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Homemade Fabric Softener

Making your own fabric softener is both easy and inexpensive.  It can be as simple as buying a jug of vinegar, or a little more complex if you'd like to have added scent.  Vinegar does a great job not only softening your clothing, but also in brightening colors and removing odors.  Following are a few easy recipes to get you started.

Fabric Softener #1 - Plain

Ingredients:

White Vinegar

Place 1/2 cup of white vinegar in your fabric softener dispenser per load of wash.  (Pretty darn simple!)


Fabric Softener #2 - Scented

Ingredients:

1 gallon jug of white vinegar
A big handful of your favorite herb (such as lavender, chopped orange peels,  or peppermint)
20 drops of a matching essential oil (optional)

You will need to remove some of the vinegar from the jug in order to infuse the herbs in it.  Just pour a cup or so into a jar or bottle.  You can save it to pour back into the jug of vinegar once it is infused, or use it for something else (perhaps some homemade all-purpose cleaner).

Place the herbs into the jug of vinegar, cap, and shake.  Allow the herbs to infuse the vinegar for a couple weeks, shaking every few days.

Strain the herbs out of the vinegar by pouring the vinegar through a mesh screen into a large pitcher.  Once the herbs are strained out, you can pour the vinegar back into the jug, and add the essential oil.  Cap and shake well. 

Use 1/2 cup per load as a scented fabric softener.

Fabric Softener #3 - For Tough Odors

2 cups hot water
1 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar (scented if you'd prefer)

Combine hot water and baking soda in a large pitcher.  Add vinegar (watch for the fizz-up!) and stir well.

Store the mixture in a quart jar, and shake well before each use.  Use 1/2 cup per load.

Other Laundry Tips & Ideas

*Cut an old t-shirt into squares.  Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto a square, and toss it into the dryer with your load of wash to add a little fragrance.

*Add 1/2 cup of washing soda to your wash with your laundry soap at the beginning of the wash cycle for heavily soiled loads.

*Add 1/2 cup of borax to your wash with your laundry soap at the beginning of the wash cycle to help remove stains.

*Add a tablespoon of salt to your colored loads to help keep colors vibrant.

*Add 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide to your wash with your laundry soap at the begining of the wash cycle to brighten whites.

*Add a splash of lemon juice to your wash with your laundry soap at the beginning of the wash cycle to brighten whites.

*The best way I have found to remove blood stains is to saturate the stain with hydrogen peroxide, then sprinkle with baking soda, and rub the stain out.

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