Having soft sheets and soft clothing is very important to me. I love crawling into a freshly washed bed after a long day. The little Snuggles bear is truly a marketing genius because that cuddly little guy 100% encompasses the feeling of soft sheets! So I was extremely surprised to hear that the Allergy and Environmental Health Association states that both liquid and dryer sheet fabric softeners are "the most toxic products produced for daily household use."
Before you start freaking out and accepting that the rest of your days will be spent crawling into paper-like sheets, there are alternatives that will detox your laundry and leave it just as soft as the commercial brands.
Seperate Your Clothes
When drying try to remove the synthetic fabrics from the more natural fabrics. Cotton, bamboo, hemp, and linen are best dried together. Polyester and other synthetics should be removed from your home completely, or for a less drastic route, just dry them on their own.
Baking Soda
Simply add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the water when washing your cloths. Be sure to let it dissolve completely before adding your cloths. I like this best because it softens the water and makes your clothes super soft! You can also add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil or make your own laundry detergent.
Vinegar
Add a cup of vinegar to the wash, it isn't as effective as baking soda but it does work!
Natural Fabric Softeners
Most health food stores will carry some natural fabric softeners. My opinion is that if you can make your own detergent and fabric softener why spend the money.
