After years of smelling like softener sheets, we switched to homemade fabric softener. The results? We lost the artificial smell but nothing else.
Homemade Fabric Softener
When choosing how to soften your laundry, you have several homemade options.
Option One: Straight Vinegar
One of the easiest solutions for softening your laundry is to pour white distilled vinegar into your rinse cycle. Because I tend to be lazy, I have used this method for years.
Despite your fears, I promise that your laundry will not come out smelling like pickles.
Option Two: Vinegar Solution
If you cannot get over the vinegar smell you can also mix a solution:
- 2 cups White Vinegar
- 2 cups Baking Soda
- 4 cups Water
- 4-8 drops Essential Oil (for fragrance only)
Combine slowly and carefully over a sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz. Pour into plastic bottle, cover, and shake.
Use 1/4 cup in the final rinse cycle of each load.
Option Three: Softener Sponge
Several readers have recommended a different method, by creating a fabric softening sponge for the dryer:
- 2 to 3 cups Water
- 1 cup Liquid Fabric Softener
- Large Sponge
Combine water and liquid softener. Cut a sponge in half and keep it stored in the liquid until needed.
When drying clothes, remove the sponge from the liquid, squeeze out excess, and place it in the dryer with clothes. When dry, put the sponge back in liquid to be used for next load.
Option Four: Wool Dryer Balls
This one isn’t homemade but wool dryer balls are chemical free and super easy to use. Just toss in the dryer and go!
Try these other homemade cleaners:
- Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent
- Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
- Homemade Dishwashing Powder
- Homemade Cleaning Products that Work (and some that don’t)
How do you soften your clothes?
What do you use as a laundry softener? I would love to know!
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