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Skip the strong, artificial scents and chemicals in store-bought alternatives by using these DIY, natural fabric softeners that are inexpensive, easy to use, and non-toxic. #thethingswellmake #miy #laundry #fabricsoftener #laundry #wash #washing #naturalcleaning #naturalcleaningproducts #cleaning #greencleaning #greenliving #greenlivingtips

DIY Natural Fabric Softeners

Last Modified: January 26, 2019 // by Tracy Ariza, DDS // November 25, 2016 I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. Learn more here.

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Skip the strong, artificial scents and chemicals in store-bought alternatives by using these DIY, natural fabric softeners that are inexpensive, easy to use, and non-toxic. #thethingswellmake #miy #laundry #fabricsoftener #laundry #wash #washing #naturalcleaning #naturalcleaningproducts #cleaning #greencleaning #greenliving #greenlivingtips

Skip the strong, artificial scents and chemicals in store-bought alternatives by using these DIY, natural fabric softeners that are inexpensive, easy to use, and non-toxic.

Various natural fabric softeners together in jars and bottles.

Using wool dryer balls to soften your clothes

A couple of years ago, I showed you how to make wool dryer balls as a natural alternative to commercial dryer sheets. Wool dryer balls are great for throwing in the dryer with your clothes because they can help speed up drying time as well as help soften the clothes. Since I use an unscented homemade laundry detergent, I love to add a couple of drops of essential oils to the balls before throwing them in the dryer to give my clothes a very subtle, natural scent.

(When I first wrote this post I was still using a soap-based homemade laundry “detergent” instead of my new surfactant based one. Also, I should add that I have since been informed that there is a risk, albeit small, of EO’s igniting in the dryer when used in dryer balls. When used in such small amounts, it’s highly unlikely, but do so at your own risk! It may be better to scent your clothes with homemade lavender sachets in your closet instead!)

4 wool dryer balls, two of which are in a pretty silver box, ready for gifting.
Wool dryer balls can effectively soften your clothes in the dryer.

While wool dryer balls are a great green alternative to commercial dryer sheets, an even greener alternative is to line dry your clothes, of course. Obviously, if you line-dry your clothing, you can’t really soften it with wool dryer balls.

I stopped using commercial fabric softener years ago. Not only do I find their strong, artificial scents overwhelming and nauseating, but I also was told by some of my local friends that commercial fabric softeners are responsible for eating away at the elastic on clothes. When I thought back to how long my swimsuits used to last me, and then how quickly they were wearing out once I had moved here (aka. when I started using fabric softener), I just stopped using it cold turkey. I mean, I really only had begun in the first place because I followed what everybody else was doing in this region with hard water.

Do you really need to use fabric softener?

Fabric softeners aren’t necessary, but they can leave your clothes feeling softer. This is especially true for places with hard water. While I personally hate the scent of fabric softeners (and I actually secretly rewash almost everything my mother-in-law washes and gives back to me because I can’t stand the fragrance), some people use fabric softeners because they love the way it makes their clothes smell.

To be honest, I didn’t notice a huge difference in my clothes after ditching the fabric softener, other than the fact that they no longer reeked of chemicals. That said, I made the change at around the same time as we moved to a new house, which meant it was same time that I started drying my clothes in the dryer again (with my wool dryer balls). Up until that point, I had been living in an apartment and drying my clothes on a clothesline. Clothes dried in that way have a tendency to feel a bit crunchier than those dried in the dryer.

For those that do line dry, and I applaud you 100%. Luckily for you, there are easy, inexpensive natural fabric softeners that you can use to help soften your laundry without all of the toxic chemicals. Even if you use a dryer with dryer balls, I’m sure there are times that these natural fabric softeners can come in handy.

So far, I’ve only tried using vinegar in the final rinse, but from what I’ve been reading, the other ideas here also work really well. Baking soda has the extra benefit of helping whiten clothes, and helping to remove odors.

You can use these natural fabric softeners alone, or combine them. I personally wouldn’t combine vinegar (an acid) with baking soda (a base) because they would probably cancel each other out. On the other hand, vinegar and glycerin combined could make a great liquid softener, and salt and baking soda together would probably make a great powder one. If I do get around to trying them out together, I’ll try to remember to update this post with my findings.

Why choose natural fabric softeners?

Commercial fabric softeners include a number of ingredients that are potentially damaging to our health and that can pose a risk to the environment. 

The fragrances themselves can be comprised of a number of questionable ingredients. They can aggravate asthma in some people and can make others, like me, feel dizzy when around them. They can also irritate the skin of those with atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions. (That’s the case with my son, and it’s why I avoid using detergents and softeners with artificial fragrances.)

A bottle of white vinegar with an essential oil bottle.

White Vinegar as a Fabric Softener

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A bottle of white vinegar with an essential oil bottle.

White Vinegar as a Fabric Softener

This culinary condiment is an effective cleaning agent that also works perfectly for softening your laundry. In addition, vinegar efficiently removes soap residue from your laundry and washing machine.
4.86 from 7 votes
Print Rate
Total time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 32 loads (Up to 64 if you use only 1/4 cup)
Author: Tracy Ariza, DDS

Materials

  • 1 gallon white vinegar
  • 30 drops essential oil optional- for scent

Instructions

  • Mix together the vinegar and essential oils of your choice. You can choose essential oils whose fragrance you like or can choose to use disinfecting essential oils.
  • Pour the vinegar directly in your washing machine’s softener dispenser. You can use between 1/4 and 1/2 cup of vinegar in the final rinse of each load of laundry, dependent upon the size of the load and the hardness of your water.
Tried making this? Tag me today!Mention @thethingswellmake or tag #thethingswellmake!

 

a jar of baking soda with an essential oils bottle

Baking Soda as a Fabric Softener

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a jar of baking soda with an essential oils bottle

Baking soda Fabric Softener

Baking soda is an effective fabric softener that is said to work by helping regulate the pH levels in your washing machine, preventing the laundry water from being too alkaline or acidic. It also can effectively neutralize odors and help whiten clothes. Lastly, it may help keep minerals in the water suspended there and from becoming embedded in the fabric. This will help keep clothes fresher, softer, and cleaner.
4.84 from 6 votes
Print Rate
Total time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 loads
Author: Tracy Ariza, DDS

Materials

  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 15 drops essential oil optional

Instructions

  • Mix together the baking soda and an essential oil of your choice. (The essential oils will help add fragrance and are optional.)
  • Add 1/2 cup of the mixture (or just baking soda) to your washing machine during its rinse cycle.
Tried making this? Tag me today!Mention @thethingswellmake or tag #thethingswellmake!

A jar of salt crystals that have been mixed with essential oils to use as a natural fabric softener.

Salt as a Natural Fabric Softener

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A jar of salt crystals that have been mixed with essential oils to use as a natural fabric softener.

Salt Based Fabric Softener Crystals

Salt is a wonderful natural fabric softener. You can use coarse sea salt to make beautiful looking fabric softener crystals. Some people say that epsom salts make a wonderful fabric softener too that leaves their jeans feeling extra soft and smooth. Others say you should only use NaCl salts (like sea salt or Himalayan salt) because the minerals in the epsom salts can build up on clothes or interfere with laundry soaps. I haven't found that to be the case, but I'd like to warn you, just in case. It may be more prone to causing issues for people with hard water.  
4.86 from 7 votes
Print Rate
Total time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 loads
Author: Tracy Ariza, DDS

Materials

  • 4 cups salt
  • 30 drops essential oil(s) optional

Instructions

  • Mix the two ingredients together in a jar.
  • Add around 1/2 cup of the salt mixture to your laundry. You can either add it with your detergent (allowing you to add vinegar to the rinse cycle), or you can add it during the final rinse. 
Tried making this? Tag me today!Mention @thethingswellmake or tag #thethingswellmake!
Vegerable glycerin in a jar next to a bottle of white vinegar and a bottle of essential oils.
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Vegerable glycerin in a jar next to a bottle of white vinegar and a bottle of essential oils.

Vegetable Glycerin Fabric softener

Glycerin is a budget-friendly, effective and natural alternative to store-bought fabric softeners.
5 from 4 votes
Print Rate
Total time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 32 loads
Author: Tracy Ariza, DDS

Materials

  • 1 gallon distilled water
  • 1/2 cup glycerin
  • 30 drops essential oil optional

Instructions

  • Pour the glycerin into a gallon bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients well.
  • For a softer, chemical-free laundry, pour half a cup of the mixture into your washing machine during its rinse cycle.
Tried making this? Tag me today!Mention @thethingswellmake or tag #thethingswellmake!
Category: Cleaning & Laundry

About Tracy Ariza, DDS

Tracy Ariza, B.A., D.D.S., left dentistry and the United States to found Oh, The Things We’ll Make!, writing to you from the Spanish Riviera. She loves making things herself in order to keep control of what goes in them. While far from perfect, she strives each day to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

Previous Post:It's easy to add fermented foods to every meal when you serve this homemade fermented ketchup that everybody in the family will love.Easy, Homemade Fermented Ketchup: Fermented Foods at Every Meal
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Johnny Fabrics

    January 22, 2019 at 9:41 AM

    This is a great way to make chemical free fabric softener. thank you for your helpful content. I will try

    Reply
  2. february

    January 17, 2019 at 8:39 AM

    I’ve been using your fabric softener recipe…but I can still smell a hint of vinegar when I take my clothes out of the dryer. My husband really hates the smell…is there anything I can do to prevent this?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      January 17, 2019 at 9:11 PM

      Well, normally the scent disappears when dry, especially if you add essential oils to it.
      My husband also hates a vinegar smell.
      Perhaps you could either try with less (adding a stronger scented essential oil) or try one of the other recipes?

      Reply
  3. february

    January 17, 2019 at 8:34 AM

    What a great idea. I’d love to try it. Dryer sheets are expensive. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  4. Andreia

    January 16, 2019 at 3:16 PM

    Is the smell from the white vinegar overpowered by the essential oils? Will it disappear on its own? Although I hate the smell of commercial softeners, I would hate to smell like vinegar…
    Thank you! Been loving all your posts so far!

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      January 17, 2019 at 9:33 PM

      Hi Andreia,
      The times I’ve tried it, I’ve never smelled the vinegar after the clothes have dried. Most people say the same thing. (I normally only use the dryer balls now, but, again, I now have a water softener too.)
      I did just get a comment from someone who said that they still noticed the smell after the clothes dried, though. It may depend on the vinegar, or maybe she didn’t add essential oils.
      Perhaps, if you’re worried about it, you could start with a small amount and see how it goes- and then increase the amount as needed if you see that it doesn’t leave a scent.

      Reply
  5. Margaret

    December 31, 2018 at 3:54 AM

    Always knew dryer sheets had to be horrible for your health. I didn’t know all the other ways to soften clothes. Thank you!! I enjoy reading your posts and learn something every time. Keep up with excellent information!

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      August 12, 2019 at 10:00 AM

      Happy to help! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Angie

    December 1, 2018 at 3:00 AM

    How many should I put it per each way?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      December 8, 2018 at 10:13 AM

      Hi Angie,
      This had been a guest post by someone else, but I realized that it was lacking a lot of information and honestly didn’t like the way it was written. So, I just did a complete overhaul of the post and added amounts. Hopefully it will be more helpful now?

      Reply
      • Farhan Thakur

        March 20, 2019 at 10:16 AM

        thanks for adding the amounts, helpful.

        Reply
        • Tracy Ariza

          March 20, 2019 at 7:08 PM

          You’re welcome!

          Reply
  7. Hyunji

    December 1, 2018 at 1:21 AM

    Hello Tracy, thank you for sharing the great information. I have questions. Is 3/4 cup of vinegar for one portion? And is it okay if I add the essential oil to glycerine&water? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      December 8, 2018 at 10:14 AM

      Hi Hyunji,
      I just completely re-wrote the entire post so that the amounts you use are clearer now!
      Yes, you can optionally add essential oils to any of the recipes above. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Yolanda

    November 29, 2018 at 11:58 PM

    Hi, I also add essential oils to my baking soda and use that as a fabric softener. But I read somewhere that the oils in the laundry can start a fire in your dryer. Is that true? I only wash my clothes with cold water. No warm water for laundry where I live.

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      December 1, 2018 at 9:37 AM

      Hi Yolanda,
      That’s an interesting question, and one I hadn’t researched until now. It had been suggested to me years ago to add a couple of drops of lavender EO to my dryer balls, and I’ve been doing that successfully without issue for years.
      I found this interesting article which basically covers this topic. Basically they are saying that it is theoretically possible, but that it is unlikely because you are using such small amounts. I’ll be updating all of my laundry posts this week with the new information- so thank you for bringing the possibility to my attention.

      Reply
  9. sharon

    November 18, 2018 at 11:10 AM

    Is it ok to tumble dry clothes, after using vegetable glycerin in the final rinse cycle, as a softener? Especially using high heat? Is it not flammable?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      August 12, 2019 at 10:22 AM

      Hi Sharon,
      While glycerin is flammable, it has a very low flammability rating. It needs to be heated very hot to catch on fire.
      In this case, you are using it with water. I just don’t see how there could be enough glycerin left in the clothes to pose any problem.

      Reply
  10. Jean

    October 8, 2018 at 3:17 PM

    Where do I buy vegetable glycerin?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      October 8, 2018 at 7:24 PM

      Hi Jean,
      You can usually buy it at cosmetic supply or soap making supplu type places. I always order it online.
      If you don’t usually order from those types of stores, you can also find glycerin online at Amazon. (I’m linking to one example.)
      I hope that helps!

      Reply
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Hello, I’m Tracy!

I love making my own natural products like soaps and lotions and my own pantry items like yogurt and salad dressings.
Why do I do it? Sometimes to save money, sometimes because it's healthier, but I always love having control of the ingredients!​
Oh, the things we'll make!...

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