If you like using a homemade fabric softener, you need to check out our DIY Fabric Softener. Just 2 ingredients and SO easy to make!
DIY Fabric Softener Recipe
You guys.
I am so stinkin' excited about this.
For years, I've used plain old vinegar as fabric softener. (It works great!)
But.
Straight vinegar honestly can still be a little on the pricey side, so figuring out this homemade fabric softener alternative just makes me happy.
And, it's easy.
Like, REALLY easy.
So, go grab yourself some vinegar and a wee bit of conditioner, and get ready to do some shaking. 🙂
Homemade Fabric Softener Ingredients:
- water
- conditioner (just get the cheap stuff!)
- vinegar
Here's how to make DIY Fabric Softener at home:
Start by mixing 5 cups hot water, 1 cup of conditioner, and 3 cups of vinegar in a large bottle (I just re-used a milk jug). Shake the bottle until the mixture is well combined. And you're done!
I add about 1/2 of a cup to my load of laundry, and it works great ~ super simple, and crazy penny pinched! You can likely get about 20 loads out of the one mix, and if you get your conditioner cheap, you're probably looking at about $0.035 per load – not bad!
To compare, Downy on Amazon costs 8¢ per load, so that's almost half the regular cost of fabric softener!
How to Make Homemade Fabric Softener
Materials
- 5 cups hot water
- 1 cup conditioner be sure to use the cheap stuff!
- 3 cups vinegar
- 1 large bottle
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in your large bottle (I just used a milk jug!)
- Shake until well combined
- Use about 1/2 cup per load
If you love using homemade cleaners with basic ingredients, this is the way to go, and you could totally skip the conditioner if you really want to pinch those pennies. 🙂
Here are some other homemade cleaners you might enjoy:Â
Kristen says
In you cost analysis, you said that Downy is $0.08/load and the DIY is $0.35/load. That seems like the DIY softener is 4 times as expensive. I’m guessing that was a typo. Can you clarify?
Alice -PPP Team says
Thanks so much for catching that! 🙂
Jody Keleske says
Laurie,
I’ve really fallen in love with the pods……yes, now I can use pods for detergent, booster (if needed) and fabric softener! Now, I can’t say this is the most out effective way of doing laundry, but if I consider what my time is worth then I think I’ve saved quite a bit of money. These pods can go in the beginning of the wash so I’m saving even more time and my laundry is wonderfully clean and soft. Amazon serves it all up to my front door!thanks to you, Laurie!