The Best Fabric Softener Crystals Are Also The Cheapest

Make Your Own Easy & Inexpensive Fabric Softener Crystals

Fabric softener crystals are one of several different types of fabric softeners you can use to soften your clothes, reduce static buildup, and give your clothes and linens a fresh, clean scent. But there are certain advantages to using laundry crystals over liquid fabric softeners, such as being able to use them to make your own powdered laundry detergent.

I had never really thought to try making laundry crystals until a few years ago, when the idea was born out of necessity (as many of my best ideas are!) At the time, I was getting ready to go out of town for a few days and noticed that we were dangerously low on homemade laundry detergent.

Knowing that Dave would be likely to use the lack of laundry detergent as an excuse to not do any laundry while I was gone, I figured I’d better make more before I left. I had all the ingredients I needed except for fabric softener crystals.

So I decided to improvise, and that’s how I came up with the homemade fabric softener crystals (essentially DIY Purex crystals) that I’ll be sharing with you in this post!

Related: 8 Clever Laundry Hacks That Share One Powerful Ingredient

Make Scented Laundry Crystals With Essential Oils

One of the best things about making your own fabric softener crystals as opposed to buying them is that you can customize the scent however you like. Keep it simple by adding your favorite essential oil, or use two or more oils to create your own signature scent.

I like to use equal amounts of lemon oil and lavender oil as part of my fabric softener ingredients. The combination is wonderfully bright, fresh, and floral all at once, like a sun-drenched botanical garden. :-)

Let’s get to that recipe, shall we?

DIY Fabric Softener Crystals

You’ll need:

• 4 cups Epsom salt (OR table salt OR sea salt)
• 40 drops essential oil(s) of choice
• Airtight container

Directions:

Add 4 cups of salt to a large bowl, then add 40 drops of essential oils and stir to mix. Add more essential oils as desired for a stronger scent.

That’s all there is to it! Transfer your finished fabric softener crystals to a large jar with an airtight lid for storage.

This recipe makes enough epsom salt fabric softener for about 16 standard loads of laundry, but you can easily make more or less! Just add 10 drops of essential oils per 1 cup of salt used.

How To Use Your Fabric Softener Crystals

Add 1/4 cup of fabric softener crystals per standard load of laundry along with your regular laundry detergent. Use slightly more for large or heavily soiled loads.

BONUS: 4 More Ways To Soften Fabrics

As I mentioned at the very beginning of this post, there are tons of different fabric softeners out there! I’ve shared all sorts of options here on my blog over the years. Check out the links below for more great ways to keep your clothes soft and static-free!

• Easy Rosemary Mint Fabric Softener
• Scented Vinegar Fabric Softener Rinse
• Wool Dryer Balls
• Reusable Dryer Sheets

Check out my Laundry category for even more laundry tips, tricks, and DIYs!

Do you have a favorite fabric softener type, brand, or method?