The answer to which is better, vinegar or fabric softener, really depends on the situation and your preference. Vinegar is a great, natural product that can be used to help reduce static cling, soften fabric, and remove odors from items.
It is also very affordable and not likely to irritate sensitive skin. On the other hand, fabric softeners typically contain chemicals such as cationic surfactants, stearic acid, and quats, which can irritate sensitive skin and coat fabrics with potentially irritating chemicals.
Additionally, depending on the type of laundry detergent that is used, fabric softener can reduce the cleaning performance of laundry detergent, leading to less-than-satisfactory results in terms of cleaning.
Overall, vinegar may be the preferred choice if you are looking to reduce static cling, soften fabric, and remove odors, while still providing a green solution. However, if you prefer using conventional fabric softeners, you may need to experiment to find one that is safe for sensitive skin and does not reduce the effectiveness of your laundry detergent.
How much vinegar do you use instead of fabric softener?
When substituting vinegar for fabric softener, the amount you use will depend on the size of your load of laundry. As a general guide, you should use approximately 1/2 cup to 1 cup of white vinegar. If you have a large load of laundry, you may need to use more vinegar.
Additionally, you may want to reduce the amount of vinegar for delicate fabrics. When using vinegar, it is important to add the vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser, or you can add it directly to the rinse cycle of the washing machine.
Additionally, you can use vinegar in your laundry as a fabric softener and disinfectant. Simply add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle, as opposed to the rinse cycle. You may also want to add a few drops of essential oils to the vinegar and water mixture to add a pleasant scent to your laundry.