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Half gallon mason jar of homemade liquid fabric softener sitting on top of a trunk.

Homemade Liquid Fabric Softener

Three easy and inexpensive DIY recipes to make your own homemade liquid fabric softener.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

DIY Recipe #1: Distilled White Vinegar + Essential Oils
  • 4 cups distilled white vinegar
  • 40-60 drops essential oils (optional)
DIY Recipe #2: Lemon Infused Vinegar
  • 8 lemon rinds
  • 5 cups distilled white vinegar
DIY Recipe #3: Distilled White Vinegar + Hair Conditioner
  • 1 cup hair conditioner
  • 4 cups hot water
  • 2 cups distilled white vinegar
  • 40-60 drops essential oil (optional)

Equipment

  • 1 quart size mason jar
  • 1 half gallon mason jar
  • 1 fermentation weight
  • 1 fine mesh strainer
  • 1 wide mouth mason jar lid
  • 1 large wooden spoon

Method
 

DIY Recipe #1: Distilled White Vinegar + Essential Oils
  1. Add distilled white vinegar and essential oils to a quart size mason jar.
  2. Shake to combine.
  3. Add 1/4-1/2 of liquid fabric softener per load (depending on the size of your load) according to your washing machine instructions.
  4. Will last 8-16 loads.
DIY Recipe #2: Lemon Infused Vinegar
  1. Add lemon rinds to a half gallon mason jar.
  2. Pour distilled white vinegar over the lemon rinds.
  3. If you have one, place a fermentation weight on top of the mixture and firmly press down. If you do not have a fermentation weight, be sure to shake the jar every day to ensure the lemons stay covered by the distilled white vinegar.
  4. Allow the lemons to infuse into the distilled white vinegar for 2-3 weeks.
  5. After 2-3 weeks, use a fine mesh strainer and strain the infused vinegar separating out the rinds, seeds, and any other pieces floating in the liquid.
  6. Store your lemon infused distilled white vinegar is a mason jar and use 1/4-1/2 cup per load (depending on the size of your load) according to your washing machine instructions.
  7. Will last 10-20 loads.
DIY Recipe #3: Distilled White Vinegar + Hair Conditioner
  1. Add hair conditioner to a half gallon mason jar.
  2. Add hot water to your mason jar and stir the jar well.
  3. Add distilled white vinegar and essential oils to the mason jar. Stir again to combine everything.
  4. Add 1/4-1/2 of liquid fabric softener per load (depending on the size of your load) according to your washing machine instructions.
  5. Will last 14-28 loads.

Notes

  • I would recommend 1/4 cup of liquid fabric softener for smaller loads and 1/2 cup of liquid fabric softener for larger loads for all three DIY recipes.
  • The essential oils aren’t necessary in any of the recipes. Depending on which essential oils you use, they can add cleaning ability to your laundry and produce a nice smell.
  • None of the 3 liquid fabric softener recipes actually leave behind a scent on my laundry once fully washed and dried. My clothes feel and smell nice, but not specifically fragranced.
  • Never mix any of these liquid fabric softeners with bleach or ammonia due to the distilled white vinegar.
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