Homemade fabric softener is an easy DIY that you can try today. Leave your laundry soft and fluffy without harsh chemicals and perfumes and scents that leave clothes smelling obnoxiously strong.
I hope you find this to be your natural fabric softener solution!
Make Your Own Fabric Softener
If you are ready to kick commercial fabric softeners curb and looking to get rid of artificial scents this is your “recipe”.
I love a simple DIY project that really works and this one fits the bill.
When it comes to laundry I prefer my homemade versions over anything store bought. I have been using homemade laundry products for years. I have found them to be easier on my clothes, towels and bedding; helping them last longer.
Homemade Laundry Items
Easy to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent (ok for HE machines)
DIY Wool Dryer Balls – Easy to Make
Doing Laundry by Hand (without electricity)
How to Line Dry Like a Boss
Can You Make Your Own Fabric Softener?
Oh, yes you can! And you might be surprised that it works as well, if not better, than the stuff you’re buying in the store!
I have step by step instructions below and a printable option as well.
And you’ll save money. I can buy the simple ingredients once and make dozens of batches.
How Does Homemade Fabric Softener Work?
It’s science baby! This DIY fabric softener works incredibly well making your fabrics soft and supple with baking soda and vinegar.
First the baking soda helps to regulate the pH level in your rise water. Minerals and leftover detergent can cause your fabric to be stiff; this softener is especially helpful if you have hard water.
Then the vinegar in the recipe will actually help remove residue from your soap or detergent, softens hard water and will lower static cling in your clothes, bedding and towels.
No, your laundry will not smell like vinegar!
Note: I have seen other “recipes” use hair conditioner. I don’t do this because most still have chemicals and crap I don’t want in my softener.
Why not use dryer sheets?
That’s a good question. I actually wrote about this several years ago.
See: Toxic Dryer?
Ingredients Need for Natural Homemade Fabric Softener
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Castile soap
- Essential oils (optional) I like to use lemon grass, lavender or something citrus like orange.
Equipment Needed to Make DIY Liquid Fabric Softener
- Large mixing bowl
- Funnel
- Glass jar (I like a wide mouth mason jar)
- Pourable lid
Steps by Step Instructions
Gather all your ingredients.
Pour vinegar into large bowl.
Add in 10-15 drops of essential oils (optional, but I like to add lemon grass, lavender or orange oil).
Add in Castile soap and mix well.
Pour in baking soda, but remember, this will fizz and bubble!
Once the bubbles fade, use funnel to pour into jar and add lid.
The castile soap will separate as it sits. Don’t worry about this, it is normal.
Give your mixture a good shake before use.
How to Use DIY Fabric Softener
Pour ¼-½ cup in washing machine.
What are your favorite homemade or DIY projects?
Let me know in the comment section!
More Homemade and DIY Projects to Try
Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Homemade Jewelry Cleaner Recipe
DIY Tallow Balm for Face and Body
How to Make DIY All Natural Hand Sanitizer with Essential Oils
DIY Melt and Pour Shampoo Bars
DIY Bug Repellent Bars
DIY Mason Jar Candles
How To Do Laundry Outside And Really Love it
Homemade Fabric Softener DIY
Ingredients
- 3 cups White Vinegar
- 1/2 cup Baking Soda
- 2 tbsp Castile soap
- Drops Essential oils (optional) I like to use lemon grass, lavender or something citrus like orange.
Instructions
Gather all your ingredients.
Pour vinegar into large bowl.
Add in 10-15 drops of essential oils (optional, but I like to add lemon grass, lavender or orange oil).
Add in Castile soap and mix well.
Pour in baking soda, but remember, this will fizz and bubble!
Once the bubbles fade, use funnel to pour into jar and add lid.
The castile soap will separate as it sits. Don’t worry about this, it is normal.
Give your mixture a good shake before use.
HOW TO USE DIY FABRIC SOFTENER
Pour ¼-½ cup in washing machine.
This is a great idea! Thanks for the recipe.
You’re so welcome. Hope you enjoy it!
This is so helpful and simple! Thanks!
You’re so welcome, glad you like it!
Just wondering:
I’m not sure I want to put SOAP back into my clothes after I rinse it out in the wash.
Don’t baking soda and vinegar cancel each other out when used for cleaning?
They can. If you put them into solution at the same time they’ll roughly cancel each other out as far as pH goes. Not to mention the somewhat explosive reaction during that process.
But sometimes I want that (minus the explosion):
I put baking soda in my wash water (both laundry and dishwasher) to inexpensively normalize the water, thereby boosting the efficiency of my detergent.
I put white vinegar in my rinse dispensers to aid in rinsing the wash water out of my clothing, machines, dishes…
I don’t combine vinegar and baking soda in one solution, though, for exactly the reasoning in your question.
FROM:
https://www.quora.com/Don-t-baking-soda-and-vinegar-cancel-each-other-out-when-used-for-cleaning?
Also, you MUST be careful when adding essential oils to your rinse, because they may put a grease stain on your clothes.
I much prefer just to add white vinegar to the rinse water. Safe, no discoloration of clothing and it works.
I do however, use essential oils on my wool dryer balls, refreshing every once in awhile. I have had no discoloration issues when doing this.
This mixture has always done very well for us. I have never experience any issues as it is being rinsed out.
I was thinking the same thing, Carol. Vinegar and baking soda mixed together will cancer the other out. I sprinkle baking soda on my clothes in our HE washer. I use vinegar in the rinse dispenser. Using essential oils in vinegar doesn’t really work as fas as I’m concerned. First, oil and vinegar don’t mix! lol So there is just some splotches of oil flowing in with the water and vinegar. I have tried it…had no scent on clothes at all. I do put some on my wool dryer balls; pretty much need to wait till closer to the end of a cycle though, since the heat seems to eliminate the nice scent.
I can only say this has worked for us but I do prefer my dryer balls – https://www.imperfectlyhappy.com/diy-wool-dryer-balls-easy-to-make/