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!

Fabric softener, conditioner, and vinegar.

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…

Rolled towels in a basket.

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!

Hangars on a rod in a shower.

What You’ll Need to Dry Clothes Inside

  • Tension Shower Rod
  • Plastic Hangers

What You’ll Do

  1. 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!
  2. 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!
  3. Then, just close the curtain, and it’s outta sight!

Plastic hangars on a shower rod.

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!

Person pulling back the seal from a washing machine.

More Budget Saving Home Cleaning Recipes

Then, go check out this BIG List of more creative DIY Cleaners + Cleaning Tips…

DIY Homemade Febreze Recipe

This DIY Homemade Febreze Recipe is such a cinch to make, and you’ll save SO much $$ with this simple little trick!

Spray bottle of febreze on a countertop.

How To Make Homemade Foaming Soap

This foaming hand soap tip is used at every sink in my home. It’s an easy way to save BIG on the cost of hand soap!

A foaming hand soap dispenser and dial hand soap.

Easy Homemade Foaming Baby Wash

Babies are so adorable… and kinda expensive, yikes! That means saving some money on your baby wash is a really smart idea!

Rubber duck, baby shampoo, and a foaming soap pump.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

One of the very easiest ways to save money on laundry is to use this homemade liquid laundry detergent. I have been personally using this recipe for almost 10 years!

A sparkling kitchen with white cabinets and white counters.

DIY Washing Powder Detergent

Make doing laundry extra frugal with this easy Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder Recipe!

Scoop in a glass jar of homemade laundry detergent.

DIY Wrinkle Releaser

You need to check out this DIY Wrinkle Release Recipe that is both fast and frugal!!

Spray bottle of Wrinkle Release Spray.

DIY Wool Dryer Balls

I love my wool dryer balls. I can’t even imagine doing laundry without them!

Four wool dryer balls in a wicker basket.

Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe

I’ve personally been using this glass cleaner for years!

Dawn dish soap and vinegar on a counter next to a spray bottle.

Homemade 409 Recipe

I love knowing exactly what is going into the cleaners I use in my home!

Homemade 409 ingredients arranged in a row.

How To Make Foaming Dish Soap

This foaming dish soap hack is seriously one of the easiest ways to save money on dish soap!

Foaming Dish Soap dispenser and dawn dish soap.

Homemade Granite Cleaner Recipe

Save money on that overpriced store-bought granite cleaner when you use this frugal Homemade Granite Cleaner instead!

A sparkling kitchen with white cabinets and white counters.

DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe

You won’t believe how easy it is to make your own hand sanitizer using this DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe!

Small container of hand sanitizer with yellow flowers.

How to Make Your House Smell Good (HUGE List of Genius Hacks)

Nobody likes a stinky home. So skip the stink, and transform your home into a paradise of lovely fragrances with my easy hacks!

Blue Dutch front door with the top half opened.

DIY Carpet Powder Freshener

We love using this DIY carpet powder on the carpets, what an effective and frugal way to make carpets smell fresh!

Jar of carpet powder freshener with two flowers.

How to Remove Soap Scum from Shower Doors

Here are two simple little tricks for How to Remove Soap Scum from Shower Doors! Are you ready to kick your soap scum to the curb??

Clean walk-in shower with a black, grey, and white tile wall.

How to Prevent Water Spots on Shower Doors

I’ve got two simple little tricks that will help you prevent a large majority of the water spots from ever appearing!

Clear, glass shower door with a black handle.

Easy Drain Cleaner Trick

Get those drains working again with this easy Drain Cleaner Baking Soda Vinegar Trick!

Clean, white bathtub in a bathroom.

50 DIY Homemade Cleaners Recipes That Work! (Surprisingly Easy)

Get ready for some serious savings with these simple DIY Homemade Cleaners Recipes and Tips!

Collage of different homemade cleaners.

Save Money Fast (20 Easy Ways to Save $2200 this Month!)

Are you wondering how to Save Money Fast? It’s easy when you start slashing expenses and adding these extra sources of income to your finances!

A $50 bill and a $100 bill on a keyboard.

So have you tried this Homemade Fabric Softener With Vinegar yet??

Please leave a comment and share!

About Heidi Miller

Heidi Miller is the creator of The Frugal Girls, where she shares easy recipes with massive flavor! She has been creating and sharing recipes online for over 15 years, and brings warmth, expertise, and a personal touch to every recipe. Her work has been featured on Today.com, NBC, Fox, Parade, People, Country Living, Woman’s World, and more!

Read More About Me

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253 Comments

  1. Dena says:

    Loved this!!!! I used the new Everlasting Sunshine scent from Suave. It smeels great.

    Reply
  2. Bonnie says:

    I read a post with this same recipe that said never to use it in a load that was being bleached. Bleach and vinegar product toxic fumes.

    Reply
  3. Lisha says:

    Just made this and threw it in my washer already. Can’t wait to see what happens! I’m so excited.

    Reply
  4. esther says:

    For those of you with front loading machines, I have been told that the reason they get the mildewy smell is the build up of fabric softener on the underside of the barrel. I am super excited to try this recipe. I think the vinegar will prevent that from happening. Although, I may dilute my existing softener with vinegar until I run out.

    Reply
  5. Maureena says:

    Is it possible to use a different conditioner? like suave professionals humectant?

    Reply
  6. annette jackson says:

    you can also just use vinegar about 1/4 cup in the rinse cycle and it reduces static cling… i have been doing that for years …. just white vinegar and nothing else

    Reply
  7. Jenny says:

    So I just realized I bought shampoo when I needed the conditioner. Will it work the same, do you think?

    Reply
  8. Susan says:

    I use just the vinegar, it works great. Otherwise if you want a scent, just add a drop of your favorite essential oil 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jeanne Davis says:

    I make my own fabric softener sheets. I cut up an old cotton hospital blanket into about 6 inch squares. I buy fabric softener and use 1/4 cup softener and 3/4 cup water. I have a rubbermaid bread box and put the sheets of fabric in it and then pour the solution over them. I throw a sheet in the dryer with the wet clothes. I do have to throw two sheets in if it is a fabric that is prone to static clean.

    My question is this. Is there any reason why this formula wouldn’t work the same way? Certainly buying suave shampoo is cheaper than fabric softener.

    Thanks
    Jeannie

    Reply
  10. Mary Jane says:

    you could probably use a non scented organic conditioner and add a few drops of scented oil. that would probably make smell last

    Reply