Laundry Stuff & Fabric Softener

[FelineNine]

Hey all! I was just curious what everyone here uses for doing laundry...

I was hoping to find an all natural/inexpensive soap and softener to use. I tend to go through a lot because I don't have many clothes and just wash what I do own regularly...

My boyfriend was telling me how a lot of fabric sofeners use animals fats and other animal products, and I know most companies test on animals as well. Well of course I don't use this softener anymore! But I now have crazy static problems.

Someone suggested I should use straight vinegar to soften clothes in the wash, has anyone else tried this? I used it on a batch of towels and I couldn't really see any difference.

Also...I don't own any really nice articles of clothing that need special care, save for a few pairs of underware...

Thanks in advance!

[m4rk0]

Anyone have experience with those laundry magnets (http://www.lifenatural.com/laundry.htm)? I was always curious if they actually work.

[Simply_Love]

I use straight vinager in my wash as a softener. Works great and kind of gives your clothes a sunfresh smell :) You have to use quite a bit, about a cup for a large load, but vinager is very cheap so it won't be expensive for you to use it.

As for my washing liquid, I use Seventh Generation Free and Clear Ultra Concentrate. It lasts me a good three months doing about two large loads every week(and thats with the small bottle).

[MrFalafel]

For fabric softener I use this:

2 parts baking soda/bicarbonate of soda
4 parts water
2 parts vinegar
a few drops of essential oil (I use lemon)

Place it all in a bottle with a lid. Shake before use and put about 1/4 cup in as fabric softener.

Works pretty well, even in the hard water area where I live.

[SheThrowsDown]

For laundry soap I use soapnuts. Very cheap and work really well. I'm on the blackberry so its hard to find and post links but you can google soapnuts.
For softener I use straight vinegar :)

[Star*Shine]

Purexx has a natural colorant free enviromental pkg, that smells like lillies, and it was cheap..

[Veg Mommy]

I am curious about vinegar. I would think your clothes would smell sour and smell like you been eating pickles *hehe* but seems everyone says it works well and smells fresh. I gotta try it!

[Simply_Love]

I am curious about vinegar. I would think your clothes would smell sour and smell like you been eating pickles *hehe* but seems everyone says it works well and smells fresh. I gotta try it!

Haha, I thought that's what would happen as well before I tried it with my rat's laundrey, but then their things smelt so good I do it to all my laundrey now :)

[JessEpiphany]

Interesting. I just hung a clothesline today (so I can use my dryer as little as possible this summer) and was looking to see what was a good fabric softener. I think I will try the vinegar.

[dirtytreehugger]

Anyone know if the Arm & Hammer Essential Lavender dryer sheets have animal fat in them? I've tried a few vegan ones and I'm not completely happy with their performance. And yes I know about alternatives, dryer balls, etc....I'm specifically looking for a dryer sheet.

[dirtytreehugger]

Interesting. I just hung a clothesline today (so I can use my dryer as little as possible this summer) and was looking to see what was a good fabric softener. I think I will try the vinegar.

a good liquid one for when I hang dry is Ecover.