Fabric softener is a staple in most people’s homes. Whether you use natural or artificial fabric softener, the goal is to make your clothes softer. This article will discuss natural ways to soften fabrics without using chemicals and with little effort required on your part! By following these 18 natural tips, you’ll be able to have soft clothes that are good for your skin and environment, too.
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Wash and dry your clothes on the hottest setting
One way to soften clothes naturally is to use natural fabric softeners. Fabric softeners are chemical solutions that add a pleasant smell and reduce static electricity on fabrics, giving them the appearance of being freshly ironed all the time. The natural alternatives give you many options in what scent you want and how much fragrance you want without adding any chemicals or artificial ingredients into your washing routine. You can also make natural fabric soothers yourself with common items found around the home, like vinegar and baking soda. These products work great by themselves or combined for a powerful odor eliminator while still maintaining their natural properties.
Add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
To soften fabric naturally, try adding a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. The acid in the vinegar softens fibers and restores natural pH balance, which can help slow down fabric deterioration.
- Wash towels with ½ cup baking soda instead of detergent
- Use an old wool sweater to remove pet hair from furniture
To soften fabric naturally, use an old wool sweater to remove pet hair from furniture or clothing. Just rub it against your hands before you do so that it picks up some fluff along the way. Make sure not to wear any clothes while using this technique!
Baking soda also helps clean fabrics by removing dirt particles and dead skin cells from clothes without leaving behind harsh chemicals like store-bought laundry detergents often do.
Use baking soda in place of detergent (use half as much)
A little bit of baking soda in the wash cycle is a natural fabric softener. Use equal parts baking soda and water in place of detergent (use half as much). Add to the washer with garments.
Baking soda can be used for both the washing machine and the soaking method. Still, it does not dissolve well at low temperatures, so useless or add boiling hot water before adding clothing to soak overnight.
Wash clothes without any soap. Just put them in an old pillowcase, tie them up tightly with string, then shake around vigorously for two minutes! Then throw the whole thing into the tub full of warm water that’s been mixed with one cup of borax per gallon of water. Let your laundry soak for about 30 minutes before rinsing out.
Put a couple of drops of lavender oil onto a washcloth or towel before you put them into the laundry machine.
Put a couple of drops of lavender oil onto a washcloth or towel before you put them into the laundry machine.
Take some natural fabric softener and rub it on your clothes, sheets, towels, etc., for an easy no-effort natural fabric softener!
Add one cup of vinegar to every load of laundry as a natural fabric softener. Add one cup of white miso paste – a fermented soybean product – per week to keep whites from yellowing.
Rub lemon juice onto stains until they disappear because lemons are natural fabric softeners that can be used without having to add anything else! Alternatively, use baking soda if you don’t have any fresh lemons around and sprinkle it over the stained area with water, then scrub in gently.
Line-dry your clothes outside instead of using an electric dryer
Line-dry your clothes outside instead of using an electric dryer. This natural fabric softener option can be done with a simple clothesline or drying rack that’s been placed outdoors, and it even saves on your energy costs!
Line-drying also reduces the wear and tear on clothing fibers due to rubbing against each other in the wash cycle; this is especially true for delicate fabrics like cashmere sweaters.
Soak stained clothing in cold water overnight, then launder as usual
Soak stained clothing in cold water overnight, then launder as usual. This natural fabric softener will break down the stains, and the fabric won’t feel stiff or crunchy when dried in the dryer.
This natural fabric softener is perfect for laundry that has been stained with red wine, oil-based paint, coffee, tea, soy sauce, or bleach – all of which can be removed from clothing by soaking it overnight in cold water before washing.
Add a few drops of lemon juice to your laundry.
By adding a few drops of lemon juice to your laundry, you can soften natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and wool. The citric acid in the lemon juice acts as a natural fabric softener to break down tough fibers.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice into your wash when washing natural fabrics like cotton or linen.
- If using vinegar, add half a cup of apple cider vinegar per load
- Let laundry soak for an hour before running through the complete cycle
Soak clothes in water with baking soda for 15 minutes before washing
One of the natural fabric softeners is soaking clothes in a bucket with water and natural ingredients.
Put a few cups of baking soda into the bottom of your washing machine to help eliminate odors from household smells like pets, mildew, or cooking food that might cling onto clothing.
Baking soda will also reduce any soap buildup on clothing, leading to static electricity when you dry it out by putting one cup per load.
Add ¼ cup each of natural liquid castile soap, and natural vinegar for every pound of laundry detergent recommended amount before adding clothes (use more as needed). Pour this mixture over all the soiled garments first, then wash them together but be sure not to exceed the manufacturer’s instructions about using too much natural liquid.
Use vinegar or ammonia to remove smells from the fabric
Use vinegar or ammonia to remove smells from fabric. Mix equal parts of vinegar or ammonia with water in a spray bottle and mist the fabric to remove smells from natural fabrics like cotton, linen, hemp, wool, and silk.
- To remove stubborn odors such as cigarette smoke mixed with garlic: mix one part vodka with three parts water; then place it inside a tightly closed container for 24 hours before spraying onto the fabric.
- For tough stains that have gotten set into natural fibers: pour boiling (not just warm) water over old toothbrush bristles to soften up residue on natural fibers when soaking – this will also help release any residual odor molecules left after cleaning.
- To freshen sheets between washes, use either apple cider vinegar or baking soda added to your
Use dryer balls instead of dryer sheets for softening and static control.
You can use dryer balls instead of dryer sheets for natural fabric softening and static control. You can use natural ingredients such as lavender, lemon, or peppermint to create your DIY solution- soak the balls in water mixed with essential oils before placing them in a decorative container on top of the dryer vent so that they spin around with each rotation of the drum.
Put a bar of soap on the top rack of the dishwasher and wash it as normal for softer dishes.
Put a bar of soap on the top rack of the dishwasher and wash it as normal for softer dishes. Putting a bar of soap on your clothes dryer drum will soften laundry when tumble dried while washing or running them through the rinse cycle with a natural liquid fabric softener in place of cling film reduces static caused by drying.
Run an empty load through the washer without detergent, fabric softener, or bleach to refresh old clothes.
Run an empty load through the washer without detergent, fabric softener, or bleach to refresh old clothes.
Place natural items like eucalyptus leaves and citrus peels in the dryer to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
Place natural items like eucalyptus leaves and citrus peels in the dryer to keep your clothes smelling fresh. Try using a natural liquid soap as a laundry detergent such as Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap or Baby Magic Pure and Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent with Lavender & Chamomile for sensitive skin types that may be easily irritated by other products. Use white vinegar instead of fabric softeners – it can soften fabrics on its own and help remove stains.
Add a few drops of essential oils to your wash.
Adding a few drops of natural essential oils to your laundry can reduce static and make clothes smell wonderful. Choose from various scents or use what you have on hand in the house (lavender is always an option).
Lavender oil has natural antiseptic properties, so it’s also great for clothes that may be carrying bacteria-particularly after working out at the gym!
In addition, lavender’s natural calming properties help relieve stress caused by dryer sheets–perfect if you’re sensitive to perfumes or other chemicals found in most commercial brands. The best part? Using just a few drops eliminates any need for fabric softener, which often comes with additional additives not approved by many dermatologists and allergists.
Run the fabric through the dryer with a wet towel
Run the fabric through the dryer with a wet towel. The natural moisture in the fabric will transfer to the clothing and soften them.
To get soft clothes without using chemicals, try this: run your fabrics through a damp washcloth before you toss it into the dryer, or go for an all-natural route by running it through a wet towel! This natural process can be applied to linens and bedding as well.”
Throw in some vinegar or baking soda before adding clothes to the washer
Throw in some vinegar or baking soda before adding clothes to the washer. This natural fabric softener will help your clothes feel softer and smell fresher!
- Add a few tablespoons of vinegar or baking soda to a load of laundry in the washing machine, then add detergent as usual.
- Let soak for 15 minutes without running water.
- Run through the cold rinse cycle and wash on delicates setting if needed
Put lemon juice on an old toothbrush and scrub stains from clothing, linens, upholstery, etc.
You can put lemon juice on an old toothbrush or a natural fabric softener ball and scrub stains from clothing, linens, upholstery.
Put the juice on stains you can’t see with your eyes to help lift them out of the cloths easier. Don’t leave lemon juice on any clothes because it will bleach them if left for too long. If this is happening, take some white vinegar and pour it over the top before they stay in contact for more than 20 minutes. White vinegar could also be used alone to soften fabrics if needed since natural fabric softeners are not always accessible everywhere we go, like at home. You may need to repeat these steps several times per day until all stains have been removed.
Add 1/2 cup of salt to every load of laundry as it will help remove odors from clothing that has been sitting around for too long.
By adding 1/2 cup of salt to every load of laundry, you will be able to remove odors from clothing that have been sitting for too long.
It is always best to use natural salt to preserve its natural softener properties as well.
If you are looking for other options when using natural fabric softeners at home, think about adding vinegar or lemon juice to your wash load. Vinegar and lemon juice both work great because they have a natural ability to soften fabrics chemically by breaking down oils on them which prevent static cling and leave clothes fresh smelling.”
We like to use natural fabric softeners by making our homemade laundry detergent with baking soda, liquid castile soap, sweet orange essential oil, tea tree essential oil, and grapefruit seed extract.
The natural properties of the soap and essential oils work together to break down oils on fabric which prevent static cling, leaving clothes fresh smelling.”
Another natural way to use a natural fabric softener is by adding apple cider vinegar or lemon juice into your wash load. Both are great because they have natural abilities that soften fabrics chemically by breaking down oils on them, preventing static cling, and leaving clothes feeling nice and fresh.
Final thoughts,
Soft, fresh-smelling clothes are a big luxury. If you’re like most people and use an electric dryer to do laundry, it’s likely that your clothes don’t feel as soft or smell quite so clean after they’ve been dried. This is because the heat of the dryer can cause fabrics to become stiff and brittle over time. What if I told you there was a way for you to have softer fabric without ironing? You may be thinking this sounds too good to be accurate, but actually, there are some easy ways to soften fabric naturally! We’ll list our favorite six methods below – from soaking stained clothing in cold water overnight before washing them, using vinegar or ammonia to remove smells from garments.
