Ditch the fabric softener and save!

Reasons to avoid fabric softeners:

• They can cause a build-up of gunky residue called 'scrud' in your washing machine, which can end up on your clothes.
• Many fabric softeners contain harmful chemicals that can be bad for the environment and irritate sensitive skin. Typically, fabric softener contains three main ingredients – a conditioning agent, an emulsifier, and colouring and fragrance – as well as various stabilisers and preservatives to extend shelf life.
• Fabric softeners reduce absorbency in your towels, which can make them less effective at drying (which is their only job!).
• They can leave residue on your clothes, making them look dingy and dull, and attracting dirt and bacteria that can make them smell worse over time.
• Fabric softener can also reduce the fire retardancy of clothing.

Alternatives to fabric softeners:

• Add half a cup of white vinegar or a tablespoon of sodium bi-carb to your wash cycle to help soften your clothes and remove any lingering odours.  
• Lower the spin speed of your washing machine to avoid flattening the soft pile of your towels.
• A ball of aluminium foil in your clothes dryer may help to reduce static.  
• Throw a dry towel into your tumble dryer with clothes to soften fabric and reduce static.  
• A clean tennis ball in your dryer with your wet clothes will make them come out lovely and soft.
• Combine two parts water, one part sodium bicarb and one part vinegar in a bowl. Add two tablespoons into the fabric softener dispenser for each load of washing. You can also add a few drops of essential oil if you want to.  
• If you have a top loader washing machine, add a few spoonsful of sodium bicarb during the rinse cycle. Unfortunately, you can’t use this in a front loader as the door won’t open until the whole cycle has finished.
• Make your own fabric softener.

More money-saving ideas in the laundry!

Source: choice.com.au

‍