This Homemade Fabric Softener with Vinegar and Hair Conditioner Recipe is about as easy as can be! You won’t believe how much money you’ll save at the grocery store!
Homemade Fabric Softener With Vinegar
You may already be making Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent and other DIY Cleaners… but if you’ve been wanting to cut costs on Fabric Softener, you’re going to LOVE this Homemade Fabric Softener with Vinegar and Hair Conditioner!
Becky writes: "Made it, used it, LOVED it, made it again! The vinegar smell goes away once the clothes are dried. Love saving money, and love that our clothes don’t have an overpowering smell to them."
Have you been swapping any of your conventional cleaners for homemade cleaners?
Homemade cleaners save SO much money, and you know exactly what ingredients are going into them!
Now I’ve been making this DIY Fabric Softener for years, and can’t believe how much money it saves! It works SO well, too!
And if you’re wondering how to get the stink out of towels, THIS fabric softener is the perfect trick!
The vinegar infuses the towels when washing, and tackles that mildew smell.
I know what you’re thinking… but vinegar smells! Just trust me… you won’t smell the vinegar at all once they’re done.
So are you ready to save some serious money by making your own Homemade Fabric Softener?
Let’s get started…
Related: How to Score Walmart Deals (20 Secret Tips)
Can You Use Vinegar as a Fabric Softener in Laundry?
Yep… you sure can! It works great on clothing, towels and bedding. Plus, this natural fabric softener will save you so much money, too!
Homemade Fabric Softener Ingredients
- 6 cups HOT water
- 3 cups White Vinegar
- 1.5 cups Hair Conditioner (my favorite is Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle, but you could also try your favorite scent of Suave)
How To Make Fabric Softener with Vinegar and Conditioner
You won’t believe how simple it is to make your own homemade fabric softener!
Here’s what you’ll do…
Mix conditioner & hot water well, until conditioner is dissolved completely. A whisk works well to get the job done.
Add the vinegar, and mix well.
Store in a large container (empty fabric softener container, empty large vinegar bottle, etc.)
Just remember to NEVER use vinegar and bleach together.
When running non-bleach loads, use 1 – 2 tbsp. per load in the fabric softener spot in your laundry machine, then wash as normal!
If washing towels, wash on warm or hot water and make sure to dry completely to keep the stink away.
Give it a try this week, for another easy homemade cleaner swap!
Thanks to frugal friend Holly for sharing this great Homemade Fabric Softener With Vinegar recipe on The Frugal Girls Facebook page!
More Ways to Save Money on Laundry
Cindy writes: “My tip is fabulous… here it goes:
- Buy a small travel spray bottle
- Fill it with liquid fabric softener
- Load your machine
- Grab a clean hankie
- Throw it in the dryer
- Spray it with the softener
- Run the machine
- You now have your own fabric sheets. Reuse til the hankie is in pieces. I have yet to replace mine. Saves me tons of money.”
How to Dry Clothes Inside
This DIY Laundry Drying Rod for Small Spaces is the perfect solution to dry your clothes inside… without taking up any extra space. It’s the perfect solution for small spaces!
Our current home is tiny… so I kept looking for different spots to hang dry my laundry. Then one day it occurred to me… the bathroom was the perfect place!
This works great in our guest bathroom, because that shower is rarely used… and when guests come, I just take it all down and hide it!
What You’ll Need to Dry Clothes Inside
- Tension Shower Rod
- Plastic Hangers
What You’ll Do
- Simply hang an extra shower curtain rod along the top of your bath tub/shower area… and you’ve instantly got a hidden indoor spot to do some drying!
- After you wash your clothes, hang them on plastic hangers on your rod, and it won’t matter if anything is dripping, either, thanks to the drain below!
- Then, just close the curtain, and it’s outta sight!
Sean writes: “This is so brilliant! When I use my shower rod it goes all over the floor! I never, ever occurred to me to put a rod in the shower itself.”
Pearl writes: “I have been hanging hand washed sweaters over an extra shower bar for years. Love the fact that I don’t have to worry if I wring them out enough or not they drip right into the tub. I also put a folding clothes drying rack in the tub sometime to if I am concerned about hanger marks on the shoulders.”
Now… check out how to How to Keep your Washing Machine Smelling Fresh!
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So have you tried this Homemade Fabric Softener With Vinegar yet??
Please leave a comment and share!
I love this stuff! As I was cleaning up the mess I made , making my Fabric Softener. I spilled some in my dish soap & etc. I rinsed with hot water. WoW! everything really sparkled!, so I went a step further. I used it in my hair. Amazing! lol
I made this but used a family size conditioner bottle (suave 22 oz). My clothes don’t have ANY scent. Any ideas to get a scent? Better quality conditioner? Add essential oils (will it stain the clothes?)?
Does this work with an he washing machine?
It does — I use about 3 tablespoons per load.
I didn’t imagine it was so easy to make it and a good smelling one. Thank you very much for your splendid idea.
Hi, can you tell me if this is supposed to be a really runny texture? Mine turned out much much runnier than store bought so just wanted to be sure I did it right. Thanks
Hi Amy ~ yes… it’s definitely more runnier of a texture as opposed to the store bought brands. Hope that helps! 😉
If you are concerned about the Oxy products try Biz stain remover powder….l have used it in my diy powder and it works great too.
I too use the homemade laundry detergent with Purex crystals. I found the recipe on Pinterest and love it. I usually pour detergent directly into the tub and have never had any trouble. Before making my own I was spending a fortune on Tide and Affresh, always left the door open, wiped glass on door and under the rubber gasket with a Clorox wipe at least once a week. Since using my new find I haven’t noticed that bad smell on our clothes or inside the washer! I am saving tons of our hard earned money but I have vowed to never buy another HE washer again!
I used to have a front loader. I can’t stand it! It got so I disliked to do laundry due to the smell. I did a “bleach cycle” and it worked for awhile, but the smell returned. I then did a “vinegar cycle” and it resolved the issue. That washer is long gone now, and it wasn’t that old, and I have a toploader again and glad of it. I also use vinegar in my dishwasher about once a month and also put it in the jetdri dispenser and everything comes out sparkling! Love this site – so many great ideas.
If you leave your front loading washer door cracked
Open after washing you do not get the musty smell
I have done this from the beginning and I have never
Had it. I have had my HE machine for 7 years. Mold grows in
Warm damp places the washer is the perfect storm
For that
I’ve used this a few times. and it works great. I use vinegar in a spray bottle use it to freshen my son’s shoes after a nice washing, and it works great. no more smell:)