Softeners: 7 natural alternatives to traditional chemicals

Softeners: 7 natural alternatives to traditional chemicals

Who would ever give up the softness of a clean and fragrant garment? Despite the commercials persuading us to buy all kinds of softeners: from the most fragrant to the most concentrated, from the cheapest to the most effective ... let's not be fooled: chemical softeners are one of the most toxic products for home use. Most of the chemical softeners, common on the market, contain substances that are not biodegradable at all.



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Who would ever give up the softness of a clean and fragrant garment? Despite the commercials they persuade us to buy all kinds of softeners: from the most fragrant to the most concentrated, from the cheapest to the most effective ... let's not be fooled: chemical softeners I am one of the more toxic products for home use. Most of the chemical softeners, popular on the market, contain substances that are not biodegradable at all.

The components are predominantly esterquats, additives, perfumes, thickeners or pearls and dyes. These are substances (additives, phosphates, pentane, limonene, benzyl acetate, artificial colors) that are highly polluting for the environment and harmful to human health. They can trigger allergic reactions, asthma, dermatitis, especially in children and the most sensitive subjects, as well as damage to the nervous system. Correlations have been found between the onset of diseases such as cancer, liver and kidney damage and the use of conventional fabric softeners containing these toxic substances. Despite everything, the solution is there!

Are you ready argive up commercial softeners without depriving yourself of the softness of the fabrics? Just follow our six tips to detox your laundry and make it more and more natural and ecological:

Index

1) Baking soda

Dissolve half a glass of SODIUM BICARBONATE in water and add in the washing machine for washing clothes. Baking soda reduces the static electricity of the tissuesie softens the water (in chemistry it is defined as a "buffer substance")

2) Tennis balls

Static electricity is the reason why fabrics, without softening substances, dry out and become electrified by rubbing. To eliminate this inconvenience, ask for a loan TWO TENNIS BALLS to some inveterate player maybe your neighbor! Strange, but true: letting them roll in the porthole will make your clothes softer and more ecological than ever. The only disadvantages that can make this method impractical are a possible one allergy to rubber from the balls o the polluting effect on clothing caused by that particular process called off-gassing generated by calue produced during washing and the contact between rubber and fabrics.



3) Vinegar

An alternative such as softening can be the addition of a glass of VINEGAR with washing water. The important thing is not to pour it directly on the clothes, but only in the special basket, separate from the detergent, so that the two substances do not collide, mutually canceling their effect.

READ also: Vinegar: 30 alternative uses

4) Aluminum sheets

Another alternative to reduce static electricity is to insert a ALUMINIUM SHEET ball-crumpled in the washing machine along with the clothes. It will make even the most delicate garments soft despite the widespread thesis according to which excessive exposure toaluminum it can cause adverse health effects.

READ also: Aluminum sheets: 10 creative reuses

5) Divide the laundry

Another tip for reducing static electricity is to divide the laundry separating natural fabrics from synthetic ones, which are guilty of electrifying clothes to a greater extent than natural fibers such as cotton, Bamboo, hemp and flax.

6) Citric Acid

Un Homemade laundry softener can be prepared simply by dissolving inside a clean plastic container, into which you will have poured 500 ml of tap water, 20 g of citric acid (3 tablespoons). It is recommended that you use a bottle with cap, so you can shake it before use. Calculate to use about 50 ml of the product obtained for each washing in the washing machine, pouring the softener into the special compartment. To obtain an effective and fragrant fabric softener, add 5 drops of lavender essential oil.



READ ALSO: Citric acid: 10 ways to use it at home and where to find it

7) Natural softeners (purchased in bulk)

If the do-it-yourself is not your strong point, you can try some of the natural and ecological softeners, available in the best home improvement stores, organic supermarkets, fair trade shops, but now also in large distribution chains, preferring bio-ecological ones sold in bulk.

We remind you that buying fabrics that are as natural as possible ensures a soft-proof wash. To save time and money and above all for health and the environment this and more!

Michela Silvestri

READ also:

5 detergents for the laundry do-it-yourself

8 ways NOT to use vinegar

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