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My Reward Points“Do you love soft, fresh laundry but hate the chemicals and strong synthetic fragrances?” Plastic packaging, harsh chemicals, and artificial fragrances are common components of traditional fabric softeners. Alternatively, you can make the best-smelling DIY fabric softener, which is gentler, less expensive, and healthier for the environment. This blog will teach you why natural fabric softener is worth the switch and how to manufacture your own in minutes.
Why Switch to Natural Fabric Softener?
There are many reasons to switch to natural fabric softener, including its health benefits for your skin, eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to customize scents. Here are these benefits in brief:
Healthier for your skin
Natural fabric softeners are considered superior to standard ones, especially for sensitive skin or allergies, as they avoid harsh chemicals and synthetic perfumes and are free of allergens, dyes, and irritants that can cause irritation or allergic reactions.
Eco-friendly
Natural fabric softeners are generally more environmentally friendly than conventional ones, as they often use plant-based, biodegradable, and non-toxic substances, minimizing the environmental impact of laundry care, producing less packaging waste, and having no toxic runoff.
Budget-friendly
Natural fabric softeners, such as DIY options like vinegar or baking soda, can be both cost-effective and durable, making them a viable alternative to store-bought products. Wool dryer balls can also save on drying time. These softeners use simple and pantry-safe ingredients.
Customizable scent
Natural fabric softeners are perfect for DIY use due to their personalized scents. Homemade or DIY options allow for the addition of your favourite essential oils for a unique aroma, and premixed or unscented options are also available.
Common Ingredients & Their Benefits
Natural Fabric Softener’s Ingredients and Their Benefits:
- White vinegar: Reduces static cling, softens fabrics, and gets rid of detergent residue.
- Baking soda: Improves the action of detergents, softens water, and softens clothing. It also deodorizes and eliminates odors.
- Essential oils: Adds a natural scent and provides antibacterial and antifungal activity.
- Natural Emollients: Prevents stiffness and scratchiness and aids in moisture retention. Examples include aloe vera and glycerin.
- Epsom salts: Used for odor removal and fabric softening.
DIY Natural Fabric Softener Recipes (Step By Step)
Here are the recipes for the 3 homemade DIY natural fabric softeners that you will surely love to make and use:
1) White Vinegar as a Fabric Softener
This is a potent DIY natural fabric softener with essential oils and white vinegar that can soften laundry and effectively remove soap residue from washing machines and laundry.
Ingredients Required
- White Vinegar - 1 gallon
- Essential Oil (Optional) - 30 drops
Instructions to make
- In a large bowl, combine your preferred essential oils and vinegar. (You can select essential oils based on their scent or disinfectant properties.)
- Now fill the softener dispenser on your washing machine with vinegar. (Depending on the size of the load and the hardness of your water, you can use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar in the last rinse of each load.)
Shelf Life
Use this infinitely and store it in a cold, dark, and dry place, avoiding direct sunlight or high temperatures to prevent deterioration.
2) Baking Soda as a Fabric Softener
A DIY natural fabric softener with baking soda helps keep minerals in the water, preventing them from becoming embedded in the cloth, resulting in fresher, softer, and cleaner garments. It can regulate washing machine pH levels, neutralize odors, and whiten clothing.
Ingredients Required
- Baking Soda - 2 cups
- Essential Oil (Optional) - 15 drops
Instructions to make
- In a medium bowl, mix together the baking soda and your preferred essential oil.
- Proceed to the rinse cycle of your washing machine and add half a cup of the mixture (or just baking soda).
Shelf Life
Baking soda loses fabric-softening effectiveness after 6 months but can last up to 18 months unopened. Store in cold, dry, airtight containers to prevent moisture.
3) Salt as a Natural Fabric Softener
Salt is a natural fabric softener, with coarse sea salt and Epsom salts being popular options. However, some recommend using NaCl salts due to potential buildup on clothes and interaction with laundry soaps, especially in hard water-prone individuals.
Ingredients Required
- Salt - 4 cups
- Essential Oil (Optional) - 30 drops
Instructions to make
- Combine the two ingredients in a container.
- Incorporate roughly half a cup of the salt mixture into your laundry. You may either mix it with your detergent (enabling you to add vinegar to the rinse cycle) or add it after the last rinse.
Shelf Life
Salt, when combined with vinegar or essential oils, has a relatively stable shelf life compared to commercial fabric softeners. However, it can last endlessly if stored correctly, as long as it is kept dry and tightly sealed.
How to Use Your Natural Fabric Softener
You can use a natural fabric softener by adding white vinegar, baking soda, or even essential oils to your washing. Vinegar is frequently used in the rinse cycle, and baking soda can be added to the wash cycle. Essential oils can be combined with vinegar or glycerin and used in the rinse cycle or fabric softener dispenser. So if you are using a fabric softener dispenser,you can add this mixture to your washer's fabric softener dispenser before starting the wash cycle. If your washer does not have a fabric softener dispenser, wait until the rinse cycle before adding it to a pocket of water.
Scent ideas that can be used according to the mood
Following are some of the best scent ideas you can use in a natural fabric softener for different purposes, such as:
Relaxing
Lavender and chamomile are essential oils known for their calming and relaxing properties, often used in aromatherapy to relieve tension and induce relaxation in natural fabric softeners.
Fresh & Clean
Lemon and eucalyptus essential oils are effective fabric softeners due to their stimulating and uplifting aromas, providing a fresh and clean mood for washing.
Energizing
Combining orange and peppermint in a natural fabric softener can energize and improve mood, as peppermint's stimulating properties and orange's bright, uplifting scent invigorate the senses and enhance mental clarity.
Warm & Comforting
A warm, cozy effect is produced when clove and vanilla essential oil are combined in a natural fabric softener. The sweet scent of vanilla and the spicy undertones of cloves provide a calming aroma.
Precautions to be taken
Natural Fabric Softeners Usage Precautions:
- Avoid tinted vinegars, as they can stain or discolor clothing.
- Dilute natural softeners in water during the rinse cycle to prevent discoloration.
- Avoid direct application of softener on garments to prevent stains and hinder washing.
- While the rinse cycle is running, manually add fabric softener or use a dispenser.
- Fabric softener is not suitable for down- or feather-filled items like blankets, jackets, coats, wool, cashmere, or delicate textiles due to potential damage.
Conclusion
Switching to a DIY natural fabric softener not only promotes healthier skin and a cleaner atmosphere, but it also provides a less expensive and more customized alternative to traditional ones. By following these simple methods, you can have a best-smelling DIY fabric softener that you may enjoy with soft, fresh laundry while limiting your exposure to harsh chemicals and lowering your environmental impact.
