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Annie B. Bond

Fabric Softener: Easy Greening

posted by Annie B. Bond Nov 10, 2006 8:43 am
filed under: Healthy Home, Non-Toxic Cleaning, , , ,
Fabric Softener: Easy Greening
76 comments

By the Care2 Staff

We, the Care2 editors, are living proof that there is life without fabric softeners.
None of us have ever used them! But we know many of you do, and judging from the flood of hate mail about fabric softener fragrances we know you are seeking a better smelling product . So here are our best safe product recommendations and a discussion we invite you to share with us about the best DIY practices:

The Issues
We expect that part of the reason we, Care2 editors, don’t ever even think that we need fabric softeners is that we collectively wear mostly natural fibers, which don’t get static cling, the main fabric softener fix. Synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and lycra, are prone to get full of static.

Also, the actual scouring of the fabric in the washing machine will soften the fabric, and the dryer fluffs the fabric even more. Fabric softeners add a chemical to the fabric to “soften” them even more, even when there is no need.

Most fabric softeners add a film to the fabric, which can actually accumulate and dull the colors. Many complain that clothes are left greasy because of this. Fabric softeners also add a huge toxic load to the environment of your home and clothing, from powerful fragrances to suspected cancer-causing neurotoxic chemicals such as toluene and styrene.

Is this why one of the most common email queries we receive is about fabric softeners? That the smell so many of you hate is toxic?

The three main ingredients found in fabric softeners are surfactants (used in detergents), fragrance, and undenatured ethyl alcohol. The later is suspected of causing many health problems, from being a liver toxicant to an endocrine disrupter.

The chemicals in fabric softener chemically manipulate the fabric to be softer, and many of you like that. What to Do?

Choose Green Products
Happily there are some green fabric softeners on the market from companies full of integrity. Products include those from Seventh Generation and Ecover, and are found in health food stores and some supermarkets.

Do-It-Yourself
Fabric softeners are acidic, so adding ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse water is one way to experiment with replacing commercial fabric softeners. Another idea floating around the internet is to saturate 1 teaspoon of a natural hair conditioner on a small rag, and put that into the dryer as a homemade dryer sheet. We would love your feedback about whether these work, and what other ideas you have. Please add to the comments on this article!

More on Non-Toxic Cleaning (114 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3206 articles available)

76 comments

76 comments

add your comment »
76 Comments       add a comment »
Patricia Merrill

I would like to suggest that everyone check out the Melaleuca Co. Their products are environmentally friendly and safe and do a fantastic job in all realms of cleaning. I have been using their products for years, and love the laundry detergent and the softener. They have a non-chlorine brightener too.

Sue Cannon

Ive been using soap nuts to do my laundry, which works great but does not leave a nice smell to the washing and leaves my whites still dirty. It got so bad that my childrens school offered to buy me some new shirts for them because the shirts weren't whiter than white. Had to buy some oxy action stuff for the whites also its my towels i need a fabric softener for. The soap nuts say they clean and work as fabric softener but my towels come out rough and stiff as a board. Won't vinegar ruin the rubber in our washing machines?

Heather Witko

To Rochelle Weber, why not try Shaklee products... they are all natural and are great for cleaning and other product lines.

Elena Rico

I also use baking soda, i have since 1999. It does help with getting rid of the odors in the dirty clothes and gives your wash a boost.

Elena Rico

Thank you Care2 for the information, i can't believe their are so many harmful toxins/chemicals in softener sheets. My children and i get a lot of headaches, mainly me and i get light rashes every now and then on my neck and arms. Not to mention the itching. I stopped using the detergent i used before for years which was tide. Not that tide does not clean good but it is kind of perfumy and has chemicals to like most detergents. Plus it just irritated my skin. My mother always used it when i was a kid and i didn't notice anything but then again i was a kid, but as an adult my body has changed the way it responds to certain foods, perfumes and detergents. I have been using either the satchels with tea leaves, dried flowers etc. or arm and hammers all natural lavendar sheets. Mainly the satchels, i love those! I have made my own which turned out good. I bought everything i needed from a health food store. I just wish the health food stores would stop raising their prices!

JC N.
  • JC N. says
  • Apr 22, 2008 4:10 PM

I heard Raven's comment about bkg soda in the rinse water. Question: if your wash machine has a fabric sof'ner dispenser, can you put the baking soda in the dispenser? Or the 1/2 cup of vinegar that Care2.com recommends? I always put a cup of bkg soda in the wash with the detergent & mix, to get more ooomph outa my detergent & COLD water (our water's REALLY hard). Anybody have answers? J.C., Alabama

Doris Chapman

I just heard from Raven about using baking soda. I am going to try it as a fabric softener. It's a great idea!

Doris

Raven Daniels

I use baking soda in the rinse cycle. it works as a fabric softener and my clothes never have
static.

Rivka S.

Has any one tried the softener balls that are on the market now? They are initially quite expensive but last a long time. I use white vinegar in the rinse water I use in my steam cleaner for the carpet to get rid of smells and soften the carpet. I does not leave a vingary smell at all.

Jamie Sebens

Vinegar is my favorite household cleaner, but it can be a problem in the laundry because it really dulls colors. It is great when washing rags.

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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