Homemade Fabric Softner

susie53_gw

16 years ago

16 oz hair conditioner (any kind/smell you like)

3 cups vinegar

6 cups water

Mix well and pour into a softner bottle. Measure like you would any other softner.

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Comments (12)

jannie
16 years ago
Great-I've been looking for a recipe for this!
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
16 years ago
I'm looking forward to trying it. I wonder how much good fragrance one gets, since I like nice smelling soft stuff. I know others often don't want, or are often bothered by fragrant things.

Sue
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I heard that vinegar is harmful for washing machines. Check it out on the laundry forum. "Don't use Vinegar in your Washing Machine"
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Vinegar works in two ways with regards to laundry: Vinegar dissolves minerals. If you have hard water that is combining with detergent and leaving a residue on the clothes, the vinegar will dissolve the minerals in the water, stopping the deposit of residue. Vinegar neutralizes the alkalinity of wash water. This makes clothing feel more pleasant to the skin. There is nothing inherently "softening" about vinegar, and the fact that I have a whole house water softener probably explains why I get no benefit from vinegar. Those with hardness in their water will benefit the most. I also read in another thread that Miele recommends against using vinegar, as it may damage vital rubber components in the machine. Senseo, a large manufacturer of coffee makers, also says that vinegar can damage its machines and recommends use of citric acid instead. The concern stems from the fact that acetic acid (vinegar) is a mineral-based acid, and as such is damaging to some rubber and plastic components. Citric acid would be a better product to use in the rinse, and citric acid also has the added benefit of "smoothing" fabric fibers which is something vinegar doesn't do.
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All fabric softener, whether liquid from the clothes or dryer sheets will coat the lint filter and sensors in a dryer. If you truly must use fabric softener all you need to do is take some alcohol and wipe the sensors every few months and pull the lint filter and clean it with a soft brush and some dish soap and water. Make sure the water runs through it easily and you're fine. Actually, even if you don't use softener you should occasionally wash the filter from the lint dust and such. And you should regularly clean the vent and the dryer of lint and buildup. You'd be amazed how many house fires start every year because of this negligence, which of course raises insurance rates for everyone. If you're a camper save some of the lint for starting fires and you'll understand why so many houses go up in flames. For years I used a washcloth and softener in a spray bottle diluted about 1:4 with water. I also would use just a part of a dryer sheet and yes even reuse the sheets several times. Worked fine. The sheets that have little cuts in them at a couple inches or so worked fine to just tear into strips, otherwise, I'd just cut them up. I don't like the smell of softener nor the feel. After dumping out bottles of the stuff and it plugged up my drain so the pipes had to be replaced (it was like concrete in there) I quit and never looked back. What does that do to humans? I don't like my clothes to smell. When they smell, it's time to wash them in my opinion. If you have static problems, you're overdrying the clothes. Cut the drying time and you save energy costs and costs of softener... AND eliminate the static! Vinegar is a good option since vinegar will help cut the excess soap out of the clothes. Although, if you don't overdose your laundry detergent, and so many way overdo it, you wouldn't have much trouble. But it also helps in the northland in the winter when the water temps are lower. Making powdered laundry detergent isn't as difficult as making liquid/gel. But I usually get detergent cheap enough that it doesn't pay to bother making it. I think people too often get so hung up on we've ALWAYS done it this way and get brainwashed by commercials that they lose site of the objective. For me, I want my clothes clean. I don't need a $3000 washer and 17 different chemicals to accomplish this.
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nicole_ont
16 years ago
Thanks!

I just made it, and am attempting to make dryer sheets with it. I soaked 4 wash cloths in it, squeezed out the excess and laid them out to dry. We'll see how it goes. :)
clairdo2
16 years ago
Wouln't it smell like vinegar...
nicole_ont
16 years ago
I think the smell of the vinegar dissipates very quickly as it dries & heats.
joyfulguy
16 years ago
Better vinegar on my clothes ...

... than off of my tongue!

Thanks for the recipe, Susie (who , claiming "53", doesn't look a day over 35).

ole joyful
nodakgal
16 years ago
Hmmmmmm that might be worth a try.
I'd guess its white vinegar you use. I don't think I'd try it with cider.
Thanks for posting it.
Marilyn Sue
16 years ago
I was going to suggest you post your recipe Susie. I plan on trying. Have the stuff to do it with anyway.

Sue
lilliepad
16 years ago
I use white vinegar as a last rinse a lot and clothes never smell like vinegar.
Nichole-I wonder if a good sturdy paper towel would work as a dryer sheet? I have washed paper towels before that came out of the washa nd dryer in one piece.Might try it.Something like bounty.You could even use the half sheet ones or cut/tear the sheet in half.
Chemocurl-You could add a nice fragrance oil or something like that for extra fragrance.
carol_in_california
16 years ago
I have found that by using the homemade laundry soap I don't need any softeners. I do have the blue dryer balls, however.
Even when I dry my clothes on the line, after using the homemade soap, I don't need a softener.
cynic
16 years ago
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!
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
16 years ago
Do you ever run into someone in the softener aisle and they too want to sniff all of the softeners? I got to talking and comparing softener smells with a lady the other day, while her hubby waited at their cart. I looked over at him and he rolled his eyes. He just didn't understand.

Homemade Fabric Softner

Comments (12)

jannie

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

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