Can you make fabric softener at home?
MomToMany wrote: Just wondering if anybody has a recipe for home-made fabric softener. I go through a lot of it, and it would be easier (and maybe cheaper?) if I made it at home.
TIA!!
Hillbilly Housewife replied: I pulled this off a website:
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Fabric Softener
I'm trying my hand at making some homeade fabric softener, this time with a different recipe. I got the recipe from "Cheaper & Better" by Nancy Birnes. The book isn't sold at Amazon, so I got it from the library. Anyway, you only need 2c baking soda, 2c vinegar (white) and 4c water. I mixed it all in a 1/2 gallon milk jug, added some fragrance (Lavender) and mixed it up.
I put some in the load that's going through my wash right now. I hope it works. This is a very cheap alternative to store bought fabric softener (which is expensive). I also hope the fragrance keeps. I'll have to add more if it doesn't smell Lavender-y enough for me.
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Hope it helps!
Hillbilly Housewife replied: Also, these might help!!
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LAUNDRY SOFTENER
Recipe #1
2 Cups White Vinegar
2 Cups Baking Soda
4 Cups Water
Combine slowly and carefully over sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz.
Pour into plastic bottle, cover, and shake.
*Hint - Reuse your "Downy" bottle.
Use 1/4 cup in the final rinse or in a "Downy Ball".
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Recipe #2
2-3 Cups Water
1 Cup Liquid Fabric Softener
Large Sponge
Combine water and liquid softener. Cut sponge in 1/2 and keep in liquid. When drying clothes, remove sponge, squeeze out excess liquid and place in dryer with clothes. When dry, just place sponge back in liquid to be used for next load.
You can also use these products alone to soften:
Plain White Vinegar - Add 1/2 cup to final rinse.
Baking Soda - Add 1/4 cup to final rinse.
Regular Fabric Softener - Dilute and use normally.
Hair Conditioner or Cream Rinse - Pour 1 tablespoon into damp washcloth and toss in with clothes.
STAIN REMOVER
Recipe #1
1/2 Cup Ammonia
1/2 Cup White Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Liquid Laundry Detergent (Use HomeMade)
2 Quarts Water
Mix well, and store in spray bottle.
*Hint - Reuse your "Spray and Wash" bottle.
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Recipe #2
1/2 Cup Ammonia
1/2 Cup Liquid Laundry Detergent (Use HomeMade)
1/2 Cup White Vinegar
1/2 Cup Water
Mix well, and store in spray bottle.
*Hint - Reuse your "Spray and Wash" bottle.
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Recipe #3
1/4 Cup Borax or Washing Soda
2 Cups Cold Water
Sponge on and let dry, or soak the fabric in Borax mixture before washing in soap and cold water.
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Recipe #4
For Heavily Stained Clothing
**NOTE: This is for use with white cotton, nylon and polyester only.
1/2 Cup Liquid Laundry Detergent (Use HomeMade)
1/2 Cup Electric Dishwasher Detergent
1/2 Cup Non-Chlorinated Bleach or Ammonia, Not Both
Soak clothes in washing machine overnight or until stains disappear. Launder as usual.
You can also use these products alone to remove stains:
Plain White Vinegar
Hydrogen Peroxide
Fels Naptha
Castile Soap
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MomToMany replied: 
 Thank you! With all the laundry I do, it sure would help! I like to hang mine outside as much as possible during spring & summer, and we have hard water. I hate it when the clothes dry as stiff as a board!
Let me know how good it works, and if it has to be modified some how!
MomToMany replied: Great recipes!  I posted my reply before I saw the rest of them. Thank you so much! With 3 boys, there's always some sort of stain I need to get out!
Hillbilly Housewife replied: No problem! I personally use a home-made recipie for baby wipes - a whoe lot cheaper than the store bought ones, and I *KNOW* what's on them!
Hillbilly Housewife replied: :bunmP I thught this might be useful maybe as a tip?
MommyToAshley replied: Did anyone try this? How did it work?
Schnoogly replied:
What's your recipe? When my current stash runs out I want to make my own too.
I can wash them with the diapers.
S.
Schnoogly replied:
What's your recipe? When my current stash runs out I want to make my own too.
I can wash them with the diapers.
S.
supermom replied:
I know from experience that Hydrogen Peroxide works well on AF stains (with three of us girls in the house, we'd better find something!! and a nurse I know told me about this trick) .... just be careful not to let it soak too long before you wash or else it'll get the fabric too!
Hillbilly Housewife replied: Home-made baby wipes
1 cylinder shaped plastic container
1 roll of paper towels
2 Cups Boiling Water
1 TBSP. Baby Bath
1 ½ TBSP. Baby Oil
Cut the roll of paper towels in half (cross wise) with a knife, serrated works best. Remove the card board from the middle. Place your paper towels in the container (cut side down). Mix the baby bath and baby oil with the boiling water. Stir well. Pour the mixture over the paper towels in the container.
Schnoogly replied: Thanks! Does it matter that the baby wash doesn't get rinsed off? It doesn't irritate?
I have a huge number of little washcloths--I was going to just put them in an old wipe container and pour the solution over them. We use cloth diapers, so I would just throw the dirty wipes in with the diapers. The wipes you buy just aren't soft enough and I end up using 10 with every poopy change  What a waste!! I didn't know you could just use baby wash (diluted)
Steph
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