Have you ever considered making your own homemade fabric softener? If not, there are two good reasons you should consider doing so. One, it will save you money. Secondly, the perfumes found in fabric softeners may contain toxic chemicals which can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea if inhaled, not to mention the potential long term health effects. Plus, there's the potential for these toxins to be absorbed through the skin when the clothing is worn. You can reduce your family's risk of exposure to these toxic chemicals by making homemade fabric softener and it couldn't be simpler to do.
Why do you need a fabric softener in the first place? Fabric softeners coat the fibers of a fabric leaving behind a thin coating which makes the material feel soft and fluffy. They also help to cut down on static created by charges that build up when your clothes tumble in the dryer. These are all desirable effects that can be readily achieved without using an overpriced and potentially toxic bottle of commercial fabric softener.
What's the simplest and least expensive way to make a homemade fabric softener? One way to soften fabric while you're washing is to add a third of a cup of baking soda to the washer during the wash cycle. Although this will make fabrics softer and fluffier, it won't do much to reduce static cling. Adding an equal amount of white vinegar to the wash cycle will have the additional benefit of reducing static cling. You can mix one part vinegar with one part white vinegar to two parts water and keep it in a bottle by the washing machine. When mixing the ingredients, combine the baking soda and water first, then slowly add the vinegar while stirring. You can expect a fizzing sound during the mixing process and you may find that the baking soda doesn't completely dissolve. When you're ready to run a fabric load, simply shake the bottle to redissolve the baking soda and add a third of a cup of your homemade fabric softener to the wash cycle.
One problem with this homemade fabric softener recipe is that the vinegar can neutralize a portion of the baking soda which offsets some of the fabric softening effects. For this reason, some people recommend using a straight baking soda solution in the wash cycle instead. You may want to experiment to see what works best for you.
Once you discover how simple and inexpensive it is to make your homemade fabric softener, you'll never go back to expensive and unhealthy store bought brands again.
