Homemade Fabric Softener
I’m telling you, this was so easy that I cannot understand why I didn’t do this before.
Mix 1 cup baking soda with 2 cups hot water. Stir until the powder is well mixed (it will not fully dissolve).
Add 1 cup white vinegar. The soda and the vinegar are going to react and bubble all around.
Stir until well combined.
That is it. You have now made homemade fabric softener for pennies on the dollar.
Add ¼ cup to your rinse cycle. You can even put it in a Downy ball if you’re like me and never remember to add anything to the rinse cycle. It’s more than the line for the Downy ball, though – so until you learn how much it is, go ahead and measure the ¼ cup.
I’m storing mine in a mason jar with a lid. The baking soda will settle, so I have it in something I can shake up before measuring out.
My loads washed with my homemade laundry soap with this homemade fabric softener are soft and smell wonderful. The clothes come clean, and I feel good knowing how much money I’m saving with every load.
Hallee
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Oh this is just brilliant. I’m trying it today. Thanks for sharing!
This is super! I am just about out of softener and was going to have to buy more next week! Can’t wait to try this! Thanks for sharing :-)
Love the idea of using the Downy ball! Thanks!
When our boys were still in diapers (we used exclusively cloth with both), I would put vinegar in the rinse because it got off any soap buildup. I never would have thought to do this though! Off to check your homemade laundry soap now!
not to mention knowing EXACTLY what is going onto your clothes and what chemicals don’t have to YAY!!
Once my free fabric softener is gone I will do this.
You rock! I am gonna try this out ! Thanks!
This is awesome! Question: Can you add essential oils to it to add a bit of scent, or would that not be a good idea?
I just popped back onto this site to ask the same question. I’ve used the solution for the past 4 loads today, and I like it! Just wondering if I could add lavender oil without ruining the load.
Yes – you definitely can use some essential oils. I’d start with about 10 drops and see if you need more.
Yes- you definitely can use some essential oils. I’d start with about 10 drops and see if you need more.
Awesome, thanks!
Great idea… I’m definitely going to have to try this! Thanks for sharing!
This is wonderful, Halle! I’m going to try it today..thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Lisa
You are so frugally clever! :)
Can I be you when I grow up?
I can’t wait to try this out! Thanks for sharing!
sharing this recipe with my friends thanks for sharing it with me I will let them all know where they can find the same tip come see what I shared at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
have you actually done a cost comparison for how much a load you are saving using homemade laundry soap and fabric softener? If you have and posted I must have missed it.
No. I need to. It’s a cost of pennies on the dollar, I know – I just haven’t done the actual math. I will.
Does this help with static?
Not that I could see.
To prevent static in your laundry throw in a couple of balls made from aluminum foil. Believe me it really works! I use the heavy duty foil and crumple them up to about the size of a baseball. (not softball) This may sound weird but I even use used foil! Theres usually not anything on it when you take it off a dish whether out of the oven or fridge and if there is you can clean it off. So don’t throw that foil away! Use it in your dryer to prevent static cling!
I was never able to get the baking soda to dissolve… What did I do wrong?! I did triple the recipe you gave. Can you not make it in larger batches? Was my water not hot enough?! Help!
Mine never dissolved fully. I have to shake the container before using it every time. The original recipe I read said “dissolve” and when I was typing up the recipe, I should have noted that. I’ll adjust the recipe right now.
This is a great idea! I’ve recently been struggling with build-up odors in my HE Washer, and some of the suggestions are to use vinegar and/or baking soda in a load once a month to keep the washer and drum clean– Do you think using this solution as a fabric softener would do double duty in that way?
I don’t know if it will or not. Vinegar and baking soda neutralize each other. I don’t know if that chemical process happening would affect cleaning the washer and drum. But, it’s worth a try!
There are special tablets you buy at Lowes to clean out the front load washer once a month. I know it may cost a bit more but eventhough I have started making my own laundry soap and such, I do go to the tablets to actually clean my washer as I want it done right without taking chances of buildup. Believe me, I didn’t know about the once a month tablet thing with my first front loader which I bought almost 10 years ago and they didn’t even have those tablets then. I just kept thinking we had a sewer problem that just no one could figure out and I finally found out it was the washer all along………….how GROSS LOL………no really, laughing aside, it was pretty gross and I’m not taking any chances with my new front loader LOL
I had the same issue with my LG washer..stinking..I did a lot of research online and found out that the front loaders have a filter that needs cleaned out regularly. I found a natural product on Amazon that is called No More Stinky Washer, that helps clean it out and it is way cheaper than the stuff at the stores with chemicals. Not a huge fan of using bleach, but it is recommended to wipe out the rubber seal as well. Leaving the washer door open after wiping it out each time really helped as well. I just keep an old cloth on top of the washer and when the last load is done get down in that seal and dry it out, wipe off the window, and leave it open! Good luck!
Can I put it directly into the fabric softener compartment in my HE washer?
Yes, I’d think so. If the water runs through there to rinse it out, then definitely. The problem is that the baking soda doesn’t dissolve – it just mixes in really well. So, after it settles, it separates. If the water doesn’t rush through the fabric softener compartment to rinse it out, then it’s possible that there will be quite a bit of baking soda residue. So, check it and see how it works.
Just curious…did you try this in your he washer? If so how did it work out? Thank you!
Yes I tred and it worked great! Tks
be careful of the essential oils though. Some oils can permanently stain clothing.
[...] my own. That way, it would be frugal and all natural. I found a recipe for fabric softener here on Hallee the Homemaker. I tried it out tonight and was impressed by how simple it was. We’ll see if Stephen’s [...]
[...] recipe for Homemade Fabric Softener is so simple and inexpensive to make! You only [...]
Thanks, what a wonderful savings! I am glad to use Shaklee detergent… which cleans fresh and last months. I think w/ this combo (since both are natural)… I will have some pretty clean smelling nifty laundry!! :)
I was told by a washer/dryer repairman that the odor from high efficiency dryers come from adding too much detergent and most especially from adding too much softener, so this could work out nicely, I would think.
Hello, thank you for the fabric softener recpie. If you use the “washing baking soda” it will dissolve all the way. I love all this homemade stuff..makes me feel good to make it myself. :)
My research indicates that you do not use washing soda in fabric softener. That is in the homemade laundry detergent. You use baking soda for the fabric softener.
Washing soda is not the same was bicarb baking soda – if that’s what you’re talking about. They do different things within the wash.
thats because youre supposed to use WASHING soda, not baking soda, its found in the laundry aisle.
My research indicates that you do not use washing soda in fabric softener. That is in the homemade laundry detergent. You use baking soda for the fabric softener.
Washing soda is not the same was bicarb baking soda. They do different things within the wash.
all of the softener recipes ive seen only call for vinegar water and conditioner which seems to work really well:)
I am going to try this but use a dab of my softner that I currently have until it runs out! I then will just add a little conditionar to get that smell will let you know how it went!
When you mix baking soda and vinegar together they are both neutralized, making them pretty ineffecitve. Just vinegar works well, but can breakdown the fibres of clothing. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/baking-soda-and-vinegar-together.html
Will the ball work with a front loader? I thought it might open early in the wash cycle because of the way the front loaders lift and drop the wash load.
I love this recipe. I store mine in a large reused coffee mate creamer container. The lid is hinged and my measuring cup sits perfectly on top.
SO THANKFUL TO GET THIS RECIPE, i USE THE LAUNDRY SOAP ALL THE TIME, AND HAVE GOT MY TWO GIRLS USING IT, WE ALL LOVE IT. AND THIS IS A + TO GET THIS RECIPE, THANK U
I was wondering if you have ever used the vinegar, water, and conditioner version. I made it and although my clothes have gotten their bright colors back, it hasn’t softened them. Does this actually make them softer?