Fabric softeners are an amazing invention. As much as I like my old wool sweaters, they can get a little scratchy on the skin. However, with a good fabric softener, they feel like cashmere! But not all fabric softeners are created equal. In some cases, your favourite detergent or dryer sheets might not soften your clothes as much as you’d like. That’s why we’re here to help you learn about different eco-friendly fabric softeners.
The ABCs of Eco-Friendly Fabric Softeners
Aloe vera is a natural fabric softener.
Aloe vera has anti-static properties. This means it will help reduce the amount of lint that clings to your clothes while they’re drying. Studies have shown aloe gel can significantly reduce static electricity. So it’s a good alternative to dryer sheets if you suffer from dry skin or irritation. Aloe is also great for soothing chapped lips and dry noses. It makes a good cosmetic base for lip balm or moisturizer! If you want to use aloe as a fabric softener instead of dryer sheets, simply place an open container of pure gel in the dryer with your clothes and turn on the cycle as usual.
Baking soda has anti-static properties.
If you want to give your clothes a boost in softness, but don’t want the chemicals that come with most fabric softeners, then baking soda is the answer. Not only does it reduce static cling, but it also keeps off odours and bacteria.
To use it in your washing machine: Use ½ cup of baking soda along with your laundry detergent when washing clothes or just add ½ cup of baking soda directly into the drum of any machine). To use it manually: Dissolve 1/2 cup (about 100 grams) of baking soda into 4 cups (1 litre) of hot water and then soak clothes for 10 minutes before rinsing well.
Cotton balls will help remove static electricity from clothes.
You can use cotton balls as a substitute for dryer sheets if you’re looking to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, try using them to remove static electricity from clothes as well!
Fill up an old sock with about 10 cotton balls (or more, depending on the size of the sock), tie off the end, place it in your dryer and add your laundry. Your clothes will come out soft and smell great—plus they won’t have any static cling! Be sure to replace the cotton balls every time you run a load of laundry.
Dryer balls can also reduce static.
Dryer balls are another way to reduce static in the laundry. These small, weighted balls are using wool, cotton, or synthetic materials. They work by releasing natural oils from the fibres of your clothes as they tumble around in the dryer. When you take your clothes out of the dryer, these oils will have transferred onto them and helped reduce any static buildup there may be—all without any chemicals!
If you have kids who like to leave their socks on their feet when they go to bed at night (and don’t we all?), then you know how much of a pain it can be when they wake up with sock fuzz stuck all over their faces in the morning.
Essential oils can leave your clothes smelling fresh and clean.
Essential oils are an easy way to get your clothes, linens, and carpets smelling fresh. And the best part? They’re all-natural and non-toxic.
Essential oils comes from plants, so they have natural cleaning properties that clean your clothing while leaving behind a pleasant scent. You can use essential oils on almost any material: silk, cotton, woollen knits, polyester blends—you name it!
Fabric softener sheets have their uses — just not in the dryer.
Fabric softener sheets are a great way to reduce static electricity in your dryer. However, they’re not so useful for reducing static electricity on clothes or in the washer. To make your clothes feel softer, try adding fabric softener directly into the drum instead of using a sheet. This will also save money by lowering the amount of product that needs to be used during each wash cycle.
If you’ve got sensitive skin or dry skin, however — or if you’re just looking for another way to cut down on chemicals — then fabric softener sheets might be right for you! They’ll keep your fabrics feeling softer without having any negative effects on the environment (or your health).
Garment bags prevent wrinkles.
Garment bags are a great way to keep clothes wrinkle-free. They’re better than hanging your clothes on hangers. For example; the bag will protect the fabric from getting stretched out and create a more consistent shape. If you need to hang them in your closet, there are garment bags specifically designed for this purpose (they have holes at the top) or you can fold them up and place them in a drawer instead.
Heated blankets can help with static electricity in the winter.
In winter, most people associate static electricity with the annoying shocks they get from their sweaters. But it can also be a problem in warmer weather. Static electricity occurs when positive and negative charges build up on objects, causing them to attract/stick together. It’s caused by friction or rubbing. This is why you might notice your hair gets statically charged after rubbing a balloon on its strands.
In cases of severe moisture buildup, elements like plastic can conduct enough to draw in electrical current causing dry skin. Heated blankets help prevent moisture from building up in their blankets as well as provide warmth without adding additional moisture.
9 Eco-Friendly Fabric Softeners for your Next Laundry!
Mrs. Meyer
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets comes from naturally derived ingredients, including essential oils and plant-based softeners. Their laundry detergents are also safe for septic systems, making them great for people who live in less-than-ideal conditions. This product is a safe option because it doesn’t contain any dyes or perfumes—just pure essential oils.
Method
Method Fabric Softener is a nontoxic and biodegradable laundry detergent. It is free of phosphates, optical brighteners, and animal ingredients. The homemade formula is also free of dyes and perfumes. The Method Fabric Softener pods come in a variety of scents including lavender, rosemary mint, basil citrus mint, and wild berry lime.
Method’s concentrated formula works just as well as traditional fabric softeners but without any harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances. This might be your best option since it will save you time from measuring liquid into the washer.
Gain
Gain Eco-Box Liquid Fabric Softener come from plant-based materials and features no synthetic fragrances or dyes. It also includes no chlorine bleach or phosphates, which means it’s safe for people with allergies and sensitive skin. The product is phosphate-free, petroleum-free, animal-tested-free, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic.
ATTITUDE
ATTITUDE Liquid Fabric Softener consists of a mixture of coconut oil and aloe vera. It’s free of harsh chemicals, phosphate, alcohol, dyes, perfumes, and optical brighteners. It’s also gluten-free! The product is safe for people with allergies and sensitive skin. It’s certified biodegradable and hypoallergenic. The formula is also non-toxic to fish, birds, pets, humans, and the environment as a whole.
Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation Dryer Sheets Fabric Softener is a great option for the eco-conscious laundry enthusiast. It’s 100% biodegradable, contains no synthetic fragrances or dyes, and it also has no petroleum products. That means that your clothes won’t have any artificial ingredients on them once they are dry. However, some people might not like these dryer sheets as much because they don’t feel as soft in their clothes.
Presto!
So you’re an eco-friendly laundry connoisseur and want to try something new? Presto! Concentrated Fabric Softener uses coconut oil, which breaks down easily in water and returns to nature quickly. These eco-friendly fabric softeners are also concentrated, so one bottle can last you for up to 300 loads.
The product works well with both front-loading and top-loading machines. The concentrated formula means that you’ll have no problem using it in any temperature water setting (including cold).
Dr. Easy
If you’ve ever used dryer sheets, then you know they are the eco-friendly fabric softeners we all love to hate. They smell nice, but there’s just something about using a product that’s more environmentally unfriendly than we’d like.
Dr. Easy Dryer Sheets Fabric Softener! The name is slightly misleading because it doesn’t have any dryer sheets in it. No, these babies come from 100% natural ingredients like coconut oil and beeswax. These two ingredients combine to form an easy-to-apply wax treatment that keeps clothing from wrinkling and reducing static electricity. It also has a variety of scents available (rosewater scent) so you can pick whichever one suits your fancy best!
Ecover
Ecover Fabric Softener, a brand that proudly markets its products as biodegradable and non-toxic, produces these eco-friendly fabric softeners. It comes from plant-based ingredients and uses 100% renewable energy to produce the product. The manufacturer claims that the product is safe for sensitive skin, but it does not specifically state whether or not it’s free of dyes or artificial fragrances.
Biokleen
Biokleen Laundry Dryer Sheets Fabric Softener comes from plant-based ingredients and is free of synthetic fragrances and dyes. They contain no phosphates or alcohol, chlorine, or optical brighteners. Their environmentally friendly formula is biodegradable so it won’t harm the waterways. They wash down your drains as well as are safe for children and pets to come in contact with.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the different eco-friendly fabric softeners and how they can help your clothes. If you want to learn more about eco-friendly products, check out our other articles!
After washing your clothes, it’s important to hang them out in the sun. Find out more about these eco-friendly hangers that are beneficial for your wardrobe!
- Eco Friendly Sustainable Materials: Crafting a Cleaner World
- Eco Friendly Kitchen Trash Bags Biodegradable: Making Waste Disappear Responsibly
- Eco Friendly Green Packaging: Sustainable Solutions for a Better Tomorrow
- Eco Friendly Trash Bags: Rethinking Waste Management
- Eco Friendly Mailers: Shipping Solutions with a Conscience
- Eco Friendly Sustainable Materials: Crafting a Cleaner World
- Eco Friendly Kitchen Trash Bags Biodegradable: Making Waste Disappear Responsibly
- Eco Friendly Green Packaging: Sustainable Solutions for a Better Tomorrow
- Eco Friendly Trash Bags: Rethinking Waste Management
- Eco Friendly Mailers: Shipping Solutions with a Conscience