{This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I earn a commission if you make a qualifyingpurchase through my links (such as Amazon), but it does not change the price that you pay. For more information, please see my disclaimer page.}
Your run of the mill fabric softens may smell heavenly, but they are loaded with some of the worst chemicals, some of which the EPA has no known safe exposure levels for.
Here are some ways you can get nice, soft clothes without the junk.
Before proceeding, please read this post on Essential Oil Safety if you haven’t already done so.
Here is a list of Essential Oil Scent Combination Ideas.
Wool Balls and Essential Oils
I recently ordered some and have been playing around with them. I will keep you posted on my thoughts!
Cuts drying time (bonus saving time and energy), and, when you add a few drops of essential oils to each ball every 3-4 loads, gives a nice light scent.
TShirt Rags
Cut old tshirts into 6×6 inch rags and add 2-4 drops of essential oils to each rag. Store in airtight glass jar and use 1-2 per load. It should be noted that oils are flammable, so do not store them on your dryer or near a heat source. Easily reuse, just stuff them back into jar or leave them in dryer.
Vinegar in Wash Softener
I add about 1/2-3/4 cups of vinegar to my washer’s fabric softener dispenser, or you can add it straight to the wash. Removes odors, kills germs and softens laundry and reduces static. It should be noted that vinegar should never be mixed with bleach. It can produce toxic fumes. (Hopefully you’re not using bleach anyway!)
Salt Fabric Softener Crystals
This is a fairly new one for me, but you can check out what The Hippy Homemaker says.
Himalayan Pink Salt Softener
Another fairly new one for me. Mommypotomus shares about it.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a fabulous fabric softener. Just add 1/2 cup to rinse cycle of wash.
Aluminium Ball Method
I have used this method, but since aluminum is a heavy metal and can leach into things when heated (why I don’t use it for cooking), I wonder how much residue is left on clothes to be absorbed by skin? There are a lot of other good alternatives out there!
I hope these ideas inspire you to kick the junky conventional softeners to the curb to help cut down on your family’s chemical exposure.
Have you tried any of these? Care to share your thoughts?
These are great ideas! Thanks for making such a useful resource!
Thanks for the encouragement!
Not only are commercial fabric softeners toxic, but over time they can cause a build up on your lint screen and increase your dryer’s risk of fire. I recommend anyone who uses dryer sheets especially to clean their lint screen with dish soap until it no longer shows signs of residue. Thank you so much for the list of great options for soft clothing. 🙂
*Hugs*
I use wool dryer balls sometimes, but I don’t really “get” fabric softener…. I don’t think we ever had it for our clothes as kids so I don’t really see the big difference? Either way, I need to try some EO in my wool dryer balls for scent- I DO like scents. Thanks for linking up at #SustainableSundays
This is great! I’m allergic to sooo many store bought fabric softeners so I’m looking forward to trying this!