Homemade Fabric Softener

15 years ago

While doing some research on FS and finding an amazing amount of negative things about them and the toxic ingredients they contain, even the no fragrance formulas. I came across this recipe for making your own FS.

Step 1

In a seal able container (if you have a couple old liquid fabric softener containers, those work well), combine 2 cups hair conditioner (I use a regular sized bottle- a little less than 2 cups), 3 cups vinegar, and 6 cups water

Step2

mix all ingredients together

Step3

store in air tight container.

Step4

use same amount you would use with regular liquid fabric softener.

Here is the website with the information and comments.

Has anyone tried this?

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Comments (6)

grainlady_ks
15 years ago
I don't use fabric softener at all - none is required - especially using Charlie's Soap. If you use fabric softener (sheets/liquid) to control static in the dryer, there are other ways to control that without softeners.

I see the same problem using hair conditioner as I would fabric softener. Have you ever looked at the list of chemicals and ingredients in it? You are substituting one chemical coating for the one you think you are avoiding...in my opinion.

-Grainlady
i_dig_it
Original Author
15 years ago
I was thinking the same thing about putting a coating on the clothing.

I have been using vinegar in the fs dispenser and have had good results, except on the towels. For some reason I can't get them soft.

I have some Charlie's soap, but am hesitant to use it because of my hard water and I'm not sure if it will help or hinder my problem of stiff towels.

I know I've read to add STPP, but it's not available here and I don't want to order the large bag and then not get positive results and be stuck with something I'm not wanting to use.

Janet
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The James washer works great , but the price is pretty steep... Here's my response to a similar question.... It takes me about 15 minutes (not including soak time) to wash and rinse a large load of laundry (about twice what will fit in most washers), without power.... I use two tubs as you described...I wash and rinse with cold water most of the time...i use the rinse water to wash the following batch of clothes, this saves on water... When I use hot water it's heated in black plastic pails in the sun in summer or on the woodstove during winter... I use homemade laundry detergent... 1 cup Bar Soap, Grated into fine flakes. (I recommend Fels-Naptha. Half of a bar.) 1 cup Borax (I use 20 Mule team Borax.) 1 cup Washing Soda (Not Baking Soda)(I use Arm&Hammer Super Washing Soda.) Available in the laundry aisle of most supermarkets. A little goes a long way...... 1 Tablespoon per load. About 56 loads for pennies per load... I let the clothes soak for several hours....I use a Rapid Washer, a plunger type hand washer from Lehman's.....it works better than a washboard... i use it to wash and rinse...link below I use homemade fabric softener on some of my clothes...added to rinse water... 2 cups cold water 1 cup baking soda 1 cup vinegar 1 Place baking soda in LARGE bowl and pour vinegar over it; while it's bubbling, pour cold water in and mix. 2 Store in sealed container and shake before using to combine all ingredients. 3 Add 1/4 cup of mixture to rinse water. You may be able to find a wringer at an antique or second hand store.... I have a glass washboard for clothes that are extra dirty. I have a wringer on both tubs. Drying.. Summer...I hang the clothes outside. Winter...I use accordian-style wooden racks to dry the clothes near the woodstove. Hope this helps. Here is a link that might be useful: Rapid Washer
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Vinegar is a good fabric softener by itself (use white vinegar) and it's also an excellent odor remover. When vinegar dries the smell is gone. Back when I used to use softener, I'd I started to dilute the softener, put it in a spray bottle and use a washcloth rather than use dryer sheets. Give it a couple sprays and toss it in the dryer. But since I learned to not overdry the clothes, static isn't an issue of any consequence and half a dozen dryer balls fluff and soften towels, jeans and the like. Plus not overdosing with detergent makes a big difference too. I'm getting more and more sensitive to chemical smells. I get a headache going down a laundry aisle these days. Then there's the ones who are in competition with themselves... the smell from the laundry, then they marinate in cheap perfume or cologne, then add a powerful hairspray and deodorant to top it off!
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Haven't used any type of commercial fabric softener in decades. Occasionally I use vinegar to help remove smells. No need to worry about your clothes smelling like vinegar. They don't. I occasionally use vinegar to wipe down the cutting board, counter or wipe out the microwave. It's actually a disinfectant. And once dry, there's no smell. My sister uses vinegar to wash her floors. The cats won't walk on it while damp (they don't like the vinegar smell) but she knows when the floors are dry. The cats are in the kitchen. o vinegar smell. I fill the fabric softener dispenser in my current machine with white vinegar. The old one I used a Downey Ball and some would dilute the vinegar in the ball but I wouldn't. I'd fill the ball with white vinegar and toss it in. Worked great. And as I said, no vinegar smell. Think about it for a minute, it's diluted down so much there really isn't anything left to smell. And of course you're rinsing after too, most likely. I don't like smelly clothes which is why I hated commercial softeners and most detergents. Why do people think clothes have to stink before they can be clean? Amazes me. When clothes smell, it's time to wash them IMO. And for those who have static problems, you're issue is not caused by not using softener or not using enough, the problem is that you're over-drying your clothes. Cut back the drying time, save yourself money in two ways, less electricity (and possibly gas) and no softener. I use dryer balls to assist in drying (which they do). Supposedly they help with static which they might, but I can't prove it one way or the other. Grainlady bought some of the anti-static version and she says they help a lot. Since I don't have static issues since I quit over-drying the clothes, I really don't have need to try them. And FWIW my towels and jeans are as soft as anyone's. The occasional time they're a little stiff, I know I didn't rinse them well enough as already mentioned. So when I wash them again, I use less or no detergent depending on the amount in them. And some say dryer sheets are good for cleaning shower doors. I can't confirm.
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omama
15 years ago
I don't use fabric softener at all. I hang all my laundry then put each load in the dryer for 6 to 10 min. depending how damp they are so they don't get the musty smell when put away. If you want your towels to feel soft, line dry them and use them that way for a month. (the towels will be pretty crunchy) After that time of using them stiff and hard, when you put them in the dryer for a few minutes, they'll feel wonderful - promise. (No need for chemical fabric softener at all.)
charliesoap
15 years ago
Try TSP instead of STPP. It's not quite as strong, but it is more plentiful. You should be able to find it at most Lowe's Home Improvement stores.
mara_2008
15 years ago
Slightly OT: If people object to the ingredients in hair conditioner, do they use it on their hair but not in their laundry? Or do they not use it at all?

My hair is so fine, I have to use hair conditioner. I'm just wondering if it's worse to use it in laundry than on hair. This is purely a rhetorical question, as I've never used it in laundry.

Taylor - what is TSP? I haven't heard of it.

Janet - I've always heard that f/s will decrease towels' absorbency, so I've never used it on them. I do use vinegar in the final rinse and the towels come out very soft and fluffy. I know we don't have hard water (I grew up in a hard-water area, so I know how that affects laundry), but ours isn't soft, either; it's 'medium' (if there is such a term).
i_dig_it
Original Author
15 years ago
Mara I quit using FS on my towels about a year ago when I began to notice the stale smell in them. In fact, I haven't used FS on anything now for several months, I have been using vinegar instead and have had great results.

I think the towels are maybe starting to show some improvement. Maybe it's just taking this long to get all the built up detergent out of them, but at least they are smelling a whole lot better.

TSP is Trisodium Phosphate. I given a link at the bottom for info. I have heard of it and plan on getting some to use with the Charlie's, but I'm not sure how much to use.

I just thought the recipe I came upon for the homemade FS was interesting and was wondering if anyone had ever tried it. The only things I might ever use FS on again would be some of our fleece items like my robe and a couple throws we use now in the winter. They seem to get pretty static-y.
But I will use it very sparingly and Very diluted if I do decide to use it.

Janet

Here is a link that might be useful: Scroll Down for TSP info

Homemade Fabric Softener

Comments (6)

grainlady_ks

i_dig_it
Original Author

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omama

charliesoap

mara_2008

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Homemade Fabric Softener

Comments (6)

grainlady_ks

i_dig_itOriginal Author

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omama

charliesoap

mara_2008

i_dig_itOriginal Author

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