I do about 3 loads of laundry a day and I go through a 60-load bottle of Snuggle fabric softener in about 8 to 10 days. I always clip coupons to save money, too. And I don't like the cheap fabric softeners... I can't even smell them. Is there a way to save money on this by making your own? It's breaking me!
Vinegar in the rinse cycle works wonders for softening clothes. But 3 loads a day? It might be time to start culling clothing - I have a family of 6 (child # 5 on the way), and I only do one load every 2 days. And my children and husband are messy! I make my children wear play clothes as long as possible before cleaning - and my own wardrobe is very simplified - and I wear everything 2-3 times ('cept underwear, of course!)before washing as my clothes don't get that dirty. If your children are old enough to work - make them do, and pay for the care of their own laundry - it will get them to really think about changing their clothes more than once a day! (02/02/2005)
By Shari
Using an old washcloth soak it in fabric softener. Let dry. Use in dryer instead of using liquid in the wash just as you would a dryer sheet. I have used one for About 30 to 40 loads of clothes and it is still working!! At this rate my bottle of fabric softener will last for years! (02/02/2005)
By Sonya Yoder
I too do several loads of clothes for day for a family of 5. Not sure if you are concerned with softness or static, but someone already mentioned vinegar in the rinse load. I also know that a ball of foil in the dryer helps prevent static!~ (02/02/2005)
By Kayla
I have stretched my fabric softener by purchasing a very good brand of softener and diluting it with equal amounts of water. The more expensive brands tend to be thicker, therefore you are able to dilute the product a bit. This doesn't work well with the cheaper brands. Although, I should tell you that I have found a "cheaper" brand, that is very thick and I have had success with it.
By Lorie Herman
I use dryer sheets, cut them in 1/4 or 1/3 and use 1 per load. (05/20/2005)
By
Instead of fabric softener or dry sheets, add 1/2 (one-half) to 1-cup vinegar to last rinse in your washing machine (as you would liquid softener). Your clothes will come out soft because the vinegar helps to remove every trace of laundry detergent, which cause fabrics to stiffen.
Softening
Dryer sheets. The same dryer sheet will work just fine for two, often three loads of laundry. Or cut a dryer sheet into four pieces, using 1/4 sheet instead of a full sheet, per load.
Extend liquid softener. Mix equal portions of regular (not concentrate) liquid fabric softener with hot water in a spray bottle. When adding clothes to the dryer follow with several spritzes onto a washcloth and toss it in the dryer. Works equally well as dryer sheets but for much less money.
Soften with vinegar. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar to the last rinse. Clothes will come out softer without liquid or sheet softeners.
In future columns I'll be telling you how to make your own laundry detergent and how to keep your dark colors (even blacks) from fading. Stay tuned! (06/07/2005)
By G. Parker
I know this is an older post, but thought I would add my 2 cents. There are only 3 of us and I do 4-5 loads every 2 days. (work clothes, lights, darks and blacks) and i was using A LOT of fabric softener. i tried the straight vinegar but missed the smell of the softener. So I started mixing the vinegar with my softener. Makes it last longer and I still get the faint smell of the softener. (02/16/2006)
By kimberly
I found the recipe a few days ago, I have not had a chance to try it -- have to buy some hair conditioner.
FABRIC SOFTENER
(02/17/2006)
By it's.only.me
I went back to using liquid fabric softener instead of dryer sheets. A good online friend told me that was what she used. I like to line dry quite a few things and I think this way clothes are getting softened and and coming out much smoother out of the washer. I am NOT an ironer! Anyway, lately I've been using one from Wal-Mart under their Great Value brand. You get 60 loads per jug. It is thick so altho I do not put less than recommended amt, I do add some water to thin it out. I like the results with this softener and think the clothes come out of the washer pretty darn smooth. The scent is more subtle, not real strong. This bottle of softener is under $3 so I think is a good deal.
My kids usually dirty their clothes ea day but I look them over to see if they could be worn a 2nd time. I definitely wear my clothes more than once unless obviously soiled. I think it's foolish to put clothes worn once in the dirty clothes, if they are not really dirty. I just have too much work to do! (02/17/2006)
I don't know about homemade but I use liquid, pour it into spray bottle and spray my clothes a couple of squirts in the dryer. I have used a cup of vinegar in my rinse water for drying on line. I use a Downy ball for the vinegar. (02/17/2006)
By Nancy Wall
I use a cup of vinegar in the rinse and a 1/2 cup of baking soda in the wash with detergent. It makes the clothes soft and more absorbent . Fabric softener prevents water being absorbed. You will be surprised how much more your towels will soak up.
(02/18/2006)
By Susan from Hamilton
I haven't used fabric softener in years, the cheapest and fast way is to use hair conditioner, just the cheap stuff and put it on a rag or old sock, you only need a little squirt and throw it in with the clothes. It takes away the static, makes clothes soft and smells good too! (02/20/2006)
By liruax
One to 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar is the most effective natural non-polluting fabric softener available. It works by neutralizing the alkaline (base) pH of detergents and soaps which contributes to the static cling factor when drying, and more effectively rinsing the detergent and soap residue away. This works on hair and fur as well. Vinegar rinses and evaporates completely from laundry. Mixing vinegar and soda does nothing but neutralize each other - a fun science experiment for kids, but not effective for a fabric rinse.
Commercial fabric softeners, dryer sheets and hair conditioners (to a lesser extent) contain emulsified wax, usually petroleum based, that coat the fibers of the fabric the create the soft feeling and reduction in wrinkles. This was also smooths then surface of the fibers (much as it does the cuticle on hair shafts) so that there is less surface area to hold moisture. After many washings and dryings, this coating builds up and eventually makes the fiber non-absorbent - hence the "stain resistance" advertised by some softeners. Dryer sheets are the most insidious version of fabric softener since the wax is aerosolized by melting and being spread by the humidity in the dryer. Commercial driers and laundry mats often ban the use of dryer sheets since the wax can build up on the drum surface and coat the exhaust system causing a potential fire hazard, not to mention a form of air pollution. This aerosolized wax can also coat the lungs of animals and humans causing allergic and other health responses. (06/10/2006)
By Loren
I have a recipe for homemade fabric softener that uses essential oils for scent. In a recycled gallon sized vinegar Jug add 2 cups baking soda and 2 cups distilled white vinegar. When mixture finishes foaming add 4 cups of hot water and essential oils to desired strength. I use 20 drops each of lavender and lemon. Shake before each use and add about 1 cup for large loads in the rinse cycle. Essential oils can be found at health food stores locally and of course on the internet. They are a bit expensive but last a very long time. Hope this was helpful to you. (07/09/2006)
By Dawn
I buy a bottle of white vinegar add 24 drops of essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, frankinsense and my clothes come out smelling nice. Also there is a large bottle of natural laundry liquid by lillies at about £4 - you don't need any fabric softener with this and you can buy it from simply soaps.com (08/24/2006)
By San
If you really like the smell of Downey / Snuggle and still want to save money then try this... Use the super concentrated version of your favorite fabric softener and mix it with equal parts water and distilled white vinegar (1/3 each). I put this in an older / smaller FS bottle and mark it. Add this to the rinse cycle and adjust as needed (Harder or softer water may need different amounts of vinegar or softener). When using the concentrated FS, I never go over 1/3 FS though. Always add more water or vinegar.
The best part about this is you get rid of any soap in your clothes during the rinse cycle like you are supposed to.
You know those rings that sometimes form on your clothes when you sweat? No the rings AREN'T from your sweat, they are the soap that is STILL in the clothes after they are run through a washer (without the vinegar). This ends those soap / sweat rings!
I also keep the FS in the mix because some people can still smell a little vinegar if you only use vinegar.
(09/13/2006)
By Chip
try making a few balls of aluminum foil put in dryer with clothes and it will remove static cling, also adding some vinegar to rinse cycle helps, clothes do not smell like vinegar. Try the foil trick it really works. (11/01/2007)
By Alice
Punch in DANGERS OF FABRIC SOFTENERS AND DRYER SHEETS. You will never use them again; especially if you have children. Use 6 cups of water, 3 cups of vinegar and 2 cups of hair conditioner. Mix and store. Use the same amount you would normally use. (01/22/2008)
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