Natural Homemade Fabric Softener

This homemade fabric softener is made with two natural ingredients, and costs just pennies per load.

 

Not long ago, I tried laundry stripping for the first time, and I loved how soft my towels felt after the process. I started to question whether there was anything I could do to keep my towels and bedding soft over time (since I probably will only strip laundry once or twice a year).

I know the answer may seem obvious, like duh… fabric softener. But for some reason I have always looked at fabric softener as a luxury laundry item that I wasn’t going to spend money on… and after doing research for this post, I’m actually glad I never used it. I did, however, find that there’s an easy, effective… and cheap way to naturally soften laundry, and you only need two ingredients!

What You Need to Make Homemade Fabric Softener

 

Affiliate links may be used. Please see our advertising disclosure for more information.

Ingredients Needed to Make Natural Fabric Softener

• Vinegar– Vinegar works to soften fabrics by removing soap residue and hard water deposits
• Essential Oil– Not only will essential oil help to mask the overpowering smell of the vinegar, certain essential oils can add an extra dose of cleaning power to your laundry routine. If you are unsure where to buy essential oils, I created a guide to help you find the best brand for you. I do not sell essential oils, so the guide is not bias towards any specific company.

Supplies Needed for Natural DIY Fabric Softener

• Glass Bottle with Lid– For Storage
• Liquid Measuring Cup or Funnel– While these items are optional, it makes pouring a lot easier.

How to Make Your Own Fabric Softener

The following recipe makes 4 cups of fabric softener. If you are using a smaller bottle, feel free to adjust the measurements accordingly.

This fabric softener recipe is one of the easiest recipes on this entire site. You just need two ingredients and about a minute of your time.

Start by pouring 4 cups of vinegar into a glass bottle. I find it easier to pour the vinegar into a liquid measuring cup first so I have more control. Alternately, you could use a funnel.

 

Then add in your essential oil. For each cup of vinegar, add 10-15 drops of essential oil. I went with 20 drops of lemongrass and 20 drops of peppermint. Feel free to combine different essential oils for your own unique scent. (See the FAQ Section below for some ideas on the best essential oils for laundry)

 

Secure the top on the bottle and give it a good shake.

You’re done! How easy was that?!

 

How to Use Natural Homemade Fabric Softener

Add 1/4-1/2 cup of fabric softener to the fabric softener compartment in your washing machine prior to starting your load of laundry. My washing machine has a “max fill line”, so I added enough fabric softener to hit that line.

IMPORTANT: Vinegar should never be combined with bleach! So if you are using bleach, do not add this DIY fabric softener to the load.

 

In addition to using this DIY fabric softener, you can also use dryer balls as they work to soften fabrics as well (and they reduce dry time!)

We think you might also love these ideas!

Homemade Laundry Detergent | DIY Laundry Scent Booster | DIY Stain Remover

 

Common Questions About Homemade Fabric Softener

Is DIY Fabric Softener Safe for All Fabrics?

Vinegar is generally safe for most fabrics. Although there is information to suggest that it may break down elastic over time, so you may want to avoid using this fabric softener recipe on clothing containing elastic waistbands. It is always recommended to test any cleaning product on a small area of your clothing or linens prior to using it in a full load.

Does Vinegar Work Better Than Fabric Softener?

Fabric softener and vinegar soften clothing and linens in different ways. Fabric softener coats fabrics in chemicals to create a soft feel (source), while vinegar softens fabrics by removing soap scum build up and hard water deposits. Let’s compare vinegar to fabric softener.

Price– Vinegar can be bought at a grocery store for about $4 per gallon. I used about $1 worth of essential oil for 4 cups, so that would make it an additional $4 for the entire gallon. If you use 1/4-1/2 cup in each load of laundry, the cost for using vinegar and essential oil is about 12-25 cents per load. Laundry products (including fabric softeners) are notorious for “misguided” marketing. Although the front of a 75 oz bottle of fabric softener says it’s good for 150 loads, it recommends using 2-4 oz of fabric softener per load. Last I checked, that would mean a 75 oz bottle would yield 19-37 loads (not 150!). So, the price is about 46-90 cents/load (almost 4x the cost of the homemade version!). Vinegar definitely wins in the pricing category.

Handling Odors– If you are looking to neutralize and remove odors, vinegar is going to do a better job because it breaks down odor causing molecules. However, even with the addition of essential oils, vinegar does not really scent the laundry. If you are looking for your laundry to smell like a lavender field, then fabric softener is going to win 🙂

Residue Build Up– Fabric softeners can cause residue to build up, not only on your clothes, but also in the washing machine. Another potential hazard of commercial fabric softeners is the increase in flammability of clothing! Here is the warning label on a bottle of fabric softener “WARNING: Do not use this product: On fluffier fabrics such as fleece or terry cloth as it may increase the flammability of these fabrics. On children’s sleepwear or other garments labeled as flame resistant as it may reduce flame resistance.” Yikes! As if that wasn’t enough, commercial fabric softeners are not recommended for use on towels because the chemicals used reduce absorbency. Vinegar, on the other hand breaks down residue, which is actually how it softens fabrics.

Safety to Washing Machine– As mentioned above fabric softener can cause residue to build up in your washing machine. Vinegar, however, is quite acidic, so there is a potential it could compromise the rubber seal and/or hoses over time, with frequent use. Honestly, I will only be using fabric softener on my towels and bedding, so I feel okay with the occasional use of vinegar in my washing machine.

Sensitive Skin– If you deal with sensitive skin, fabric softeners may cause irritation, whereas vinegar should not be an issue.

What Are the Best Essential Oils for Laundry?

Not sure which essential oils to add to your homemade fabric softener recipe? Here are a couple ideas!

Single Essential Oils for Laundry

• Lavender– Lavender has a relaxing scent often used in laundry detergents and scent boosters
• Lemongrass– Lemongrass has a bright, fresh smell that’s crisp and clean
• Anything Citrus- Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit… all citrus essential oils have a fresh, clean scent. The downfall to citrus oils is they are not super strong, so you may find the scent to be minimal. Citrus seems to shine when combined with other essential oils.
• Tea Tree– I’m not gonna lie… I don’t love the smell of tea tree, but it is known as a natural antifungal, and many enjoy its bold scent.

Essential Oil Blends for Laundry

Some essential oil companies have created blends specifically for laundry

• Sparkling Lavender Laundry– This blend is formulated specifically for laundry with a blend of Lemon, Lavender, Patchouli, Lavandin and Vanilla
• Loads of Fun– This citrusy blend is perfect for fresh, clean smelling laundry with a combination of Orange, Grapefruit, Wintergreen, Lemon and Tangerine
• Tumble & Tidy– This laundry blend contains Lavender, Lime, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Sweet Orange, Litsea and Jasmine essential oils

 

Love it? Pin it!