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How to Make Homemade Fabric Softener

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Make Homemade Fabric Softener

How to Make Homemade Fabric Softener

This "recipe" makes a quart that fits well into the regular size store bought bottles. But it only cost me $0.63 to make!

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Step 1 of 8
Gather your supplies. I use a hair conditioner that is at a bargain price with the scent I like.

Gather your supplies. I use a hair conditioner that is at a bargain price with the scent I like.

Step 2 of 8
Measure out 1 cup of hair conditioner.

Measure out 1 cup of hair conditioner.

Step 3 of 8
Add 1 1/2 cups water.

Add 1 1/2 cups water.

Step 4 of 8
Mix well.

Mix well.

Step 5 of 8
Measure out 1 1/2 cups vinegar and mix again.

Measure out 1 1/2 cups vinegar and mix again.

Step 6 of 8
All mixed up!

All mixed up!

Step 7 of 8
Pour into your empty store bought container.

Pour into your empty store bought container.

Step 8 of 8
Add the "recipe" and use as normal. For HE USERS...Use the amount you normally do with "regular" fabric softener. I use 1/2 the amount it calls for on my HE!

Add the "recipe" and use as normal. For HE USERS...Use the amount you normally do with "regular" fabric softener. I use 1/2 the amount it calls for on my HE!

You're Done

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Married to my Best Friend, Mother of Three Wonderful Children, Nurse at a Children's Hospital and Love..Love Getting a Bargain!

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17 Comments
Supplies
Embed

1 Cup Hair Conditioner

1 ½ Cups Vinegar

1 ½ Cups Water

Amanda Greensworth

I'm interested too Johanna!! You should do it!!!

Amanda Greensworth 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

I use food safe white vinegar.

(author) 9 months ago

Valerie Brown

What kind of vinegar?

Valerie Brown 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

No problem Marina..Johanna should do a guide!

(author) 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

You are welcome Yuli.

(author) 9 months ago

Yuli Fitria

Thank you for tips.

Yuli Fitria 9 months ago

Marina Gonzales Piperidis

Not to hijack this guide but I'm intrigued about Johanna's use of vinegar for dish washing! I broke a favorite glass last week because it slid right through my hands and onto the floor.. you should make a guide about how you use it with dish soap!

Marina Gonzales Piperidis 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

Great idea by the way Johanna! I'm gonna start doing that. I bet that would work great in one of those foaming pumps..uh-oh...what about hand soap pumps...Great Idea!

(author) 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

Amanda, the ph level of the vinegar creates softer water, thus softens the clothes...the chemical makeup of vinegar attracts it to soap, thus drawing out the soap not rinsed out of clothes. Like Johanna uses it to cut her dishwashing liquid and it has a better feel to it because the vinegar breaks it down chemically. Hope that helps!

(author) 9 months ago

Johanna D

I use vinegar as a softener as well, and it doesn't smell. I also cut dishwashing liquid half and half with vinegar. Water is still nice and soapy without that slippery feel. I'm going to try the conditioner-vinegar softener to see if clothes have a nice scent. Thanks for this tip.

Johanna D 9 months ago

Amanda Greensworth

Marina, vinegar naturally softens your clothes?!?!

Amanda Greensworth 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

You are so welcome!

(author) 9 months ago

Marina Gonzales Piperidis

The vinegar doesn't leave any smell Dyggn!! I usually use just vinegar as a softener but now I'm going to try this recipe!! Thanks so much for the guide!

Marina Gonzales Piperidis 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

The vinegar goes out with the rinse taking with it any soap left in clothes. In a pinch I have used just vinegar.

(author) 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

Thank you Kisha for reminding me! I've got it updated.

(author) 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

Oh yes, I forgot to add that! That's what mine is. Use the amount you normally do with "regular" fabric softener.

(author) 9 months ago

Kisha Williams

Is this formula safe for H E washing machines?

Kisha Williams 9 months ago

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Lucy Hudnall

Sweet!

(author) 9 months ago

Amanda Greensworth

The reason why I asked was bcuz I recently saw a tv commercial by Downy Fabric Softener that explains the whole point in using it in the first place. They explain it by stating that you're putting hundreds of dollars worth of clothes in the wash, so you best protect it by keeping the fibers from fraying and wearing out. Thank you Angie!!! :)

Amanda Greensworth 9 months ago

Amanda Greensworth

Okay, yeah! That makes sense

Amanda Greensworth 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

Amanda it took some thinking...the conditioner improves the clothes by preventing fraying just like on the hair shaft. With that ..keep in mind what material it's used on. :)

(author) 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

The purpose of my recipe is to give a light scent and to soften your clothes.

(author) 9 months ago

Amanda Greensworth

Seeing as how fabric softener is supposed to help clothes keep their shape and not lose their fibers, does this homemade version of softener harm your clothes?

Amanda Greensworth 9 months ago

Lucy Hudnall

That's what I do Christina. For a full load, instead of filling to top line..I go half. I still get a light scent and soft laundry after dried in dryer.

(author) 9 months ago

Christina Bekaroglu

So use half the amount you would regularly use for fabric softener if you have HE?

Christina Bekaroglu 9 months ago

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