To soften clothes with a salt soak: Fill a large bucket or laundry sink with lukewarm water. Some people have found that it doesn’t work as well and can have a negative effect on some synthetic fabrics. 5 Ways to Keep Towels soft without using fabric softener. Try Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap for clean and fresh smelling laundry without the all of the chemicals that usually come with a scented detergent. In the end, it all comes down to whether you want a permanent alternative to fabric softener, through a water refiner, or a temporary fix, like baking soda, dryer balls or vinegar. Eco-Friendly Fabric Softener Alternatives. Spritz onto your damp clothing before they go into the dryer and you'll get a fresh smell with minimal static cling. I never use fabric softener ,or the sheets. If you want to help soften your clothes without the use of fabric softener, white vinegar can help in the laundry department also. To soften up your stiff or scratchy t-shirts, run them through a normal wash cycle as you would, including fabric softener. Vinegar is non-toxic, but … This allows you to use less detergent when washing your clothes, saving you money and preventing a buildup of excess detergent from staying in the fabric fibers. You can soften scratchy clothes, and the best way depends on the kind of fabric and how much you're willing to risk a little damage. Spritz onto your damp clothing before they go into the dryer and you'll get a fresh smell with minimal static cling. Using soft water is definitely the gentlest on your clothes and the kindest to the environment. Stir the mixture and use as you would your fabric softener either in a dispenser or added to your final rinse. This works well for static cling but my husband and his super nose could still smell vinegar even after the clothes were dry. Is it OK to wash clothes without fabric softener? Just follow our step-by-step, eco-friendly, all natural guide to softening stiff denim fabric, so … Vinegar is a substance long known to soften clothing. 4. (Always check your laundry machine’s manual to make sure there aren’t limits on the type of detergent you can use.) If you don't have a dispenser that's built into your washing machine, you can use a commercial fabric softener dispenser ball that you fill to the 'fill' line with vinegar. New cotton fabrics tend to be stiff until they are washed, but stiffness can also be caused by soap build up and dirt and other items sticking to the fibers. This method should not be used when drying delicate items however, because the friction created in the dryer could damage them. You could also use household objects like tennis balls or other rubber balls, as they would have the same effect on the clothes. To use vinegar as a natural fabric softener, use plain white vinegar. Put a tennis ball sized ball of aluminum foil into the clothes dryer with your damp clothes and this can remove static cling. (Don't use this on a load washed with bleach. You don't have to give up softness and static-free clothes. Fabric softeners make laundry feel soft and fluffy, reduce static cling and leave them smell great. If you would like to attempt it, be sure to test it on small areas of fabrics to see whether or not it will harm your clothes. Use an eco-friendly fabric softener. Vinegar – The first way we can make our old towels like new is by looking at our old friend plain white distilled vinegar. To make your clothes feel softer out of the wash, mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle of the washing machine. Vinegar is a substance long known to soften clothing. Vinegar and bleach can form a toxic gas when combined.) Throw in two CLEAN tennis balls with the clothes in the dryer. You can usually soften stiff, starchy fabric without much trouble, but read the care information first to be sure the fabric tolerates techniques such as machine or hand-washing, steam ironing, or tumble drying. Just 1/2 C. vinegar will help soften your clothing. In an article for LifeHacker.com, columnist Kevin Purdy shares his … The second way you can have softer towels is a rather old-fashioned method of drying your clothes. The official Carhartt site advises not to use fabric softener on their flame-resistant clothing items, including some Carhartt overalls. Step 1, Combine 1 gallon (3.8 L) vinegar with 25 to 30 drops essential oil. From there, put them into the dry on a low tumble dry setting. If you’re looking for a natural way to soften clothing, turn to your trusty bottle of white vinegar. If this sounds like the right solution to you, contact Guardian Water Services to set up your free home water test and receive a $50 gift card to Target, Amazon or Lowe’s. 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