hanging clothes out to dry and being stiff??

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

Were living in Mexico right now and i have a drier but we cant plug it in...long story....so i hang everything out to dry and the clothes are so stiff...i use fabric softner and you cant even tell....any ideas natural one's prefered on how to keep clothes soft.....i know if i iron them that helps....but that's out of the questions right now....to hot to iron everything...

[Phantaja]

I live in Michigan. I know nothing of this warmth in which to dry clothing of which you speak.

However, during our 10 minute summer, I use a little less detergent and vinegar instead of softener and my clothes aren't quite so stiff.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

vinegar smell? no...i love ur post to funny

[Phantaja]

Your clothes won't smell like vinegar. Cross my heart.

[cornflake girl]

I hang ours inside the house and they are not at all stiff like outside hung clothes. Maybe because they dry slower? Who knows, anyway, they feel like they've been dried in the dryer.

[thixle]

Vinegar!!!
It really doesn't smell when it's dry-- and makes clothes sooooo soft when they are line dried (so much better than softener).

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

So how much do you use for a load and where do you put it? Where you would put the softner? What type of vinegar is better the white or apple vinegar?

[Phantaja]

I use plain white vinegar, about a half cup I guess, (2 or 3 second pour) in the rinse cycle for a full load.

[Mommy2anangel]

Agree with the vinegar. There won't be a vinegar smell.

[noahandlinasmom]

In the summer I hang our clothes out to dry, they get stiff, but soften within a few minutes of being worn.

[jee'smom]

i plan on buying the downy ball, putting the vinegar in that, and tossing it in the wash. i heard that works well. anyone do that?

[blairhoney]

Originally Posted by jee'smom

i plan on buying the downy ball, putting the vinegar in that, and tossing it in the wash. i heard that works well. anyone do that?

Yup, works great! Just be aware that vinegar shouldn't be used in a load that has athletic clothes (or so I've been told).

[Dovesong]

I am not into softener. Have never used it. We actually like stiff towels for the exfoliating, invigorating benefit!

[jee'smom]

what abouit on cloth diapers?

[mamasee]

Originally Posted by jee'smom

what abouit on cloth diapers?

Vinegar is great for helping to really rinse out any soap residue on the cloth diapers. But it is not recommended for some (or all?) wraps. So, either wash those separately or take them out and do a separate rinse only with vinegar for the diapers.