This week I made this:
Can you guess what it is? DIY fabric softener! I saw my cousin Chris post it on Facebook and after looking into it a little further I decided to try it out. It was really easy to make and seems to be working as well as regular fabric softener. I found my recipe here: http://beautifulsmhw.blogspot.com/2012/04/frugal-and-simple-laundry-week-homemade_17.html
Homemade Fabric Softener
Here is what you will need...
-2 Cups of cheap Hair Conditioner
-3 Cups of White Distilled Vinegar
-6 Cups of Hot Water
Step 1: Mix Conditioner and hot water together until conditioner is dissolved.
Step 2: Add vinegar to conditioner and water. Mix.
Step 3: Store in a container of your choice (you can reuse an old fabric softener bottle). Use your homemade fabric softener exactly like you would the store bought version!
The only thing I've noticed is when I lean in to get the laundry out the little spot where you put the softener smells like vinegar, but the clothes themselves do not.
Cost Breakdown:
Bottle of Suave Eternal Sunshine conditioner: $1.47
Vinegar: $1.00
Water: Free from your tap
Total: $2.47!
This work out to about $.08/load of laundry. Pretty sweet deal. Definitely cheaper than the Gain softener I typically use. For more scent some people suggest adding a product like Downy Unstoppables or the Purex Crystals or even essential oils.
The next thing I want to attempt is making laundry detergent. All of the recipes I've found require Borax and Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. Anyone know where I could get those?
Walmart and Kroger both carry those. I use borax as a laundry booster/stain remover/odour remover. I have a front load washer and only use 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent and/or fabric softener, so I save money on water, soap and softener already, but sometimes our clothes need extra help. I also cold water wash everything except the heavily soiled laundry (and sheets - they are washed in hot). I've heard you can use pure vinegar as a softener. I also don't use fabric softener in my towels so they soak up water better.
You can also use borax to make really neat Christmas ornaments using a supersaturated solution of borax and water, and suspend a shaped pipe cleaner ornament in it for a couple of days. The crystals stick to the pipe cleaner and when it dries out it's all sparkly.
I buy detergent every 3 months or so, fabric softener less often, and until June there were 4 of us, now 3.