Thanks to this homemade fabric softener with natural ingredients, my laundry is even softer touch.
And since it softens the fibers of the fabrics, my clothes are no longer charged with static electricity when I take them out of the dryer.
All this, without leaving a layer of chemicals on my clothes…
No more that strong smell of artificial perfumes!
And that's not all ! I can also use it in the form of fabric softener wipes that I add directly to the dryer!
You will see, this homemade formula is not only super easy to prepare … but it is also particularly economical .
So if you're looking for a natural alternative to expensive fabric softeners, you've come to the right place!
Here's how to make a natural fabric softener. Watch:
I grew up in the countryside where clothes were dried the old-fashioned way, lying on a long clothesline in the garden, in the open air.
I still remember folding that warm laundry. It was imbued with the delicate scent of spring, summer and autumn sunbeams.
Today ? Like most French people, I live in town… without a clothesline!
But I still dream of the sun-dried laundry that smelled so clean and fresh.
I have been testing different homemade recipes for several years.
I would like to try to reproduce the smell of commercial liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
But one day, while reading the ingredients on the Cajoline fabric softener label, I discovered that it contained this:cationic surfactants .
Cationic surfactants? But what is this thing?
After some research on the Internet, I found the answer… And what I discovered gave me goosebumps.
In fact, it is a generic term used by manufacturers. It refers to the many harmful chemical ingredients found in commercial fabric softeners. Yuck!
To get you to buy their fabric softeners, manufacturers give them catchy names like Wild Orchids , Swirl of freshness , Oriental Treasure …
Except that to scent fabric softeners (and your laundry), manufacturers add artificial flavors.
These perfumes contain toxic substances.
And these harm your health and contribute to indoor air pollution in your home .
These pollutants are called VOCs. (volatile organic compounds).
And they can cause immediate or long-term health problems.
For example, asthma, hormonal disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, headaches, eye irritation, congestion and nausea.
To discover: Toxic Substances in 237 Daily Hygiene Products.
Commercial fabric softeners coat the fibers of your clothes in a thin layer. The consistency is slightly waxy.
It is this thin film that makes your clothes softer to the touch.
And of course, your skin comes into contact with this thin layer of fabric softener. And even every time you wear your clothes!
This is true for both the sheets you sleep in and the towels you dry off with.
So, as you will have understood...
There are plenty of opportunities for your skin to absorb dangerous chemicals from commercial fabric softener! Because the skin is far from being hermetic to these products...
There are several natural alternatives to soften your laundry without toxic substances.
Don't worry, they are all easy to use. Watch:
1. Baking soda: added to the wash, it lowers the pH of the water in the washing machine. Thus, the water is softened. This helps to rinse the laundry better and make it softer. This is also why baking soda is one of the ingredients in my 100% organic recipe for homemade washing powder.
2. White vinegar:i l is added during the rinse cycle of your washing machine. It helps to dissolve the detergent well. It removes soap scum. And it eliminates bad odors from dirty laundry. Add a little white vinegar during the last rinse cycle in the compartment of your machine. Usually this is the compartment indicated with a flower symbol. Know that you can also use a ball. It automatically dispenses fabric softener during the rinse cycle, like this one.
3. Wool dryer balls: placed in your dryer, the wool dryer balls rub the fabric of your laundry. This movement softens the fibers. What's more, it prevents your clothes from being charged with static electricity.
4. My homemade fabric softener: you can add it as a liquid directly to your washing machine, during the last rinse cycle. And you can also use it in your dryer in the form of fabric softener wipes. My recipe uses white vinegar to soften and deodorize laundry. And it contains vegetable glycerin for even more softening effect.
- Vegetable glycerin. It is used in skin care and beauty products. Because it is known for its hygroscopic properties (it absorbs humidity from the air). Glycerin comes in the form of a clear, thick liquid. It is a natural derivative from the soap making process.
- My homemade fabric softener does not contain baking soda. Indeed, bicarbonate is not suitable for use in the dryer. Moreover, the reaction between white vinegar and baking soda is not suitable for all cleanings.
- 50 cl of white vinegar
- 50 cl of water
- 3 cl of organic vegetable glycerin (2 tablespoons)
- 10 to 20 drops of an essential oil of your choice (for example eucalyptus oil and true lavender oil)
- Optional:100% cotton fabric (to make fabric softener wipes that can be used in the dryer)
1. In a large glass jar, combine the white vinegar, water and vegetable glycerin.
If you're not going to make fabric softener wipes, pour all of these ingredients directly into an old vinegar bottle. This will be even easier to pour into the washing machine.
2. If you wish, add 10 to 20 drops of the essential oils of your choice, to perfume your homemade fabric softener.
3. Stir and shake everything to mix all the ingredients well.
You see no need for Thermomix to make a fabric softener! Easy to make homemade soupline, isn't it?
My favorite blends to naturally scent my laundry:
- Zen atmosphere:10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil + 5 drops of true lavender oil.
- Floral freshness:8 drops of ylang-ylang essential oil + 8 drops of jasmine oil
1. Add a few pieces of 100% cotton fabric to your fabric softener jar.
For example, to make mine, I used an old flannel sheet that I cut into pieces about 13cm x 20cm.
Optional: you can also sew the edges of your wipes, to prevent the fabric from fraying over time. But this step is purely aesthetic. Indeed, you can simply tear strips of fabric in flannel or in cotton jersey.
My Sioux trick: to make your wipes, simply use an old t-shirt that you cut into strips. Just make sure the t-shirt is 100% cotton.
To use liquid fabric softener: add 12 cl during the last rinse cycle of your machine.
Where to pay it? The detergent drawer of a conventional washing machine is divided into three compartments. Put the fabric softener in the corresponding compartment, the one designated by the flower symbol.
And of course, you can also use a ball that automatically dispenses fabric softener during the rinse cycle, like this one.
To use the fabric softener wipes: wring out a cloth. Then put it in the dryer with your damp laundry. Exactly as you would with a fabric softener.
- Use reusable dryer balls or clean tennis balls to soften laundry and speed up drying time. Check out the trick here.
- To eliminate static electricity, put a ball of aluminum foil in your dryer. Check out the trick here.
- To dry synthetic fabrics or other garments that attract static electricity, remove them from the dryer when they are still slightly damp. And let them air dry on a drying rack. Thanks to this method, the clothes will never be wrinkled and will not be charged with static electricity. Check out the trick here.
If you use only the natural ingredients in this recipe, be aware that your laundry will not give off a strong odor.
Nothing to you with that of those chemical-based artificial fragrances!
Do you prefer a homemade fabric softener recipe with a fragrance?
To bring a soft and 100% natural scent to your laundry, you have 2 options:
1. Add essential oils. Essential oils are 100% natural and their use poses no risk to your laundry.
- Thanks to the essential oils in this homemade washing powder and this liquid fabric softener, your laundry room will smell wonderful. But be aware that this pleasant scent will almost completely disappear during the rinse cycle.
- Essential oils used on homemade fabric softener wipes or wool dryer balls will scent your laundry, but very lightly.
2. Use a fabric freshener spray. For example, use this 100% natural recipe of homemade Febreze, without toxic products. It's an effective way to freshen up your laundry and give it a slightly stronger natural scent.
- Spray fabric freshener on your dry laundry when you fold it.
Conclusion: laundry really clean does not smell!
If I add essential oils to my homemade fabric softener, it's mainly to mask the smell of white vinegar...
And because I like the scent they give off when I do the laundry.
Your laundry does not smell clean even when it comes out of the washing machine or dryer? Know that you can easily eliminate stubborn bad odors from your laundry thanks to my step-by-step tutorial. Check out the trick here.
