Thursday, November 5, 2009

Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap- Another Homemade Fabric Softener


I had a perfectly good recipe on here for a homemade dryer sheet that made my clothes smell good, took out the static and softened the fabric. It worked just great as a sheet. But when I got my new front loader machine and dryer, and the dryer ended up with a stainless steel tub with directions NOT to use dryer sheets (probably because of the wax in the commercial sheets but I wasn't taking any chances) I was in need of a liquid fabric softener. I tried the homemade recipe I had been using and just poured it into the dispenser but I didn't like it as well.

So the hunt for a new cost efficient liquid fabric softener was on. Plus it had to work just as good.

I came across this, gave it a try and now I'm in frugal love. We're talking super cheap and scented just the way I like. Plus it's environmentally friendly it that's something you're concerned about. So now you have two options to choose from.


Homemade Liquid Fabric Softener

1 cup baking soda
6 cups distilled white vinegar
8 cups water

10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil scent. (check my left sidebar under "laundry supplies" for some great essential oils.) I like to use lime, orange, or lavender


You will need a one gallon container. First add the baking soda to the container. Next add 1 cup of water. Slowly add the vinegar to the bottle as the vinegar and baking soda will start to fizz. Don't be worried. Then add the rest of the water swirling around & cover venting the top a few times. Last add the essential oil.
Add 1/2 cup in your final rinse cycle for each load but give the bottle a good shake to stir up the essential oil if using.


Do you have a recipe you'd like to share this week? Please link directly to your post, not your homepage, and please include a link back to The Grocery Cart Challenge.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

for this one ! I love the homemade laundry soap, but I work in a bakery and it was not taking all the bakery smells out of my clothes. I am sure there are worse things to smell of , but it was driving me nuts !LOL, Going to make this today !

Halfmoon Girl said...

I am gonna try this one...I really use fabric softener because I don't like the chemicals in it and can't use the dryer sheets either, but I am always envious of how lovely my friend's clothes smell.

Unknown said...

That sounds like a great alternative!

Lowbudget said...

I have been using 1 cup of fabric softner (of your choice) mixed with 2 cups of water. I put this in a spray bottle then I only spray 3 times on a small cloth and throw it in the dryer. :)

Anonymous said...

It says in the directions to use 1/2 cup. I have the front load and there is a small cup to pour it into. This is only 1/4 cup. Do you put it in that way or directly on the clothes?

Gayle said...

Bryan,

Yes, if it says to use 1/4 cup do that in your dispenser.

Long Suffering Flo said...

I love this recipe! I always used your old recipe as a liquid in-wash fabric softner, but I was never thrilled with it. I kept sneaking back to my old favorite softner when I had a bit extra in the food budget. With this recipe I will never do that again. Thanks!!

Anonymous said...

Here is my liquid fabric softner recipe.
1 16 oz bottle hair conditioner (V05 $.79 on sale)
2 c. white vineager
6 c. warm water

Mix well, shake before each use. I use 1/2 c with each load.

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to trying this recipe. I have a couple of questions, though. Do you know if this can be put into a Downey ball? My laundry room is in the basement, and with a toddler, it isn't easy to catch the final rinse. Also, can it be used on clothes that do not recommend fabric softener use (baby pajamas, safety shirts w/ reflective strips)?