Fabric Softner

I've totally been on this new homemade everything kick lately. I want to use less chemicals in my home. I want to help keep our planet cleaner. And I of course want to save money! So far I must say I've been very happy with the results of everything I have made. 

Here is the recipe and directions for making your own fabric softner. 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups White Distilled Vinegar
• 2 cups Hair Conditioner 
• 8 cups Hot Water

Directions:

Mix ingredients together and pour into a storage container.  Recycle used containers. Use about 1/4 cup per load in the rinse cycle.

Here is my recipe for homemade dryer sheets.

Whatcha need:

 

1. fabric (I cut an old towel up into rectangles.)

2. fabric softner - use your homemade version or store bought

3. some type of storage container - a rubbermaid bowl with a lid worked perfect for me

4. water

 

 

Directions:

 

I placed my cut up fabric pieces into my storage container. Then I poured 19 ounces of Ultra Downy into the container. I added water to the empty Downy container (half full) and poured that into the storage container. My little helper enjoyed taking a wooden spoon and squishing it.  Then we really had some fun and took each rag piece and squeezed it. Then we tossed the rags back into the container and closed it up. You certainly don't have to do this, we just wanted to have a little more fun in the process.

 

When it's time to dry a load of clothes I will just throw in 2 rung out rags and dry.  After your load is dry, toss the rag back into the bucket to soak up more goodness. Viola!

 

Since I'm new to this I'm still in the experimental phase.  I plan on eventually using my own homemade fabric softner instead of Downy but first I'll use Downy and continually add more water with each batch I make.  I'm really interested in how much money this can save me. I do love the Downy scent so it might be hard to break away from using it but I'll get there. I'll post again when I make another batch (with more water) to see if the strong smell stays as strong. Right now I'm sure it'll be nice and strong since it is so concentrated but I won't get as many uses as I should.  The whole idea is to not have to spend outrageous amounts of money on box after box of dryer sheets. This is especially bad for me because I am a dryer sheet freak. I never use 1 sheet. I must use two sheets, always. The smell is just so good.  There is nothing like wonderfully good smelling, clean laundry.

 

Stay tuned for price break downs as I start adding up the final results.