LIQUID FABRIC SOFTENER
You may have seen my previous blog post on how to create natural dryer sheets that are free of synthetic ingredients. It is a wonderful DIY for softening your fabrics, but it also requires the use of a dryer. If you prefer a solution to soften your clothes coming directly from the washer, this homemade liquid fabric softener is a great option.
The best thing about this recipe is it only requires one simple ingredient: distilled white vinegar. Vinegar is a multi-purpose ingredient that can be used to clean many spaces and surfaces around the home. Add distilled white vinegar to your washing machine during the rinse cycle as a natural liquid fabric softener that prevents lint accumulation, reduces static cling, and softens fabric. You can also add essential oils to the vinegar for aromatic purposes, but if you do not have essential oils, vinegar does the job on its own. I personally add organic lavender, organic lemon, and organic patchouli essential oils to my liquid fabric softener.
And if you have any skin-friendly essential oil bottles that are running low, but you cannot manage to get the last few drops out, here is a fabulously easy method to employ: Remove the caps from the essential oil bottles, place both the bottles and caps in the distilled white vinegar for 24 hours, and then remove them from the vinegar. You will be pleasantly surprised by the aromatics infused in the distilled white vinegar.
MAKING A LIQUID FABRIC SOFTENER
Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar into a sterilized glass container with an airtight seal. Add 15-20 drops of the organic essential oil to the vinegar. Place the lid on the container, and gently shake to thoroughly combine. Label your liquid fabric softener with the contents and date of creation.
UNDERSTANDING THE INGREDIENTS
DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR
Vinegar is a multi-purpose ingredient that can be used to clean many spaces and surfaces around the house, but it really does thrive in the laundry room. Add distilled white vinegar to your washing machine during the rinse cycle for a natural liquid fabric softener that prevents lint accumulation, reduces static cling, and softens fabric.
ESSENTIAL OILS
The addition of essential oils in this recipe adds a pleasant aroma to your liquid fabric softener. A few essential oil options for laundry purposes include: basil essential oil, bergamot essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, grapefruit essential oil, juniper berry essential oil, lavender essential oil, lemon essential oil, lemongrass essential oil, peppermint essential oil, petitgrain essential oil, rosemary essential oil, spearmint essential oil, spruce essential oil, and tea tree essential oil. Feel free to select one or several essential oils to add into the distilled white vinegar.
By the way, if you have essential oil bottles that are running very low and you can’t seem to get the last few drops, this is a fabulous recipe to employ. Remove the caps from your essential oil bottles and place both the bottles and caps in the distilled white vinegar. Allow the essential bottles and caps to sit in the vinegar for 24 hours, then remove them from the vinegar. You will be pleasantly surprised by the aromatics infused in the distilled white vinegar.
Note: If adding essential oils to this recipe, I recommend evaluating the contraindications and precautions of the essential oils of your choosing to confirm they are right for you and your family.
DIY LIQUID FABRIC SOFTENER
Ingredients
2 cups distilled white vinegar
15-20 drops organic essential oil
Materials
airtight container
Instructions
Pour distilled white vinegar into a sterilized glass container.
Add in essential oils.
Place the lid on the jar and gently shake to thoroughly combine.
Label your liquid fabric softener.
How to Use
Gently shake the bottle prior to use. Add 1/2 cup of liquid fabric softener to your washing machine’s fabric softener compartment before the last rinse cycle (or according to your washing machine’s instructions).
