Here's Why Zote Soap Can Be Used As A Powerful Fabric Softener

Zote soap has been a household staple for decades, and for good reason. Affordably priced at under $2, it is a multi-purpose powerhouse in the laundry room. It pretreats laundry, acts as a spot stain remover, brightens fabric, and is perfect for handwashing even the most delicate clothing. But did you know that Zote soap also works as a powerful fabric softener? This is thanks to its special formula that contains a key ingredient: tallow.

Tallow is made from rendered animal fat and is actually found in many commercial fabric conditioners. Because Zote soap includes the same ingredient, it will work similarly to soften your clothes as they wash. This might save you a step in your laundry routine, since Zote is a multi-purpose product that can act as a substitute for both laundry detergent and fabric softener at the same time. It will also save you from having to buy separate products, simplifying things even further. Here's all you need to know about tallow and your favorite Zote soap.

Tallow has become increasingly popular on social media, with content creators touting its many benefits, but it's a centuries-old staple with its first written reference dating back to the Bronze Age. However, many people don't actually know what it is. Tallow is the rendered-down fat taken from the organs of animals like cows and sheep. Its benefits come from being rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as being full of Omega fatty acids. Being a nutrient-rich product makes it ideal for cooking and skincare, and you can even use it to naturally deodorize your home.

When added to a laundry cycle, tallow works to soften your clothes in the same way store-bought products do. It coats the fibers (with a layer of positively charged molecules if you want to get scientific) which reduces the friction between the fibers and leads to your laundry feeling softer to the touch. This also helps to reduce static cling, another reason why people reach for the softener.

To get the fabric-softening benefits of tallow, you don't need to do anything differently than usual. Tallow is listed as the first ingredient of Zote soap, meaning it likely contains a large quantity so just using your normal amount of soap will still reap all the benefits. First, grate your Zote soap into flakes to make sure they dissolve in the water. Use one tablespoon of flakes per gallon of water if you are hand washing an item. If you want to use Zote soap in a washing machine, create your own DIY detergent by combining one cup of soap flakes, one cup of baking soda, one cup of washing soda, and one-half cup of borax. Use ½ cup of the mixture for standard washers and two tablespoons in a high-efficiency top or front-load washer. After the washing is complete, dry your clothes as you normally would and enjoy the 2-in-1 benefits of cleaning and softening your clothes at the same time.

But before you run out to grab a bar of Zote, remember this product might not be suitable for those who are vegetarian, vegan, or do not consume animal products for religious purposes. If you want to create your own laundry routine without using any animal byproducts, try making a laundry spot remover with Castile soap instead.