Homemade fabric softener?

Question

I heard recently that vinegar is a good substitute for fabric softener. Does anyone do this? If so, how much vinegar should I use and do I add it in the rinse cycle or at the beginning?

I also heard that hair conditioner works well, does it?

Answer 1

I have always heard of using vinegar as a fabric softener , but i have never tried it  , But as for the conditioner , I actually  have done that , and i made up some this evening when i ran out of my normal fabric softener , the conditioner works just fine for me and it does rinse out just fine also ,  i read in a book i found the my grandma had about the conditioner  it is a book from 1979  , what you do it you use 2 tbsp of conditioner to one quart of water . that is how i do it and as i said it works just fine for me .  

Answer 2

I use 1 cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle.  It will disinfect your laundry and helps soap residue rinse out, too.

Answer 3

White vinegar is a wonderful fabric softener!

Actually, white vinegar is a great substitute for a lot of other household cleaning products, too.

To use it as a fabric softener, add about a half-cup to the final (cold) rinse cycle.  If the load is extra-large or heavy (towels, for example) you could add more.  You really can't overdo it ... it's harmless to fabric (actually good for keeping whites really white, too!) and it doesn't leave a smell once the clothes are dry.  The vinegar helps to remove any remaining detergent residue, which is what makes clothes get kinda dingy after awhile.

Hair conditioner?  Hmmm.  Don't know about that!  Might work, but I'd be afraid it wouldn't rinse out completely.

Vinegar is about the best everyday cleaning product there is ... and it's cheap, too!  I dilute it 50/50 in a spray bottle and use it to clean most things.  Even works great on windows and mirrors ... and it deodorizes the air every time you use it!

Answer 4

~~White vinegar is wonderful for softening, and the very best to use for allergy sufferers. Just place the same amount in your dispenser you put softener in, and if you do it manually put it in on the rinse or anytime it doesn't make a difference like commercial softeners do.~~