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You really can make your own homemade fabric softener with just two household ingredients. Not only is it incredibly easy to make, but it the cost is a whole lot less than a bottle of Downy!
How To Make Homemade Fabric Softener
Two-Ingredient Fabric Softener With Vinegar
Before you begin, be sure to gather the following ingredients together. These ingredients are easy to find, and very inexpensive! Feel free to use hair conditioner available at Dollar Tree for this recipe.
- 2 cups hair conditioner
- 3 cups white vinegar
- 6 cups hot water
Pour the hot water into a large mixing bowl. Add the conditioner to the hot water and stir with a whisk until combined. Next, add the white vinegar and stir again until completely smooth.
Pour your homemade fabric softener into the storage container. An empty shampoo or fabric softener bottle works great for this. {Just be sure that whatever container you choose has a tight-fitting lid}. For large laundry loads, use 1/4 cup of homemade fabric softener. Just add it to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine.
Baking Soda Fabric Softener
This fabric softener recipe is even easier than the first! And you only need one ingredient:
- Baking soda
Yes, it’s true that baking soda can soften the fabrics in your laundry. It isn’t quite as good as the first recipe, but in a pinch it definitely helps a lot, especially on towels! Just add 1/2 cup baking soda to your washing machine with the detergent. That’s it!
DIY Fabric Softener With Epsom Salt
Bonus! I have a third recipe for you, and it also has only two simple ingredients. For this one you need:
- One 2-lb bag of Epsom salt
- 30-40 drops Lavender essential oil {or your favorite scent}
For this recipe, dump the bag of Epsom salt into a large bowl. Add the essential oil and use a large fork or your fingers to thoroughly mix the oil into the salts. Once it is well mixed, store the scented Epsom salt in its original bag, or another resealable container. Use just a couple of tablespoons per large load.
Now that you know how to make homemade fabric softener, learn what an aspirin can do for your whites!
Great post!
I use wool dryer balls which means no fabric softener. Here is how I do laundry for myself and 3 furry dogs, (who make more laundry than I do!)
First, I live in drought ridden CA so I only do full loads. Next, one of the dogs has skin allergies and I went through almost every concoction and detergent known to man to find the right conbination. After all was said and done, I buy Sun Free and Clear detergent, as it is the only one that works for my particular situation. In the fabric softener cup I place a half cup (I can eyeball this), distilled white vinegar that I buy at Costco or Sam’s Club. Let the tub start filling and sprinkle in about a 1/3 cup baking soda and half or less of the recommended amount of detergent. Then let the washing machine do its thing! My stuff I can do in cold water and the dogs toys, blankets, bedding sometimes needs warm water. Then I have 4 wool dryer balks in the dryer. Now this process will be trial and error at first. Do not over dry your laundry. This is a contributing factor to static. No dryer sheets, no fabric softener, nothing! And your clothes will be nice and soft with no static. If you wish pretty smelling laundry, add a few drops off essential oil on one or two of the dryer balls. The dryer balls can be found on the internet, there are also instructions on Pinterest to make your own. If you live in the South, I have picked them up at Hamrick’s cheap! As low as $2 for 2 balls. When I am visiting my girlfriend in NC, and they have them, I buy out everything they have. And give as gifts to friends, who now, swear by them, as I do. Just a suggestion, as we all should do what works best for you and your family. I no longer have little kids and kids in football practice where there are horrible stains to deal with. Trust me, my dogs are almost as bad! Now enjoy doing your laundry!
Great am going to try it out and will keep you posted thank you so much