Glenda and I went to our first farmers market in Byrnes Mill. We had a great time meeting the community that visits the market. While discussing our laundry soaps we also encouraged the use of white vinegar as a fabric softener. Why? Because it's natural, earth friendly, great for people with sensitive skin and it's economical.
Most liquid fabric softeners coat the fibers of your clothing, towels and sheets with chemicals that are meant to stay on your clothes to make them feel soft. These chemicals may dull your clothing as well as cause allergic reactions to sensitive skin. Vinegar naturally softens the water and helps to remove residues left on your clothing by your laundry soap or detergent leaving your laundry naturally soft.
You can add anywhere from 1/4 c. to 1 c. of white vinegar depending on size of load and color of laundry. Larger quantities of vinegar are best used on lighter or white laundry. You can add it to the fabric softener dispenser or directly into the rinse water. You can also use a downy ball. If you are adventurous in your green cleaning you can also make your own fabric softener using a combination of white vinegar, essential oils and/or baking soda.
It may take a couple of washes using white vinegar to remove the residues left by your previous softener so don't get disheartened if you don't get the best results on the first wash. Don't worry about your clothes smelling like vinegar either. Once they are dry you won't be able to smell it.
Buy distilled white vinegar in bulk...it has so many practical uses around the home!
ReplyDeleteGreat to use instead of Jet Dry in the dishwasher, too.
ReplyDeleteI do use it in the Jet Dry dispenser! I love vinegar! For more ideas www.vinegartips.com and there is a book "Vinegar: Over 400 Various, Versatile, and Very Good Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of" (Paperback)by Vicki Lansky that you can probably find at your local library.
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