alternative to fabric softener

[PizPizPiz]

I wash with Ecover and I'm happy with it, but each time I hang my clothes outside to dry they end up very smelly. Must be something in the air. I'd like to find a natural and simple alternative to fabric softeners taht I could just put in the washing machine. Anyone?

Ecover do do their own fabric softener which we use when we use Ecover liquid as we had the same problem!!

How come I didn't think of that ... derr... Thanks

Vinegar Don't know how much just know that it's meant to work really well.

We use ecover fabric softner - helps on the softness but there isn't much fragrance (which can be a good thing as some of the mainstream brands are really over powering). I use vinegar on nappies/towels - the white kind - about half a cup. As I'm useing it for nappies I add a few drops of tea tree oil but I wonder if you added something like lavendar you would get a nice gentle scent. The vinegar helps soften crispy things and I think prob works especially well in hard water areas (if my CSE chemistry is right I think because the acid in the vinegar contreracts the alkali calcium carbonate in the water - I think)

I'm sure I red some posts on green living board that suggested using a drop or two of essential oil, lemon or lavender etc, haven't tried it though so don't take my word for it!!

hmm, will try the essential oil, thanks.

I've been using vinegar with a couple of drops of citrus essential oils - works a treat and the vinegar gets rid of the limescale in your w/machine

Please tell me more about Ecover! Does it really clean clothing, even sweaty, pooey, bloody, grass and food-stained things?

We've used ecover for years and I think its great and seems to work as well as any other non-bios. I use the liquid mainly - powders of whatever barnd seem to leave residue on our clothes. If clothes are really dirty or for whites that I want really white I use some ecover laundry bleach as well. They also do a stain remover which works well. I use the fabric softner as well and the softness is ok - but you don't get much fragrance (I don't like much but a bit more would be nice I guess)

careful with essential oils tho..would they not leavea film overtime inside the machine?