When making laundry detergent, there are three basic ingredients that are the same across the board. Pretty much everybody agrees on a bar of soap, washing soda, and borax. With homemade fabric softener however, there are so many different ways to make it. Some of the different ingredients suggested are vinegar, baking soda, hair conditioner, distilled water, aluminum foil, and essential oils. Homemade fabric softener is much cheaper than those you buy in the store, has no toxins (unless you use conditioner), and is eco friendly – a great idea all around!
- Baking soda is a natural fabric softener
- Vinegar is a natural fabric softener and anti-static liquid. It removes soap residue and makes towels more absorbent.
Commercial fabric softener makes your towels less absorbent over time. - Distilled water has far fewer contaminants and minerals than tap water
Googling “DANGERS OF FABRIC SOFTENERS AND DRYER SHEETS” brings up 28,000 pages! I had no idea… except that the smell chokes me when I use them.
According to SixWise, there are many toxic chemicals found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets:
- Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer
- Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant
- Ethanol: On the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders
- A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage
- Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list
- Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders
- Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic
- Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders
- Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled
And now on to the recipes!!!
Liquid Fabric Softener Substitutes
***The recipe I tried out was equal parts water, vinegar, and baking soda – 2 cups each. I shook it before using and then poured into my softener ball a little past the fill line. My towels came out hotel-linen fresh!
#1 1/4 cup to 1 cup white vinegar
#2 Liquid Detergent: Makes 15 1-Cup Servings
Ingredients and Tools:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 6 cups distilled white vinegar
- 8 cups water
- 10-15 drops essential oils (optional)
- 1 gallon plastic container (clean milk or vinegar container)
Instructions:
- Add the baking soda to the container.
- Add 1 cup of water.
- Slowly add the vinegar to the container (careful: it’ll fizz!).
- Add the rest of the water and mix/shake/swirl. You will need to take off the lid to release the pressure a few times.
- OPTIONAL: Add the essential oil.
- TO USE: Give the container a good shake and then add 1 cup in your final rinse cycle/Downy ball/fabric softener holder for each load.
#3 2 cups white vinegar+2 cups baking soda+4 cups water… combine/shake. Use 1/4 cup in final rinse or Downy ball.
#4 6 cups water+3 cups vinegar+2 cups cheap conditioner… shake before using. Use 1/4 cup per load.
Sheet Fabric Softener Substitutes
#1 A ball or two of aluminum foil tossed in the dryer neutralizes the charges that build up due to friction between drying/tumbling clothes.
#2 Homemade Dryer “Sheets” – Warning: this recipe uses store bought fabric softener
Ingredients:
2-3 cups water
1 cup liquid fabric softener
Large sponge cut in half
Instructions:
Combine the liquids. Place both sponge pieces in the mixture until needed. When ready to use, squeeze out excess liquid from one piece and place in dryer with clothes. Place sponge back in mix when done to be used for next load.