I’m a laundry pro – why you should stop using fabric softener & swap it for household staples you already have

THERE are two types of people in the world: those who swear by fabric softener every time they do laundry, and those who believe it’s the equivalent of pouring money down the drain.

Regardless of your outlook, your clothes could benefit from a fabric softener alternative, which can add a soft touch and fresh scent to your next load of laundry.

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Consider skipping your fabric softener in favor of an inexpensive alternative[/caption]

The home experts at House Digest shared three fabric softener substitutes, which are common household products you definitely have on hand.

Whether you’re out of your favorite softener brand or looking for a hint of softness without risking skin irritation, consider giving these formulas a try before you start your wash cycle.

VINEGAR

A mild acid like vinegar can leave your clothes extra-soft, and all you need to do is pour some into your washing machine’s detergent tray.

For old towels or much-loved lounge clothes, the kitchen staple has the added bonus of lifting musty, stale smells.

“Vinegar is used for many cleaning purposes, including removing bad smells from the washing machine itself,” the experts wrote.

“Some may not enjoy the initial strong smell,” the pros at House Digest added. “Thankfully, the smell isn’t known to cling to clothes.”

If you’re worried about vinegar leaving a salad-dressing smell on your fabrics, add in a few drops of essential oil to the mix before you begin washing.

Or start off small, testing with a tiny amount of vinegar, and gradually use more if you don’t find it leaves an odor.

BAKING SODA

Your washing machine is not a middle-school science project – which is why you should use baking soda separately from vinegar as a fabric softener.

“This is a cheap alternative to regular softener,” the experts write.

A half-cup of baking soda is enough for one load of laundry, and your clothes will be sparkling clean, but there’s one caveat.

“This ingredient has to be added to the rinse cycle, not the beginning of the wash,” the pros warned.

“Having to wait to add this may be annoying for some.”

If you don’t mind adding the baking soda late in the game, then you can save big on fabric softener by making this swap.

CONDITIONER

Heads up! You’ll want to look to your shower caddy for this final fabric softener alternative.

The same principles that make conditioner a softening agent for your hair make it a suitable substitute for fabric softener.

“This mixture is great because the ingredients are cheap and easy to find,” the experts at House Digest wrote.

Plus, the scent is completely customizable, so you can create a coordinating aromatic palette for your hair and clothes.

The experts referred back to a recipe provided by the home blog One Good Thing by Jillee, which breaks down the ingredients you’ll need.

Mix together two cups of conditioner, three cups of white vinegar, and six cups of water, then mix well.

Store the mixture in a sealed container, and add up to 1/4 cup to laundry as needed.

If you have unused conditioner in the cabinet that just doesn’t work for your hair type, this is a great way to be rid of it without waste.

But be cautious: if you have very sensitive skin, the chemicals in your conditioner could cause irritation, so make sure you use the formula sparingly.

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Conditioner is a fabric softener substitute that will leave clothes with a fabulous scent[/caption]