Homemade fabric softener made with inexpensive hair conditioner and white vinegar saves money, soften clothes and reduces static!
I don’t know what liquid fabric softener costs where you live, but here in central Ohio it ranges from $5.99 – $7.99 a bottle. I’ve been wanting to make homemade fabric softener for a long time. I actually don’t use much fabric softener in the summer months, but winter is here and I want to be prepared! Plus, I love the idea of saving money.
I did some research and found several different recipes. Some of which included essential oils. Well, I haven’t jumped on the essential oil band wagon yet, so I didn’t want to go that route. I was most interested in the fabric softener that incorporated inexpensive hair conditioner. I found a couple of blogs where people said they actually did a comparison of different homemade fabric softeners and this particular method was their favorite.

How to Make Homemade Fabric Softener with Hair Conditioner
I saved empty coffee creamer bottles and filled them with my homemade liquid fabric softener. The coffee creamer bottles make for the perfect containers! They have a pouring spot and a snap close lid.

I’ve been using this homemade liquid fabric softener for months now. It doesn’t add as much “perfume” to your laundry as store bought fabric softener and I seem to still have some static, but otherwise, I’m really pleased with my homemade liquid fabric softener.

Homemade Fabric Softener
Simply mix three ingredients to make the softest and least expensive fabric softener.
Materials
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups hair conditioner, any scent
- 6 cups of water
- empty container such as coffee creamer bottles, juice bottles, etc.
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Use in your laundry like store bought fabric softener.
Notes
I save my coffee creamer bottles to make homemade fabric softener. I also buy a gallon of vinegar at a time, the cheapest hair conditioner and mix up several bottles.
Other Cleaning Ideas
I love when I find a homemade or even store bought solution that makes household chores easier, better or less expensive. The following ideas do all three!
- DIY Bathroom Cleaner
- How to Clean a Broiler Pan the Easy Way
- Spring Cleaning with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

I hope you give this homemade liquid fabric softener a try. I’ve read that you can also put some of the fabric softener on a clean washcloth and add it to your dryer for even fresher smelling clothes with less static. I’ll have to give that a try and let you know if it helps with the static.
If you have any cleaning tips that you love, I’d love to hear about it. If you have a solution to static, I’d really love to hear about that! Just leave a comment below or email them to me!
Til next time…

Be sure to pin this homemade fabric softener to your favorite Pinterest board to save it for later or to share with family and friends.

Carol Simas
Monday 14th of January 2019
Pam: For Static and as a wrinkle Release use 2 Cups Water add 6 tsp fabric softener, I Triple this and put it in a spray bottle. I hang clothes on plastic hangers and spray away then hang to dry. Works pretty good for both static an wrinkles.
Window Cleaner 8 C water 1 C white vinegar 2 tsp Dawn I have not used this one yet but have used
Window Cleaner 1/2 gal water 1 TBS Jet Dry 2 to 3 TBS Dawn works good
Pamela Baker
Monday 14th of January 2019
Carol, thanks for these great tips!