Most infant and child sleepwear is designed to be fire resistant for safety reasons. Lipids and wax from fabric softener residue can cause the fabric to lose its fire-resistance quality-and even make it highly flammable. Instead of using fabric softener or a dryer sheet, add vinegar to the rinse cycle in the washer. It will soften the fabric and reduce static cling. For those extra static clingy PJs (you know the ones), do the vinegar rinse in the washer AND add a foil ball to the dryer cycle for good measure.
Uh-oh!! Is it too late if I already used fabric softener on one (or more) of these items? Nope…it’s not too late! Don’t throw them out just yet! Most items CAN be saved with a “stripping” process. To do this, run items thru a hot cycle with 1 teaspoon of concentrated dish soap, such as Dawn. DO NOT ADD LAUNDRY DETERGENT. Then, run the same load thru another hot cycle with 1 cup of white vinegar. AGAIN, DO NOT ADD ANY DETERGENT. That should remove any residue build-up on your clothing.
For hand wash only (or hand wash recommended) items, soak overnight in hot water with 1 tsp dawn dish soap. Then, rinse and soak overnight again in hot water with 1-2 cups of white vinegar. Last, rinse thoroughly and air dry.
Soften and reduce static cling with these gentle, fabric-friendly options:
Vinegar Rinse
Add ½ cup distilled white vinegar into your washer’s softener dispenser (or use a Downy ball). The smell will disappear in the dryer.
Wool Dryer Balls
You can find wool dryer balls on Amazon for about the same price as a couple of bottles of fabric softener except these will last A LOT longer. Toss 5-6 into the dryer to soften a load of clothes. They’ll also help larger loads dry more quickly and evenly.
Foil Dryer Ball
Grab the Aluminum foil from the cabinet, pull a 12”-18” sheet and crush it into a ball. Toss one into the dryer to reduce static. The ball will shrink and tighten as it’s used. Replace once the edges begin to crack or pull apart.
It’s easy to see how fabric softening products have gained popularity…who doesn’t want soft, fresh smelling laundry, RIGHT? Well…sometimes fabrics feel how they are designed to feel. If you prefer more soft and supple clothes and linens, stick to natural fiber fabrics. Splurge on higher quality fabrics and you’ll still save money by skipping store-bought softeners- PLUS your clothes will last longer! You can also soften and reduce static with safe, eco-friendly alternatives.
How do you avoid fabric softeners and keep your clothes/ linens to your preferred softness? We’d love to hear your tried and true tips & tricks!
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