Many families have concerns about chemicals in laundry products and are trying to find natural alternatives. If you don't want to spend the money on chemical-free fabric softeners to create dryer sheets, there is an alternative. The combination of vinegar and essential oils in these dryer sheets is perfect.
Try Using Vinegar Instead
If you're out of dryer sheets, use vinegar on a washcloth instead. Yes, it works. No, your clothes won't smell like salad, we promise.
Pour in 3 parts hair conditioner to 1 part vinegar into the jar. Place your cloth (cut up into dryer sheet sizes) into the jar and shake thoroughly. Wring cloth out, and hang for drying. Once they are dried, the sheets are ready to go into your dryer and can be re-used!
Residue from dryer sheets and fabric softener not only clog your lint trap but can add a film to the inside of your machine. Once a month, use a spray of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water to mist the inside of the drum. Wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, and leave the dryer door open so it can air dry.
Good ol' fashioned white vinegar can be your friend when it comes to your laundry routine. I pour in about the same amount as I'd use of fabric softener — right into the fabric softener dispenser. Easy peasy. Then, dry as usual.
If you've found that regular laundry detergent isn't doing the trick when it comes to cleaning your clothes, we have a solution: white vinegar. The product can brighten clothes, remove stains, eliminate odors, and even act as a natural fabric softener.
Generally vinegar is not flammable. While there are elements in vinegar that are flammable, the high water content of household vinegar keeps it from being flammable.
For softening your clothes, add the vinegar to your fabric softener dispenser. To fight mild odors, add it directly to the washing machine basin during the rinse cycle, or use it in place of regular detergent and add it again during the rinse cycle if you need to remove really strong odors.
If it's on a soft surface, it may take a day or so. Air circulation can make the vinegar aroma dissipate more quickly. The vinegar aroma will go away when it's dry.
White vinegar also has natural whitening capabilities and is an effective fabric softener. Try adding half a cup at the beginning of the wash cycle. Alternatively, you can soak the sheets and pillowcases in vinegar and warm water prior to placing them in your washing machine.
Because dryer sheets contain detergent, they're also perfect for cleaning soap scum, and grime off of shower doors, walls, and fixtures. Moisten the dryer sheet, rub the soap scum to remove it, and then rinse your shower with clean, warm water to remove any residue.
Since vinegar is naturally brewed and biodegradable, it's a fantastic alternative to using harsh chemicals. It only has two simple ingredients – acetic acid and water, as opposed to fabric softener, which can contain some ingredients which are potentially harmful to your health and the environment.
However, vinegar in laundry shouldn't be a routine addition because it can cause damage to washing machines. In addition, certain fabrics should not be overly exposed to vinegar, and there are laundry products it shouldn't be combined with.
In addition to adding too much white vinegar, it's acidic so you don't want to pour it directly on clothes unless you are dealing with a stain. Therefore, you want to add it to water or mix it with water before putting it over the clothing.
As a general rule, wherever you find rubber, keep the vinegar away. The vinegar's acid can eat away at rubber just as it does natural stone. Soap and water or a solution of soap and baking soda are the best grime busters for rubber parts.
Can vinegar ruin clothes? Vinegar is safe to use to clean your clothes and will not ruin them. However, it's a good idea to measure the right amount of vinegar to use and spot test your clothes before washing them. Vinegar is a great cleaner used to remove stains and odors out of clothes and shoes.
Before going further, we have to warn you: adding vinegar or baking soda to the wash along with your laundry detergent increases the risk of poorer cleaning performance, as detergents are optimized for a specific pH level, which is altered by the presence of these two household additives in the wash.
Due to the high pH in baking soda, it can make certain dyes fade, particularly with natural fibers like wool, cashmere, and silk. For these fabrics, vinegar is a better option for a natural detergent booster.
Mildly acidic (5 to 6 percent), white vinegar will not only soften clothes, but also freshen the scent, and it is especially effective at removing and preventing mildew odors. The mild acid is just strong enough to dissolve the residue alkaline soap residue, which is where the softening action comes from.