How to Make Softener for Clothes

Making your own laundry softener saves you money.

Laundry softeners help keep your clothes soft after you've washed them. They also can reduce the amount of static electricity transferred to clothes while drying in a clothes dryer. You can buy fabric softeners from the store, but they sometimes contain chemicals and scents that can aggravate allergies. They also can be expensive. To save money and know you're using gentle ingredients, create your own laundry softening solution at home.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bottle
• 4 cups water
• 2 cups white vinegar
• 2 cups baking soda

Instructions

1. Rinse out an empty plastic bottle. A bottle that once contained liquid fabric softener will work well.

2. Pour 4 cups of water, 2 cups of vinegar and 2 cups of baking soda into the bottle.

3. Replace the cap on the bottle and shake it for about 30 seconds to mix the ingredients.

4. Add 1/4 cup of your homemade laundry softener per load of clothes to soften the fabrics as they wash.

References

• The Frugal Shopper: HomeMade Laundry Softener and Stain Remover
• "How the Queen Cleans Everything"; Linda Cobb; 2002