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Can anyone recommend a Green Fabric Conditioner

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Hi,
I am looking for a natural or as close to natural fabric conditioner for the washing machine - can anyone help?
Thanks in advance
Dief

Comments

  • geordie_joe
    geordie_joe Posts: 9,112 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi,
    I am looking for a natural or as close to natural fabric conditioner for the washing machine - can anyone help?
    Thanks in advance
    Dief

    Lots of people say vinegar is a very good fabric softener, and it doesn't make your clothes smell of vinegar. You can always put a few drops of essential oil in it to make it smell nice.

    Others say you don't need FS if you use soap nuts.

    Try looking on the moneysaving oldstyle board, they are bound to have more tips.
  • I use eco balls and you don't actually need a fabric softener when you use them as the little stones inside soften the water naturally and it really does.

    I absolutely love them and have used them for about 3 years now they work brilliantly.
  • madtrekker
    madtrekker Posts: 255 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    White vinegar def works. You just need a bit in the softner drawer. It makes your towels lovely and soft!
    As others have said, if using Eco Balls or soap nuts you don't need a separate softner.
  • kevana
    kevana Posts: 31 Forumite
    You could try using Ecover - an environmentally friendly range of cleaning products - they also do refills (if you can find a shop that offers this service) generally saving in both money and plastic bottles thrown away. Although I would say this is probably not the best budgetry wise unless you can do the refills.
  • earthmother
    earthmother Posts: 2,563 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    We've been using Tesco's own Naturally range for the last few months, and I'm very happy with it in terms of performance and price.

    I will admit I'm not entirely sure how eco it is compared to brands like Ecover (it's better than Lenor etc though), but on an ethical basis it does state that neither product nor ingredients are tested on animals either by or for Tesco - something that Ecover cannot say.

    :)
    DFW Nerd no. 884 - Proud to [strike]be dealing with[/strike] have dealt with my debts
  • Rowan9
    Rowan9 Posts: 2,226 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'm another convert to vinegar. Bonus is that it gets rid of any surplus soap and so doesn't make my skin itchy.
  • I haven't used fabric conditioner since I started using washable nappies 5 years ago and realise you really don't need it, just another product for us consumers to spend money on!

    Just a tablespoon of distilled vinegar (the clear one, not the malt vinegar you put on your chips) into the fc compartment will certainly help soften washing, get rid of residual detergent, plus you can add a drop or two of lavender or tea tree oil too for adding a nice whiff.

    Another tip is to cut down on the amount of detergent you use, this saves money as I now only use 1/2 the recommended dosage and also impact on the environment.
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