alternative. I’m going greener every day!
[...] rest do get thrown in the dryer along with various implements because, well, fabric softener is kind of toxic and dryer sheets are messy, (not to mention a fire hazard). And I figured I could live with a [...]
AND they come in plastic containers, which may or may not end up floating in the ocean when you’re done with them.
@Aubyn Good point. You can, however, buy vinegar in glass bottles…
Hi,
Hopefully i’m asking a question that has already been asked, but did you say it is possible for me to put the homemade fabric softener in the the spot on the washer when you usually would put store bought? Are the only two oils you recommend lavender and lemongrass? How come adding the oils doesn’t stain the clothing?
Thanks! =)
@nikki Hi there! Great questions, and nope, no one’s asked them. Yes, I put mine right in the same place I would put the store bought softener. I happene to like lavender and lemongrass and how they smell. You can use any other essential oils of your choosing. Just be sure to use essential oils otherwise, yes the oil would stain your clothing. I’m not sure why it doesn’t harm them. I think it has something to do with the chemical mxiture of the baking soda and vinegar. But if you’re stil skeptical. Make abatch without the oils and see how you like it first. HTH!
Savvy, could you use skin safe fragrances? I make homemade soap and on occasion I will use skin safe fragrances that I like when I’m not using essential oils. There are some scents I just love and can’t live without. I’m just curious if I could use these in my homemade fabric softener in the washer or on homemade dryer sheets?