Safer alternatives to household toxins: replacing the fabric softeners [Part 4]

If you’ve followed our previous three posts on the matter, by now you should probably have eliminated most of the toxic and expensive detergents from your household and replaced them with environmental friendly and cost-effective alternatives.

So far we’ve given you greener and natural alternatives for dishwashing detergents, laundry detergents and floor cleaners.

Today we look at the alternatives we have as fabric softeners.

The Allergy and Environmental Health Association clearly says that liquid and sheet fabric softeners are ‘the most toxic product produced for daily household use’.
That sounds really bad, doesn’t it?
Even the most popular brands of fabric softeners contain many neurotoxins which can be a threat for your brain and nervous system.

Baking Soda

-If you’re following our suggestions for the natural laundry detergents, you’re adding baking soda to your wash cycle. Add as much as 1/2 cup to your washing machine or hand-wash to have super soft clothes.
This is the most effective solution since baking soda acts as a water softener.

Vinegar

-Adding a cup of white vinegar (not balsamic ) to the wash or rinse cycle, also helps softening the clothes but not as effectively as the baking soda.

Tumble Dryer

-If you would like to give some fragrance to your laundry, don’t put scented oils directly in the washing machine since they’ll break down the fibers.
Rather put few drops of your favorite essential oil on a clean rag and throw it in the dryer.

To eliminate static charges, you could take a piece of tightly wadded up aluminum foil and place it with your clothes. Be aware that this could snag delicate fabrics.