Alternatives to Fabric Softener?

I've been using cheap white vinegar for about 2 years now. It's a wonderful thing!

I have front loaders so I just add the vinegar to the rinse compartment in the dispenser. The machine does the rest.

Occationally I'll use a dryer sheet - but I cut it in half and use it for two loads, then throw it away. Mostly for bath towels and blankets though.

I use a tention rod to hang up the clothes. My laundry area is long and narrow, so I span it against one wall, and the front of the upper cabinet over the washer. It's high enough that the opening and closing of the door doesn't hit it, but not so high I can't reach the clothes. Before I put it there, I'd hang things on the tention rod placed as high as I could in the door jamb between the kitchen and dining room. It was in the way enough that I had to take and put the clothes away- they couldn't just hang there for a week or more. (My own attempt at self dicipline!)

Yep vinegar like the earlier responder suggests. You add a 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle... it works as a fabric softener because it breaks down the suds from the detergent and makes for a cleaner rinse. No crunch clothes. The other suggestion I have for line drying clothes in the house during winter is buy an adjustable shower curtain rod and install it at the end of a hallway or in the door frame of a room that you don't go in all the time during the day. Hang the clothes on hangers and space them out over the rod. For faster drying you can point a fan at them as well. When the clothes are dry you can take the rod down and put it away.

I've heard that addding vinegar to the final rinse cycle acts as fabric softener of sorts and it makes them smell good too. I'm not sure of the amount - I would think that you would use an amount similar to the amount of liquid softener you would have used.

J.

Christina,

I'm with everyone else and recommend vinegar, I have also heard of mixing equal parts vinegar, baking soda, and water and using that as a fabric softener in the final rinse.

Something else I do is use a large folding wooden rack and hang up a load of clothes on it overnight. In the winter my house is so dry and I run a humidifier anyway, so hanging the clothes on this to dry adds to the humidity in my house!

I think you have your answer, but I'll reiterate just to make sure: WHITE VINEGAR!
:)

No- it won't make your clothes smell. Just use about 1/2 cup per load. Also- the reusable, cloth dryer sheets are great. You put two in and they create friction to remove the static. They are great.

Switch to a fabric softner sheet from places like Whole Foods ... they have a lot of non-toxic cleaning chemicals ... I recently switched to those instead of liquid softener (even tho I loved the downy lilac sent) good luck!

I use the e-cover brand I think its called from Plum Market but its at whole foods too and I think I got my last bottle at kroger - it works great :)

I use tennis balls. Same concept as those bumpy dryer balls you can buy but they are only $1.50 for 3 at Walmart! Works great and the clothes dry faster!