Ever got stuck in a situation where you run out of fabric softener, and you don’t have the time even to buy some? We’ve all been there, a lot of times.
And then there are times when you feel that your softener is not as good as you thought it would be for the big bucks you shelled out.
Dryer sheets are an option. The heat produced from the dryer softens the dryer sheet, which releases its coating onto the clothes. This makes the clothes soft to the touch.
However, the coating left by the dryer sheet is not always ideal for all fabrics. Clothes worn by babies or children must be flame-resistant. The coating from the dryer sheet only makes it more inflammable.
Most fabric softeners contain biodegradable fabric softening agents, which are harmful chemical ingredients.

Here we give you five tried-and-true homemade fabric softener recipes, using ingredients you probably already have at your home.
Contents
Method 1: Vinegar & Hair Conditioner
White vinegar removes any residue of detergent and deodorizes the fabric. It also prevents the static electricity that happens with store-bought softeners. Adding a hair conditioner of your choice leaves the clothing with a pleasant smell.
Things you’ll need:
- Hot water – ½ cup
- White vinegar – 3 tablespoons
- Suave conditioner (or one that you think smells great) – 3 tablespoons
Step 1. Mix vinegar and hair conditioner in the hot water

- Pour ½ cup of hot water into a container.
- Add 3 tablespoons of white vinegar to it.
- Add 3 tablespoons of your favorite fragrant hair conditioner to the mix.
- Whisk the mixture thoroughly, so there are no clumps left. It took us about 1 minute of whisking to make the paste clump-free.
Step 2. Add the softener to the wash cycle

- Use 2 tablespoons of this homemade fabric softener per load.
- You can either use a Downy Ball or just add it to the softener dispenser of your washing machine, with water. Use this how you would use a store-bought softener.
Method 2: Vinegar & Alcohol
You might think who would use alcohol on their clothing? But in reality, there are a lot of folks out there who use it to remove stains, and it is an effective disinfectant. So it does make a lot of sense to use it on your clothing.
You already know the properties of white vinegar from our previous recipe. You can add some essential oils to this homemade fabric softener to make your clothes smell like heaven after a good wash.
Things you’ll need:
- White vinegar – 1 cup
- Rubbing alcohol or Vodka – 1 tablespoon
- Essential oil of your choice – 7 or 8 drops
Step 1. Mix the three ingredients

- Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into a large measuring cup or bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol or Vodka.
- Add 7 or 8 drops of essential oil of your choice.
- Thoroughly mix everything.
Step 2. Mix the DIY softener with water & soak the washed garment in it

- To soak a single garment, mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of the DIY softener with 4 cups of water. Soak the clothing in the solution for 5 minutes. Wring out excess water and allow the garment to air dry. You need not rinse the garment again.
- For your regular laundry, use one-half to three-fourths of the mix per load. Put it in the fabric softener dispenser of your washing machine.
Method 3: Vinegar & Baking Soda
Baking soda can be a great option to add to your homemade fabric softener. It helps control the pH levels inside your washing machine. It maintains the balance of the load from becoming too acidic or too alkaline.
Using baking soda is very safe. It doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals and is suitable for people with sensitive skin and allergies. In fact, you can use baking soda for different cleaning purposes around your home.
You can regulate the scent this homemade fabric softener leaves on your clothes and linens, according to how strong or light you prefer your clothes to be aromatic, with the use of essential oils.
Things you’ll need:
- Baking soda - 1 tablespoon
- Warm water – 1¼ tablespoons
- White vinegar – ½ cup
- Essential oil of your choice – 20 drops
Step 1. Mix the vinegar and baking soda with warm water

- Pour ½ cup of white vinegar into a large measuring cup or bowl.
- Add 1¼ tablespoons of warm water to it and mix well.
- Add the baking soda gradually, stirring it all along. You’ll need a large enough container to facilitate the fizzing reaction that will happen when the baking soda mixes with the vinegar and water.
Step 2. Add the essential oil of your choice

- Add 20 drops of essential oil of your preference.
- Pour the mixture into a plastic container. You can reuse any old plastic jar or bottle to store the mix. Be sure it’s good and clean first.
Step 3. Soak the garment in the softener or add it to wash cycle

- Shake the container before each use.
- For a single garment, add 1 tablespoon of the homemade softener to 4 cups of water. Soak the garment in it for 5 minutes. Wring out excess solution and allow the cloth to air dry.
- For your regular machine wash, use ½ to 1 cup of this softener per load.
Method 4: Epsom Salt
A dry laundry detergent or fabric softener makes it easier and less messy to measure and use, like Purex crystals. You can make your very own homemade Purex crystals from Epsom salt, which is very inexpensive.
Although Epsom salt alone could do wonders, we were curious to know what Epsom salt combined with baking soda would do. We got some pretty amazing results, and that’s why we think you should try this one.
Things you’ll need:
- Epsom salt – ¼ cup
- Baking soda – 1 tablespoon
- Essential oil of your choice – 3 or 4 drops
Step 1. Mix the three ingredients

- Put ¼ cup of Epsom salt in a container.
- Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to it.
- Add 3 or 4 drops of essential oil of your choice.
- Mix the ingredients well.
Step 2. Add it to your dry detergent or the rinse cycle

- Transfer the dry homemade fabric softener to an airtight container and store it with your laundry detergents.
- You can either add the entire mix to your dry laundry detergent or use 1 to 2 tablespoons per load in the final rinse.
Method 5: Sea Salt
Last but not the least –and also the easiest –we prepared a homemade fabric softener with sea salt. Remember the wonderfully warm sea salt bath that can calm your nerves and give you so much mental peace? It is natural and used in various skin-cleansing remedies as well. So, why not try using it in your laundry.
Things you’ll need:
- Coarse sea salt or kosher salt – ¼ cup
- Essential oil of your choice – 5 or 6 drops
Single-Step Method: Mix the two ingredients & let it sit for 24 hours before use

- Put ¼ cup of coarse sea salt or kosher salt in a container.
- Add 5 or 6 drops of essential oil of your choice. You can use more than one if you like. We liked the combined smell of lavender and lemon the best.
- Mix them well.
- Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar.
- Let it sit for at least 24 hours, so the sea salt is infused with the essential oil(s).
- Use ⅓ to 1 cup of this mixture per load.
Note: You can increase the quantity of your batch if you wish to make and store the homemade fabric softener in advance. If it’s for one-time use, you could stick to our quantities.
Happy natural laundering!
Tips
- In case your washing machine does not have a softener dispenser, you can also add the solution manually. However, add it only during the rinse cycle as the wash cycle will clean away the softener as well.
- Store the homemade fabric softener away from direct sunlight to maintain its potency.
I bought a sparkling new top load clothes washer, HE, with all the bells/whistles — except for ONE, one critical one. No fabric softener dispenser. How could that be???? It’s true. None. So I’m resorting to the Downy Balls, I’m not certain what makes them work (dispensing the softener into the rinse cycle), but it does. I would LOVE and encourage everyone to make their own everything, the softener with conditioner sounds too good. I might just give it a whirl and take a test run with this in the Downy Ball. Never know!
Dear Dee
Thank you for you comment.
We too encourage the use of all natural DIY products. We’d suggest that if your top loader does not have a
softener dispenser, you can use the Downy Balls you have purchased or use a laundry tub to soak the clothes after washing.
-Team FabHow