Homemade fabric softener can be economical, especially when it's made with ingredients you likely already have on-hand. You can also customize the scent with essential oils, or leave it unscented - the choice is yours. Whether you're looking to save money, control allergic reactions, or just have some fun with DIY options, these fabric softener alternatives will get your fabrics soft and static-free.
DIY Fabric Softener With Essential Oils
Grab some vinegar and your favorite essential oils; it really is that simple.
- Fill a jar with 2-4 cups of white vinegar.
- Add 15 drops of your favorite essential oils. You can mix and match combinations like 5 drops of lavender and 10 drops of eucalyptus.
- Shake well and add ½ cup to a medium load of laundry.
Homemade Fabric Softener With Vegetable Glycerine
Interested in trying a bit of vegetable glycerine in your fabric softener? This recipe is pretty simple.
- Combine 2 cups of white vinegar, 1 cup water, and 2 tablespoons of glycerin in a jar.
- Add 15-20 drops of essential oil. For a floral explosion, add some jasmine or rose.
- Add ½ cup to the wash, or soak small microfiber cloths in the mixture to create dryer sheets.
Homemade Fabric Softener With Hair Conditioner
Conditioner doesn't just work to make your hair fabulously soft; it can work on your laundry too. For this method, grab conditioner and white vinegar.
- Combine ½ cup of your favorite unscented or scented hair conditioner with 3 cups of water in a jar.
- Shake vigorously to combine.
- Add 1.5 cups of vinegar to the mix.
- Shake it up.
- Add ½ to 1 cup to the wash. You will need to shake the jar each time you use it.
Epsom Salt Homemade Fabric Softener
Do you have Epsom salts on hand? If so, grab them and a little baking soda to create the perfect fabric softener.
- In a jar, combine 2 cups of Epsom salts with ½ cup of baking soda.
- Add 25-30 drops of your favorite essential oils or oil combinations.
- Stir and shake well to mix.
- Add 3 tablespoons of this powdered fabric softener to each medium load.
DIY Fabric Softener Crystals
Are you a huge fan of fabric softener crystals? Then you need to grab your kosher salt and get cracking by creating this simple two-ingredient recipe.
- Add 2-3 cups of kosher salt to a glass jar.
- Add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil or essential oil mix to the salt.
- Shake well to combine the oils and salt.
- Add 4 tablespoons to a medium load. For really hard water, add up to ½ cup.
Fabric Softener With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Here's a simple, straight-forward mixture to keep on-hand.
- In a jar, add a 2:1 mixture of water to baking soda.
- Cap and shake up well.
- Slowly add a ½ cup of vinegar.
- Follow with 10 drops of your favorite essential oil.
- Add ½ cup of the mixture to the rinse cycle.
Baking Soda Fabric Softener
Short on time or not interested in anything fancy? You can simply add baking soda to the wash to soften your clothes.
- Add ½ cup of baking soda to the wash.
- Run the wash cycle as normal.
Vinegar as Fabric Softener
Just like baking soda, white vinegar stands alone. To soften your laundry with white vinegar, follow these steps.
- Add ½ to 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of the wash.
- Dry as normal.
Create Your Own Fabric Softener With Ease
When you look at the back of your fabric softener bottle or box, you'll notice a bunch of different ingredients you can't pronounce. That can't be good for your skin, right? Take the guesswork out of your laundry by trying a few 2-3 ingredient fabric softeners that can make your laundry smell good. Even better, pair your softener up with a laundry detergent substitute that's safer for the environment.
