Natural Fabric Softener

This is my simple recipe for natural fabric softener. Fabric softener as we know it – the commercial stuff that is – is really not good for us. It’s not good for the environment either. It often contains some very questionable ingredients that are known to stick to clothing, irritate skin and aggravate allergies.

Companies (in Australia anyway) are not required to tell you what is in cleaning products, so we often won’t see panels on packets of softener which makes it hard to make educated decisions when out shopping.

It often takes a little searching on the internet to find comprehensive ingredient lists, and even then, it is the companies choice whether they publish them or not.

Here is an example of ingredients within one popular supermarket brand of softener. From what I can see, most softeners available are similar in their contents.

Here’s a brief look into these ingredients:

Water – any time you see water in a product, look for preservatives. Usually, not a good sign.

Quaternized triethanolamine diester – I can’t find much reputable data on this but Triethanolamine is petroleum-derived and may cause contact dermatitis.

Isopropyl alcohol – not much to worry about in a cleaning product but not something I would use on my skin.

Quaternary ammonium acrylate/acrylamide – quaternary ammonium compounds rate poorly with EWG (my go-to for chemical research and advice). Although the data covers a broad scope, there is mention of toxicity to aquatics and moderate concern for asthmatics.

Fragrance – a toxic minefield and my most hated ingredient, unless derived from essential oils! Watch out for this one. There is a list of hundreds of chemicals used for fragrance formulation, and companies don’t have to tell you what they use – it’s their trade secret. Fragrance is associated with allergies, skin irritation, asthma, headaches etc.

Preservative – interesting that they don’t tell you what preservative. Some preservatives, such as Formaldehyde, are known to be carcinogenic to humans, others, salt, for example, is fine. So I’m dubious here.

You know how when you’re at the supermarket, you can smell the softener aisle a mile away (if you’ve been living a lower-toxin lifestyle for a while now, you’ll know what I mean!)? It really is something I like to avoid. I can even smell people’s washing when I take my daily walk if they’ve used softener – that’s how potent this stuff is! It sticks to your clothes, it coats your machine in slime making it hard to clean, and it’s terrible for septic systems and our waterways in general.

Have I convinced you to make the switch to natural yet?

For a long time, I have been using straight vinegar as a natural fabric softener. And it works well, so if this recipe seems like a little too much effort for you, then stick with that. But this recipe for natural fabric softener, ooh-la-la, it really does make my laundry nice and soft!

Natural Fabric Softener

Makes: 1.1 lt Prep time: < 5 min.

Ingredients

My Choice of Essential Oils

My favourite essential oils in this recipe are lemon and eucalyptus, but don’t be limited by my suggestions. Use oils that fit your budget, or those that you already have in your collection. Read here for more information on essential oils.

Method

1. Add salt and hot water to a bowl and mix until salt has dissolved.
2. Add vinegar and stir until combined.
3. Transfer into a bottle (with lid).

To Use

Pour approximately ½ cup of liquid and essential oils (if using) into the designated compartment of your washing machine. Shake well prior to each use.

Recipe Notes

Water should be distilled, purified or pre-boiled and cooled to extend shelf life.

If the salt doesn’t fully dissolve, don’t worry too much – it will dissolve over time.

If you’re concerned about your washing machine then don’t use this recipe. I personally have had no issues at all, after years of using vinegar in my washing machine, but it is ultimately up to you.

Krissy Ballinger

author and passionate advocate for natural living and wellness

Krissy Ballinger is an accomplished author and passionate advocate for natural living and wellness. Her mission is to gently guide individuals towards holistic wellbeing by providing a wealth of resources and services, ranging from natural living guidance and DIY recipes, to healing therapies that nurture the mind, body, spirit and space. She envisions a world where conscious choices are made that honour the self, humanity and the environment.

With her roots in education and health promotion, Krissy continually expands her expertise. Recently, she obtained certifications in Zone Healing Technique and NeurOptimal Neurofeedback (brain training), qualified as a Reiki Healer, and completed an Undergraduate Certificate in Lifestyle Coaching from Endeavour College of Natural Health.

Krissy dedicates her time to managing her wellness room, offering services in Zone and Reiki Healing, Neurofeedback brain training, and Chemical Awareness Consulting. Additionally, she educates individuals about common and avoidable toxins through her various social platforms. Krissy’s books have collectively sold over 100,000 copies, including the award-winning Naturally Inspired – Simple DIY Recipes for Body Care and Cleaning, as well as Make & Play – Natural DIY Recipes for Kids, and The Lifestyle Edit.

13 Comments

  1. Love the recipe. I have been using vinegar and lavender essential oil for about a year and sadly there is no scent at all on the clothes, I will try the lemon eucalyptus blend. I have been wondering about my machines rubber parts and the continued use of vinegar. It never occurred to me to cut it with distilled water!

    • Hi Kathleen, because we (as society) are so used to freshly washed clothing having a fragrance it can be easy to expect the same result even when using essential oils. The reality is, it’s near impossible to get clothes smelling like anything other than clothes as the oils just won’t stick. You could try giving them a spritz with a mist (with a higher concentration of oils) after they come out of the wash maybe? Personally I don’t bother. As for the vinegar, I’ve had a serviceman tell me it’s fine (but of course, it’s up to you)!

  2. I’ve been using plain white vinegar as my fabric softener for 7+ years and we’ve had no issues with the washing machine. Never thought to add salt to soften our very hard water. Will give this a try!

    I also use a hot load with 1/2C bicarb to clean the washing machine periodically.

  3. Hi Krissy, thank you for this recipe. I’m not so sure about the salt in the machine. Have you tried it without the salt? What is the salts purpose?

  4. I’ve been making this fabric softener for a year and will never go back. It takes about 2 minutes to make it! My favourite oils are lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus or lavender for bedsheets ??

  5. Have made this ever since I got the book!! Peppermint and lemon grass is my fav oils!

    Love adding a bit of clove oil when I wash the duvet covers before storing away for summer to avoid mould!!

  6. Hi Krissy, I would like to make a fabric softener for some canvas fabric I’m using to make a yoga bolster but I don’t want to wash it in my front loader so do you have a different way to do this?

    Regards
    Isabellarusso

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