How can you soften your laundry and make your clothes softer?
Looking to soften your laundry without chemicals? White vinegar, lemon, baking soda… Discover how to soften your laundry naturally with simple, economical solutions to restore softness and comfort to your clothes.
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Why does your laundry become rough?
The main causes
There are several factors that explain why you need to soften your laundry regularly. Limescale in the water builds up on the fibers and makes them stiff. Excess detergent leaves residues that trap the fibers. Insufficient rinsing prevents the products from being completely removed. Finally, improper drying breaks the fibers and hardens the fabric.
Therefore, softening laundry requires addressing these different causes with natural and effective solutions.
The limitations of industrial fabric softeners
Conventional fabric softeners often contain chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin. In addition, they leave residues on textile fibers, which can reduce the lifespan of your clothes. Therefore, opting for natural solutions to soften laundry has many advantages: savings, respect for the environment, and better preservation of your textiles.
Are you looking for professional care for your delicate fabrics?
White vinegar: the miracle solution for softening laundry
How to use it
White vinegar is one of the best solutions for naturally softening laundry. When doing your laundry, simply pour white vinegar into the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine. Use 100 to 150 ml for a full load.
Don’t worry: the smell of vinegar will not linger on your clothes. It will disappear completely during the wash cycle.
Multiple benefits
White vinegar has many properties that effectively soften laundry:
- Deeply softens fabric fibers
- Removes detergent residue that makes laundry stiff
- Descales the washing machine and combats limescale
- Fixes the colors of clothes
As a result, it is an economical and effective solution for softening laundry while maintaining your machine.
Have your colors lost their brightness?
Lemon to combat limescale
Why is lemon effective?
In washing machines, clothes are often exposed to limescale, which makes them rough. Lemon juice dissolves limescale and therefore effectively softens laundry. To use it, replace the fabric softener with 100 ml of lemon juice for a full load.
The benefits of lemon
Lemon also has additional properties:
- Natural bleaching for white laundry
- Deodorizing to eliminate unpleasant odors
- Antibacterial for healthier laundry
- Descaling to remove limescale deposits
Lemon is therefore particularly effective for softening white laundry and fabrics that tend to yellow.
Baking soda: versatile and effective
Use in the washing machine
If you want to soften your laundry when washing it in the machine, add a coffee cup of baking soda to the detergent and you’re done! Baking soda acts as a pH regulator that softens hard water.
In addition, baking soda neutralizes odors and boosts the effectiveness of your detergent. This means you can use less detergent.
Hand treatment for delicate fabrics
For hand washing, you can either soak the laundry in hot water with baking soda added, or add a tablespoon of baking soda to the final rinse water.
This method is particularly suitable for softening delicate items such as fragile items or baby clothes.
Don’t have time to do your laundry? Take advantage of our laundry service by the kilo for professional washing without the hassle.
Homemade recipe for long-lasting fabric softener
Ingredients for natural fabric softener
Here is a complete and effective recipe for naturally softening laundry. It consists of mixing three simple ingredients:
- ½ liter of water
- ½ liter of white vinegar
- 10 drops of essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus, or lemon)
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly in a bottle. Then, pour a mustard glass (about 100 ml) into the rinse compartment of the washing machine with each wash. This recipe softens your laundry while delicately perfuming your clothes. What’s more, you can prepare a large quantity in advance and store it for several months.
Drying techniques for softer laundry
Steam from the iron
On cotton or linen items, steam from the iron can effectively soften the laundry. The heat and moisture relax the fabric fibers that have stiffened during washing. So, iron your clothes while they are still slightly damp with a steam iron for best results.
Using the dryer
The same applies to dryer steam, which softens and smooths laundry. However, be careful not to overload the machine so that the laundry can move freely.
For best results, add wool dryer balls to the drum. They separate the fibers and make the laundry even softer.
Want to avoid laundry mistakes?
Expert tips for long-lasting fabric softening
Best practices for washing
To soften your laundry for the long term, follow these expert tips:
- Don’t overload the washing machine
- Use the right amount of detergent (too much detergent makes laundry rough)
- Choose low-temperature programs (30°C)
- Shake clothes before hanging them up to relax the fibers
These simple steps will significantly improve the softness of your laundry on a daily basis.
When should you call in a professional?
According to the French Textile and Clothing Institute (IFTH), some fabrics require professional treatment to maintain their original softness. In particular, down comforters, cashmere throws, and thick curtains can become rough if washed incorrectly at home.
In this case, our 5àsec dry cleaners have the right equipment to safely soften delicate laundry.
Entrust your delicate fabrics to the experts at 5àsec
Want to soften your laundry, but some items require professional treatment? Our 5àsec dry cleaners use gentle, fiber-friendly techniques to preserve the softness of your precious textiles.
Find a 5àsec dry cleaner near you to soften your laundry