I would like to thank my dear friend Amy, who blogs at earthwisemama.wordpress.com, for her suggestion to use distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle to help strip the stink out of cloth diapers and also as a fabric softener for regular laundry!
I had stopped using fabric softener some time ago because I have sensitive skin and it was causing me some issues, not to mention the environmental factor and all the funky chemicals and perfumes that are contained in most softeners. So, we had scratchy towels, clothes, underwear, etc....
I have a high efficiency (he) front load washing machine, which I love! I have been adding the vinegar to the fabric softener compartment in the dispenser drawer and it has been working wonders on the cloth diapers to remove the leftover stink and also at softening our regular laundry. For those of you that have a front loader, you know that the tub can get that mildewy smell from being left damp after washing. I haven't noticed it at all with the vinegar. So, I think it's cleaning the wash bin as well! Bonus!
I actually enjoyed folding the towels last night because they were nice and fluffy and soft. The laundry doesn't have the perfume smell that it would from regular softener but it does smell fresh and clean! This is a cost effective, environmentally friendly way to soften fabrics. You can purchase a gallon of distilled white vinegar at Stop and Shop for $2.99 :)
Thanks, Amy!
I keep reading about how good this is. I left some clothes in my top loading washing machine and it left a bad smell in the washer. Probably from the wonderful detergent I used. I will be using this from now one as I know that what is on your clothes will seep into your skin so I appreciate the tip and that it works for you.
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