A guide to eco-friendly fabric softening
Eco-friendly fabric softening protects the environment and leaves clothes feeling fresh. Natural ingredients and simple techniques replace the harsh chemicals in traditional fabric softeners.
Let's explore some eco-friendly fabric softeners and their benefits.
Quick links:
Problems with conventional fabric softeners
Natural fabric softener alternatives
Benefits of eco-friendly fabric softening
Tips for a sustainable laundry routine
Our 100% New Zealand-made wool dryer balls are your best option for eco-friendly fabric softening. They’re a reusable, nontoxic alternative that naturally softens fabrics and reduces static without synthetic chemicals or fragrances.
Problems with commercial fabric softeners
Dryer sheets and fabric softeners contain chemicals that damage our health and the environment. These products can harm clothes, increase flammability, and cause problems with washers and dryers. Plus, they are unnecessary.
Here’s why you should ditch traditional fabric softeners:
- They leave residue on clothes, which reduces absorbency and breathability.
- Chemicals in fabric softeners may cause skin irritations and allergic reactions.
- Some fabric softeners contain phthalates.
- They reduce the effectiveness of towels and cloth diapers.
- Artificial fragrances can trigger respiratory issues.
- Fabric softeners can build up in washing machines and affect performance.
- Their production and disposal contribute to environmental pollution.
- Fabric softeners add unnecessary expense to your laundry routine.
Eco-friendly fabric softener alternatives
Eco-friendly fabric softener alternatives soften clothes, reduce static cling, and freshen laundry—without the toxins in many commercial fabric softeners. Here are the most popular natural alternatives:
- Wool dryer balls
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Organic essential oils
- Soap nuts
- Epsom salt
- Vegetable glycerin
- Hair conditioner
Wool dryer balls
Our wool dryer balls are the best alternative to fabric softeners. Not only do they soften fabric, but they also reduce drying times and offer other amazing benefits for your laundry.
Here are a few of the benefits of wool dryer balls for your laundry:
- Soften fabrics. Wool dryer balls constantly agitate the fibers in clothes and linens to leave soft fabric.
- Shorter dryer time. Wool dryer balls absorb moisture from clothing and shorten drying time by up to 25% with a reduced heat setting.
- Reduced damage. Wool dryer balls reduce damage to clothes through lower temperature settings and shorter drying times.
- Static reduction. They cut down on static.
- No wrinkles. Wool dryer balls reduce clothing wrinkles.
- No pet hair. They grab pet hair from clothes.
- No chemicals. Wool dryer balls are chemical-free, fragrance-free, and don’t damage your clothes or increase their flammability. They are perfect for people with allergies, asthma, and sensitive skin.
- Unscented. Although wool dryer balls are unscented, you can scent wool dryer balls with essential oils for naturally fragrant laundry.
Vinegar
To soften clothes, you can use white vinegar in two ways:
- The first method involves adding 1/4 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle.
- The second option requires you to dampen a washcloth with vinegar and put it in the dryer.
Both white and apple cider vinegar are effective for this purpose. Despite concerns, the vinegar odor does not linger on your clothes. The smell dissipates completely during the washing or drying process, so your laundry will not retain any vinegar scent.
Baking soda
Baking soda functions as a natural fabric softener and odor remover. It adjusts the water's pH levels, which reduces bacteria and eliminates unpleasant smells from dirty clothes.
To use baking soda:
- Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry.
- Put the baking soda in before you add laundry detergent.
- Wash your clothes at your usual settings.
Warning: do not combine baking soda and vinegar in the same wash cycle. This combination will cause a chemical reaction in your washing machine.
Soap nuts
Soap nuts contain natural saponins, which act as fabric softeners. To use soap nuts:
- Place 4–5 soap nuts in a cotton bag.
- Put the bag in the washer with your laundry.
- Run your wash cycle as normal.
This natural method softens clothes without toxic chemicals or artificial fragrances.
Epsom salt
Epsom salt combined with baking soda creates an effective, natural fabric softener. This mixture softens clothes and adds a pleasant, fresh scent. Here are some simple steps to follow:
- Mix 2 cups of Epsom salts and 1/2 cup of baking soda in a jar.
- Add 25–30 drops of essential oils.
- Shake to combine.
- Use 3 tablespoons per medium laundry load.
Vegetable glycerin
Vegetable glycerin serves as a gentle, plant-based fabric softener alternative. This recipe produces a large batch of softeners for multiple uses.
To use vegetable glycerin as a fabric softener, combine 1 gallon of water and a 1/2 cup glycerin (add essential oils if desired). Then, add a 1/2 cup to the rinse cycle, fabric softener dispenser, or fabric softener ball.
Hair conditioner
Eco-friendly hair conditioner, when mixed with water, functions as a budget-friendly fabric softener. To create this DIY fabric softener, follow these steps:
- Combine six cups of water and two cups of conditioner. Stir until completely smooth.
- Pour the mix into a storage container.
- To use, add the mixture to your washer in the same place you would normally put liquid fabric softener.
Benefits of eco-friendly fabric softening
Eco-friendly fabric softening improves your clothes, skin, and the environment. Here’s how:
- Clothes maintain their quality longer with natural softening methods. Fibers remain intact, colors stay vibrant, and fabrics keep their original properties. This approach extends the life of garments, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
- Sensitive skin benefits from the absence of harsh chemicals. Natural alternatives reduce the risk of skin irritation, rashes, and allergic reactions often associated with conventional fabric softeners.
- The environment gains from reduced chemical pollution. Eco-friendly methods minimize harmful substances released into water systems, saving aquatic life. They also decrease plastic waste generated by commercial softeners.
- Many eco-friendly techniques work with cold water and shorter drying times. They reduce overall energy consumption in the laundry process.
- The elimination of artificial fragrances and volatile organic compounds improves indoor air quality
Our wool dryer balls provide all these benefits. They offer a reusable, chemical-free solution that softens clothes naturally, reducing drying time and static cling.
Tips for a sustainable laundry routine
A sustainable laundry routine reduces environmental impact while maintaining clean, fresh clothes. Simple changes to your washing and drying habits decrease water and energy consumption. Use these tips to create an eco-friendly laundry process without sacrificing cleanliness or convenience.
- Use cold water for most washes. This practice saves energy and keeps clothes in good condition.
- Wash full loads of laundry to maximize water and energy efficiency. Avoid overloading, which prevents proper cleaning.
- Choose Smart Sheep eco-friendly laundry products with plant-based ingredients. Our products reduce water pollution and skin irritation.
- Pretreat stains to avoid rewashing. This reduces water and energy consumption.
- Air-dry clothes when possible. Sunlight naturally disinfects and brightens fabrics without energy use.
- Clean the lint filter after each dryer use. This improves air circulation and reduces energy consumption.
- Opt for high-efficiency washing machines and dryers. These appliances use less water and energy.
- Avoid dry cleaning when possible. Many "dry clean only" items can be hand-washed or machine-washed on gentle cycles.
- Repair clothes instead of discarding them. This extends garment life and reduces textile waste.
- Use a microfiber-catching laundry bag for synthetic clothes. This prevents microplastic pollution in water systems.
Fabric softening FAQ
Are plant-based fabric softeners better?
Plant-based fabric softeners are better than regular fabric softeners. They contain fewer harmful ingredients and toxic chemicals, benefitting human health and the environment. They provide effective softening and a pleasant scent without artificial fragrances. They're biodegradable and less likely to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
Why shouldn’t I use dryer sheets?
You should avoid dryer sheets for several reasons:
- Harmful ingredients: dryer sheets contain toxic chemicals that can transfer to your clean clothes and potentially irritate your skin.
- Environmental impact: dryer sheets are single-use items that contribute to landfill waste.
- Reduced absorbency: they can leave a waxy residue on fabrics, decreasing the absorbency of towels and athletic wear.
- Fire hazard: some dryer sheets ncrease the flammability of certain fabrics.
- Dryer efficiency: the residue from dryer sheets can build up in your dryer and reduce its efficiency. This can damage the appliance.
- Static electricity: while they reduce static in the short term, dryer sheets increase static cling over time.
Instead, check out eco-friendly alternatives such as our wool dryer balls. Check out our deep comparison between dryer sheets and wool dryer balls!
How do you soften stiff fabric naturally?
Natural fabric softening methods include the following:
- Use white vinegar or baking soda in the wash cycle.
- Use wool dryer balls in the dryer to physically soften clothes.
- Hang clothes outside to dry and they’ll become naturally soft from the wind.
- Salt or Epsom salt in the wash cycle softens hard water, which can cause stiff clothes.
Which is the best homemade fabric softener?
A popular homemade fabric softener combines white vinegar with essential oils. Mix 2 cups white vinegar with 20–30 drops of essential oil. Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load in the fabric softener dispenser or rinse cycle. This eco-friendly option softens clothes, reduces static, and removes soap residue without harmful ingredients.
Further reading
Is line drying or machine drying better?
How many wool dryer balls do you need?
Can I use dryer sheets and wool dryer balls together?
