Fabric Softener

[notyourusual]

I'm really wanting to find an alternative to using regular fabric softener. We have extremely hard water and without fabric softener, our clothes come out feeling like crackers!!! I've tried Seventh Generations and it didn't make any difference whatsoever. Is there something else that I can use that isn't bad for the environment and will soften my clothes?

[Melissaak]

You could try a downy ball with white vinegar in it. Very effective for cloth diapers

[missgabs]

This may be a stupid question, but does using vinegar make your clothes smell like vinegar, or does the smell wash out?

[missgabs]

Another question: how much vinegar should you use?

[chasmyn]

The smell washes out. And with a downy ball, just fill to the same line as you would with fabric softener. If you want a particular smell, a few drops of essential oil on a washcloth in the dryer helps.

[MaryLang]

For fabric softener I use 1 part vinegar, 1 part baking soda and a few drops of EO, I put it in my downey ball, just a little bit, I don't really measure, but it makes the clothes so fresh and soft!
Oh, and I mix the baking soda and vinegar in a gal. bucket, it really fizzes at first as you can imagine, but then it stops. Then I pour it in a plastic shaker bottle, as it needs to be shaken before use.