Looking for a homemade fabric softener that’s easy to make and works great? Then give yourself a pat on the back, because you’ve come to the right place!
I’ve tried and tweaked dozens of different homemade fabric softeners over the past decade of my blogging career, and some have been better than others. The one I’ll be sharing with you in this post is my favorite of the liquid fabric softeners I’ve tried, both for its simplicity and its effectiveness!
The thing I like most about this formula is that it doesn’t coat fabrics with chemical softeners like most commercial fabric softeners do. It actually helps remove detergent and softener buildup, getting them cleaner and leaving them naturally softer.
Give it a try and experience the difference for yourself!
How To Make A Homemade Fabric Softener
Ingredients:
4 cups white vinegar
4 cups water
1/4 cup vegetable glycerin
Directions:
Combine white vinegar, water, and glycerin in a large container. (Any empty jug or bottle that’s easy to pour out of will work just fine!)
Replace the lid and shake well to mix.
How To Use
Give the bottle a good shake before each use to remix the ingredients, as they may separate over time. Then before starting a wash load, pour 1/2 cup of your homemade fabric softener into your washing machine’s fabric softener dispenser, then wash as usual.
How Does It Work?
The combination of white vinegar and vegetable glycerin in this homemade fabric softener recipe helps keep fabrics clean and soft in a couple of different ways.
Vinegar is the primary component, which naturally softens laundry by dissolving detergent buildup and other and residues that may have settled in the fibers of the fabric over time. Vinegar also softens hard water, which can help boost the effectiveness of your laundry detergent.
Because vegetable glycerin is hygroscopic, meaning that it can absorb moisture from the air, it is often used in lotions and beauty products as a moisturizing and softening component. It also works wonderfully when used to soften fabrics, and you don’t even need to use very much of it!
A Note About Fragrance/Scent
This simple fabric softener recipe is both easy to make and really works to eliminate odors and leave your laundry cleaner and softer. While I don’t have a problem with using an unscented formula like this, some people may miss the fragrance factor.
More Ideas You'll Love
In that case, I recommend checking out my homemade fabric softener crystals, which are great for infusing your fabrics with the aromas of your favorite essential oils. Or if you’d rather go the store-bought route, there are several different scent booster products to choose from in the laundry aisle these days, including Downy Unstopables, Downy Infusions, Gain Fireworks, Arm & Hammer Clean Scentsations, and others.
The way I see it, treating fabric softening and laundry scent as two distinct things has its advantages versus using a scented fabric softener. The first is that my homemade fabric softener actually removes residues, rather than contributing to them like some store-bought fabric softeners do.
The second advantage is that it’s much easier to control how much or how little scent ends up on your clothes! Food for thought. :-)
What is your favorite method for softening laundry?
gonna make this too !!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the great recipe! The scent is great. I’ve recently started using just vinegar in my fabric softener dispenser (HE Front Loader) and that does work great (immediately the funny smell I’d noticed disappeared) but since I had made my own laundry detergent sans scent I was missing that fresh scent. For those questioning about static cling, I’ve always been in the camp of fabric softener and dryer sheets. I am interested in doing away with dryer sheets and a friend recently shared with me you can take a wash cloth and dip it in fabric softener and then let dry…throw it in the dryer with your clothes and reuse until the scent and softening effect are gone. I’ve not tried it yet but once my sheets are gone I plan on it with this softener I just made.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks again Jillee….love your tips!!!
How many ounces does this recipe make? I have a bigger bottle.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is this safe to use when you are doing a load of whites with bleach? I had read that you couldn’t mix bleach and vinegar because it causes toxic fumes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve read the same thing Charmagne so I would not use this with bleach.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My grandmother always told me that if you use bleach in the main wash, to use vinegar in the rinse to “deactivate” the bleach, (ie, neutralizes the pH). This also lessens the harshness of bleach on clothes and gets rid of any residual bleach smell. I have a super-sensitive nose, and this has worked every time. I’m also an asthmatic and have to stay FAR away from the washer on the rare occasion I use bleach. The vinegar rinse lets me safely get near the washer again. ;) Hope this helps!
It seems to me that the baking soda and vinegar would “undo” each other. Since they react and neutralize each other, I’m confused. Something about this obviously works as there are so many positive remarks, but I’m wondering if you do need both, or if you just added something scented to vinegar if it would be the same? I’m already using vinegar, but still use a dryer sheet for some scent. I would like to eliminate the dryer sheet from the mix!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am also wondering about the effectiveness… Have been using this recipe and while the scent is nice, I am detecting a bit more static when I dry– compared to when I use just straight vinegar as my fabric softner. Is anyone else noticing a difference? Can Jilee please address this concern about the baking soda cancelling out the softening effect of the vinegar????
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I made this yesterday and tried it out today, I LOVE it and was sooooo easy to fix, thank you ;)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also have used a different concoction of this water softener…I did not know to use the baking soda making a new batch today…ALSO>. very handy and old suave hair conditoner was my scent and I use the bottle to “squirt” into the water dispenser…It works perfectly…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, Jillee! I absolutely love your blog! It’s the go-to blog for me for everything!!! I made this recipe and just finished using my first batch. I found that if I put it in the fabric softener dispenser, there’s a baking soda build-up in there and I had to dig it out. So, I now just put it in the wash cycle with my no-grate laundry soap and my clothes come out soft and smelling great!!! I love it! Thanks and keep those ideas coming!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I read somewhere that adding Epsom salt softens your towels. Does anyone know if I can add some to this list of ingredients?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi there,
I’m a chemist and I’ve been seeing these these recipes mixing baking soda & vinegar all over and I thought I’d point out that the bubbles you see are a chemical reaction and what is left behind is a water solution of sodium acetate, which is a very weak base and offers not much in the way of fabric softening. Depending on when you purchased that bottle of Purex, it may account for any softening you notice. Purex crystal underwent a manufacturing change mid-year from being freshening/softening to just freshening. I found some information on the web from a great blogger such as yourself here:
http://www.crunchybetty.com/diy-101-baking-soda-vinegar-not-so-much
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love chemists. I will be taking chemistry next year. I have been researching the chemistry of all this stuff. I would hope you could enlighten us more!! Thanks for your reply and please educate us!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi All,
I originally posted my recipe for this homemade fabric softener and had many of my readers ask the same question. I was a little disturbed about the confusing information regarding the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar and the end resulting chemical. I did a little more reading and I think I found some helpful info as to why sodium acetate is useful as a softener.
It appears to reduce static electricity which is one of the main benefits of fabric softener – at least to me ;)
From the website Wikipedia
Link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_acetate
“Sodium acetate is used in the textile industry to neutralize sulfuric acid waste streams, and as a photoresist while using aniline dyes. It is also a pickling agent in chrome tanning, and it helps to retard vulcanization of chloroprene in synthetic rubber production. In processing cotton for disposable cotton pads, sodium acetate is used to eliminate the buildup of static electricity.”
I hope this helps answer the baking soda – vinegar question. It eased my mind to know that I wasn’t imagining the “softening” effect.
Happy washing!
Poppy @ Poppy’s Money Tree House
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Made this yesterday after I read the post and I love love love it!! I use the detergent in the make enough for one year psot and it has the purex crystals!! This is an awesome smelling fabric softener!! this will make my purex crystals last longer!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I made and used this home-made fabric softener over the weekend and I have to say I’m a believer! It was super cheap and I’ll get a lot of product out of the stuff I purchased, super easy to make, and it works! My laundry was softer, smelled great, and had almost no static.
Next on my list of things to try is the home-made laundry soap!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I found your site looking for a homemade laundry soap-I made the grated laundry soap which works great in my HE machine but missed the scent! I check your site everyday to see what you come up with next & made the fresh scent homemade fabric softener -I used downy unstoppables -which I had on hand to use in the wash before I saw your post for the fabric softener -I love the scent and the clothes are soft! (the scent is the same as using it in every load but it is nice to use 1/2 c for the entire batch of fabric softner instead of about 1/4 c every load!) I also made your dishwasher detergent (and vinegar for the rinse) & all purpose cleaner-which work great! The all purpose cleaner with a sprinkle of baking soda-even got the bicycle grease out of the bathroom sink (after the mess my daughter made!) Thank you for posting things that we can make and not have to purchase products that are just a bunch of chemicals! Now back to searching your site for what I can make next!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can I use this as the Fabric Softener for the reusable dryer sheets???
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would love to know the answer to this as well!! Hoping it can be used because that would just be another expense cutting tool!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I did. I used wool sacks and cut up squares and soaked them in this solution. Then I let them dry in the sun. I have been using them for about a week and they seem to be working. No static and I love the scent ! =)
Hi! This sounds wonderful! Do you have a recipe for laundry detergent too?
~Autumn
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Autumn! I actually have a few different laundry detergent recipes depending on your preferences. If you just types “laundry detergent” into the search bar near the top of the page you’ll be able to see all of them!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.ok maybe im dumb..but is this supposed to be laundry soap or fabric softener? or both? does this clean the clothes also or do u need to use laundry soap also?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Fabric softener..as the title states. ;)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.lol yea, i caught that after i posted that! like i said im dumb lol
I am going to try this. I had to get new machines and the energy efficiency of using less water makes me think things don’t smell right or something. I’m boggled and frustrated. I tried softener and the smell is overwhelming. Maybe this will be the solution.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am a total Jillee convert. I have made all of my home cleaning agents and love them. My husband loves it too, he’s an asthmatic and there are no harsh chemicals anymore. I was skeptical about this fabric softner business, but one trip to Walmart and 45 minutes later…I have towels in the wash right now! 45 minutes because I also whipped up laundry detergent too. I used a glass bowel to melt the downy crystals (I like their smell) and an empty vinegar bottle (I seem to have a few of those around these days:) The blue Oxyclean scoop works great as a measurement for the softener. Thanks Jillee!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I dry most of my clothes on the line, but still put the towels in the dryer to keep them soft & fluffy. Will using this make them soft off the line, too? BTW…LOVE your site!!! You have such wonderful ideas, hints, and tips! Thanks!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just made this with gain fireworks yesterday.. smells yummy! After reading the comment that it can gunk up the machine (even though I use a downey ball) I wonder if you could just dissolve the scent booster and add it to vinegar with no baking soda?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I actually do use the baking soda separate during the wash cylcle and everything else during the rinse cycle. I also have and HE washer so I just dump the bs on the clothes instead of putting it anywhere else. ;)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee,
I love your blog and read it all the time. I have tried a similar recipe before and kept it in a jar that I could shake up. But what I found is that in just the amount of time that passes between starting the load and having the softener dispensed in the rinse cycle, the mixture separates.
What I’ve ended up with is the vinegar goes into the rinse cycle and the baking soda piles up in the softener dispenser on my washer. It has taken a while to break it down. I love the idea of this stuff, but it really did gunk up my washer after a few weeks….
Anyone else had this problem??? Any ideas??? I’ve just been using vinegar instead….. Thanks :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am having the same problem. Any answers?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Same problem here!
I am having this problem as well
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wonder if you could put this in a Downy ball instead of the washer dispenser? I was just going to try this and I have an HE washer also. But don’t want to if it gets the gunked up.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Add a scoop of baking soda to your washer directly, and then vinegar in the softener dispenser. Same effect, just at different points in the wash cycle. That is what I do, and my laundry is so soft. I omit the fragrance crystals, so that’s not an issue for me.
I bet if you just mixed the fragrance crystals with the vinegar and put it in the dispenser, and then put the baking soda in with the clothes it would be perfect! That’s what I’m going to try :)
I have an HE washer with the fab softner in the pull out drawer, this doesn’t happen at all for me as far as separation. If you have the type of washer where you put the mixture in the little “tub” on top of the agitator, then it could separate. Why not try making Jillie’s dryer sheets instead? (or run downstairs as soon as you hear that rinse cycle start ha ha )
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is another wonderful idea. I am wondering if you could still use this in homemade Febreeze. Or if just the dissolved Purex crystals would work? Just a thought.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Once again, Jillee, a wonderful laundry idea! However, I am again stumped as to how I am going to get this stuff to smell like Original Gain??? All the scent-booster things out there do not smell like the original scent of Gain. This doesn’t bother me so much – I’m not picky on how my laundry smells – but the man in my life is. I know, it’s so weird! I can understand, that when you spend your days smelling like sweat and dirt, you kinda want your clean laundry to smell as fresh as possible. Gain is his favorite and he said he would rather spend the money to get Gain fabric softener than for me to keep making it if it doesn’t smell like Gain. I told him he was nuts because making it saves so much money! Please HELP!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.have you looked into the Gain Fireworks scent boosters? I wonder if they have the original scent?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Unfortunately, they do not make Fireworks in Original scent. It only comes in “Sweet Sizzle”. I’ve never smelled them, so I don’t know if my fiancee would approve. I mean, it’s pointless to buy an entire bottle of the stuff if you don’t know if you like the way it smells. I think I might have to look into getting a free sample or something.
Cynthia,
Take your fiancee to the store with you and let him smell the “Sweet Sizzle” and whatever other fragrances are available. Let him choose. Most of the bottles have some way for you to be able to smell them before making your purchase.
I’m so thrilled I came across your website on Pinterest! Thanks so much for all of your helpful tips. This may be more addicting than Pinterest itself!
I have my own blogspot. I don’t have as much as you do. But I come up with as much creativity as I can.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love using old/used things, turning into new. And being on a budget I’m always trying to come up with different uses with “cheap” food.
Thanks again for your inspiration.
Made this today using unstoppables! Smells fantastic and uses less of the downy product which is fantastic for the budget!!!
Thanks for another hit!
Oh and I made your nesquik recipe tonight too. Probably shouldn’t have! It was delish!!!
You are such a blessing to me, thanks for pouring into so many lives with cost cutting measures!
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