Many of us rely on fabric softener to make our clothes feel fresher and softer, but did you know it might be doing more harm than good?
Commercial softeners can break down fabric fibres over time, leaving your favourite items worn out and lifeless.
Now there’s a natural alternative that will make your fabrics feel soft and smelling fresh.
Home guru Julia Hunt has amassed a following with her clever lifestyle tips and hacks to make housework that much easier and recently took to social media to share her home-made fabric softener and the two household ingredients she uses – white vinegar and orange peels.
In a video she uploaded to Instagram, Hunt posted: “Orange peel vinegar for your laundry? Yes please”.
To make Hunt’s solution, steep half a cup of orange peels in a large jar of white vinegar for two to three weeks, then strain and use half a cup per laundry load in either the rinse cycle or fabric softener compartment of your washing machine.
“It’s a simple swap that makes your clothes smell fresh, feel softer, and stay free of synthetic fragrances,” she explains.
While white vinegar is a well-known cleaning agent, it neutralises odours without leaving behind its own strong smell and softens washing by cutting through residue.
As well as their citrus scent, orange peel has antibacterial properties that help kill germs, and also contains citric acid that helps remove stains and brightens washing.
Many viewers were impressed by the results and thanked the cleaning guru for her simple and clever solution.
“Can’t wait to try!” one commented.
“Need to try this 👏 literally your genius Julia,” another added.
“Saving this one and trying it out 👏.”
“The best tips!”
“This is too easy, I must try it !”
If you’re looking for more tips around the laundry, another household guru has a trick to turn your ordinary towels into fluffy, hotel quality.
Enter Mama_Mila, a resourceful mum who is here to rescue your linen closet from crusty to plush. In her captivating TikTok video, Mama_Mila shares the secret sauce to achieving towels so soft you’ll think you’ve transported yourself to a high-end spa.
According to Mila, the trick starts with setting your washing machine temperature between 40C and 60C. Then, throw your towels in and add liquid detergent along with half a cup of plain white vinegar instead of fabric softener.
“Do the wash as normal, shake the towels and let them air dry … until nearly dry,” she wrote. “Then, tumble dry them for just a few minutes until they are completely dry. This will help with the softness and absorbency.”
@mama_mila_ Say goodbye to stiff, crusty towels 👋 #selfcare #selfcaretips #hometips #mumsoftiktok #tiktokwellness #learnontiktok #springcleaning #bathroomcheck ♬ American Boy (Live Acoustic) – VersaEmerge
Mila explained that the reason vinegar works so well as a substitute for fabric softener is that it “breaks down the residue from detergents, leaving the towels soft and fresh”.
The simple hack has prompted discussion as to what else you can wash with white vinegar instead of fabric softener, with many claiming that it has the same result for everything from sheets and towels to jeans and T-shirts.
“I never use fabric softener on my towels, I notice it ruins the original texture of the towels … but thank you for this tip!” one woman wrote.
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