Stop and think about what you are rinsing your clothes in. Here is the list of ingredients of most commercial brand liquid fabric softeners:
Benzyl acetate: linked to pancreatic cancer; Benzyl alcohol: upper respiratory tract irritant; Ethanol: on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders; Limonene: suspected gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, immunotoxicant, kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant, and skin or sense organ toxicant; A-Terpineol: can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema and central nervous system damage; Camphor: causes central nervous system disorders; Ethyl Acetate: a narcotic on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list; Linalool: a narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders; Pentane: a chemical known to be harmful if inhaled; and Chloroform: a substance used as an anesthesia in the 1800s up through the early 1900s when its potential for causing fatal cardiac arrhythmia was discovered. Inhaling its vapors may cause loss of consciousness, nausea, headache, vomiting, and/or dizziness, drowsiness.
Yes, that’s what makes your clothes smell so fresh and feel so soft. You can get the same results by making your own fabric softener without any of these harsh chemicals.
To make your own homemade fabric softener: 1 gallon white vinegar and 30 drops 100% pure essential oil. Mix together and store.
To Use: Dilute the vinegar mixture with water before being used in your laundry. For regular sizes loads, mix 1/4 cup of vinegar mixture with 3/4 cups of water. Pour the fabric softener into your washer during the final rinse cycle.
Vinegar naturally removes soap residue, and helps with static reduction during drying. Vinegar contains small amounts of sodium and potassium which help soften hard water.
We are brainwashed into thinking that chemical scents represent clean and fresh when just the opposite is true. By using this homemade solution, your clothes will be more vibrant and the essential oil will leave a lasting pleasing smell.