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
Homemade Liquid Fabric Softener
Ingredients
- 1 cup hair conditioner (inexpensive like Suave works best)
- 5 cups hot water
- 3 cups white vinegar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add hair conditioner to hot water and stir gently to combine.
- Add white vinegar and stir gently to combine.
- Pour fabric softener solution into bottle.
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions for adding liquid fabric softener to your washing machine.
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.
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…
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
Carol, thanks for these great tips!