What to use instead of fabric softener

Use vinegar

Vinegar removes soap scum from clothes and also helps soften hard water, which also affects the quality of the wash.

All you need to do is add 0.5 to 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the washing machine compartment during the rinse cycle or pour the solution directly into the drum when filling the washing machine.

You can add your favorite essential oil to this fabric softener to add a scent.

Although you can add up to 25 drops, you should not use a lot of liquid to avoid leaving stains or marks.

Use baking soda and vinegar

This homemade fabric softener can help solve the problem of hard water. The baking soda regulates the pH level, preventing it from becoming too acidic or too alkaline, and removes mineral deposits.

At the same time, vinegar helps to remove detergent residues from the fabric fibers, making clothes soft.

To make this homemade fabric softener, mix 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of hot water. Although the baking soda may not dissolve, it should be completely soaked.

After that, slowly add 250 ml of white distilled vinegar to the mixture and stir the ingredients until the baking soda dissolves.

The vinegar will react with the baking soda, causing a chemical reaction with fizzing. For flavoring, you can add a few drops of essential oil.

Add the ready-made conditioner during the rinse cycle - no more than 60 ml. However, it is not recommended to add the conditioner before the start of the main wash cycle.

Use a hair conditioner

A hair conditioner coats the hair with special substances that make it softer, just like a fabric softener.

When creating this homemade fabric softener, you should use a hair conditioner that does not contain dyes.

To make a fabric softener, mix 1.5 cups of warm water, 0.75 cups of vinegar, and 0.5 cups of hair conditioner. Mix the mixture thoroughly and add 1-2 tbsp of the product during the rinse cycle.

Use glycerin

Vegetable glycerin is sometimes added to detergents, such as hand soap or shower gels. However, this substance can also be used to soften laundry.

For bulky items, it is advised to pour 1 tbsp of vegetable glycerin into the washing machine drum before starting the wash cycle.

Lightweight clothes can be soaked for 30 minutes in a bowl of warm water and glycerin, using 1 tsp of the substance per 1 liter of water.

You can pour 1 tbsp of glycerin directly into the fabric softener compartment of the washing machine.

Use soap nuts

Soap nuts, which are used in shampoos, are sometimes used for laundry - the substance released by the nuts acts as a natural softener.

To make your clothes soft in this way, you should put 4-5 soap nuts in a cotton bag and put it in the drum of your washing machine with the laundry.

You need to run a normal wash cycle, after which you need to remove the bag of nuts.

Use sea salt and baking soda

Sea salt can be used to make "crystals" that will act as a fabric conditioner, softening clothes. To do this, first pour a little essential oil into 2 cups of sea salt.

After the salt completely absorbs the oil, add 0.5 cups of baking soda to the product. Adding such crystals during the rinse cycle is recommended by pouring 2-3 tbsp of salt into the washing machine drum.