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 Chemical Softeners Can Cause Allergies: How To Make A Natural Fabric Softener

Chemical Softeners Can Cause Allergies: How To Make A Natural Fabric Softener

Conventional laundry softeners and fabric softeners can cause allergies. Here is a natural alternative based on vinegar and baking soda. Available on our supermarket shelves, fabric softeners are popular for several reasons. Topping the list is usually the pleasant feeling of softness they give to our freshly laundered clothes, accompanied by a delicious smell. However, their systematic use does not have only advantages, especially when we know that there are formidable natural alternatives, more respectful of the environment and less harmful to our health.

Chemical Softeners Can Cause Allergies

While popular for their softening ability and pleasant scent, fabric softeners are not all that alluring as they seem. To this end, the UFC-Que Choisir association advises you to make thoughtful purchases, taking into account certain potential risks that they may present.

Allergenic perfumes and preservatives

One of the important points to note, according to the Federal Consumers' Union, is that these products are made up of several chemicals, some of which have allergenic potential. Unfortunately, a majority of them would make the list.

Out of 18 products analyzed, experiences reveal that only 4 fabric softeners did not present any risk of allergy and therefore calls for the vigilance of people with asthma, allergies or sensitive. Children are also at risk because the product permeates laundry and anyone vulnerable to any of its allergenic components can be exposed to it through clothing, bed linen or towels. It is therefore important to read the labels carefully before making a purchase to choose the most suitable product.

The association also stresses that we should not blindly trust fabric softeners with the words “sensitive skin”, “dermatologically tested” or “hypoallergenic”, some of them still containing an allergenic component.

This would have been the case with 5 out of 8 products tested by UFC-Que Choisir, although they all claim to be suitable for sensitive skin.

Finally, you should know that in general, the use of a fabric softener is recommended only in hard water and on cotton.

For this purpose, it can be beneficial to use it only when necessary and to take a few more minutes in the supermarket to make sure to choose the right product by reading the labels. Even better, opt for a natural fabric softener that will only require a few moments of preparation.

How to prepare your own natural fabric softener?

For this you will need the following ingredients:

- 3 cups of apple cider vinegar

- 2 cups of baking soda

- 200 ml of hot water

- 20 drops of essential oil with the fragrance of your choice (optional)

Preparation of natural laundry softener

1. Get a 4-liter plastic container and mix together the apple cider vinegar, baking soda and hot water. Be aware that these ingredients create a chemical reaction that causes bubbles. It will therefore be necessary to wait for the latter to calm down and for the liquid level to decrease.

2. Then pour the mixture into a glass jar. You will keep your fabric softener there.

3. To give your concoction a pleasant scent, you can add the essential oil of your choice. A few drops are enough.

4. Finally, seal the bottle tightly and then shake it so that the ingredients mix properly.

Tips for using natural fabric softener

Your fabric softener is finally ready and you can now think of it as your natural homemade household product.

Before using it, be sure to shake the preparation well, then use 4 tablespoons of your product per machine.

Another ecological solution thanks to white vinegar

The peculiarity of white vinegar for laundry is that it leaves no odor once it has dried. In addition to being completely natural and effective, it works by dissolving the limescale contained in the water. This prevents it from getting stored on the fabric, which makes it even softer!