Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe?

Updated on June 25, 2010
A.B. asks from Coffeyville, KS
7 answers

Hello! A couple of months ago, I got a homemade laundry detergent recipe from this site :). Its awesome! Now, I'm wondering if any of you make your own fabric softener. Thank you so much!
I'd like to add that I am hanging them on a clothes line to dry (helps my home stay cooler). Otherwise I don't use softener when I use the dryer.

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So What Happened?

I tried the vinegar. Wendy is right, no "A. freshness". Since I'm hanging them on a clothes line, they smelled like outside. But they were softer. I will definitly try those dryer balls this winter, sounds worth the money. :)
Here is the recipe that I use: Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap Recipe 4 Cups hot tap water 1bar of soap 1 Cup Washing Soda ½ Cup Borax Use an old pan, and an old spoon. Grate or finely cut up one bar of soap Place ground soap in the pan with the 4 cups of water, on the stove top over low heat. Stir constantly until soap dissolves and blends with the water Use a clean 5 gallon bucket with a lid Fill bucket half full with hot water Add the melted soap and water mixture to this bucket Add the washing soda and borax Stir all ingredients until they combine Fill the bucket to the top with water You can add 10 drops of an essential oil like lavendar (optional) Cover the bucket and let it cool and set up overnight In the morning it will turn into a big bucket of thick gel Stir it up and It will turn into a liquidy lumpy jello consistancy I use a huge paint stirrer attachment (the kind used to stir 5 gal buckets of paint) on the end of a cordless drill to stir mine because I had trouble finding a spoon long enough to reach the bottom of a 5 gal bucket and do a good job mixing well. I had also been saving liquid laundry soap containers for awhile and just filled some up using a funnel and then store the remainder in the back of a closet in the bucket. Only fill the containers 3/4 full so you have wiggle room to shake before each use. If you go online, you will find everything you need - I just had it delivered to my local hardware store and there was no shipping charge. I have also seen all of the stuff at my local hardware store and/or Walmart.
Thank you all for your input.

More Answers

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

The simplest and cheapest softener is 1/2 – 3/4 cup of vinegar added to the final rinse. This not only has a similar action on the fibers as commercial softeners, which are acidic like vinegar, but it further cleans the fabrics, helping to strip remaining detergents out in the rinse. It's a good deodorizer, too. Towels and washcloths will come out more absorbent after a few washes if they have become coated with commercial softeners, which repel water.

If you need something that cuts static electricity in very dry weather, I add up to 1 capful of an unscented hair conditioner to the final rinse. Dilute in a cup of water first so it will diffuse through the wash, or you can get greasy looking spots.

I had to figure these out after becoming sensitive to all scented products. I also learned that most commercial softeners contain really toxic ingredients. No child's skin or lungs should be exposed to those nasties.

1 mom found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

I used to be a linen buyer for a high end store. You may want to consider going with out any softners.. Do you rememebr how soft your grandmothers sheets were and wondered how she got them so soft? She probably only purchase 100% bed and bath linens and did not use any softners.

Linen manufacturers, really do not recommend any type of fabric softners for good linens, especially the items you are using to dry off with. The softner attaches to the fabrics and leaves a coating, leaving the items less absorbent. Have you noticed that when you first purchased towels they are so fluffy and absorbent, but after a while they do not feel the same? Or the Terry bath robe you purchased be cause it was so soft is now not as fluffy and soft? This is because of the softner.

The softner on your sheets will leave a coating that eventually wears down the fibers, especially in the dryer.

The best thing to do is use a good detergent and skip any type of softners or dryer sheets..

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Vinegar is a natural fabric softener. The smell rinses out, but unfortunately doesn't leave an 'A. fresh' scent behind.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from Detroit on

Due to allergies and the knowledge that fabric softeners aren't really healthy we purchased dryer balls 2 are in place of softner and the other 2 are for static. We love them and our clothes are softer and they still smell fresh! We bought them at ACO and they were really inexpensive!

Kay

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.J.

answers from Baton Rouge on

Suggest you go to yahoo, i guess google would also hellp, and put in = home made fabrid softener = u wl c ooodles

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.M.

answers from Nashville on

I used to be an avid fabric softener user, especially since I lived in the desert. I used those dryer balls on my son's laundry when he was a baby, and they do work pretty well. I don't know if they would be good enough in a really dry climate, but with some humidity they are ok.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.P.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I second the vinegar, that is all I ever use (and no your clothes won't smell like it).

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