DIY Trick for Fabric Softener Savings

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DIY Trick for Fabric Softener Savings

Submitted by: frugalgramma 01/25/2009 3:57 PM

We save on fabric softener by applying a small amount of liquid fabric softener to a old clean sock, then toss the sock into the dryer with the wet clothes. Just press part of the sock right over the opening of the softener bottle, tip the bottle over enough for a small amount of softener (size of a quarter works for us), to be deposited onto the sock.

Of course you can use an old washcloth, or whatever, but keep reusing it. I used a sock because I can easily keep track of it by tying it around the neck of the softener bottle.

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I used a generous coupon to buy the softener about a year ago, and still have nearly 1/2 of the bottle left! (PS: lavender scent on your sheets and pj's really will help you sleep like a baby.) Also we stopped adding softener to the washer rinse cycle because items that need to be absorbent, like towels, socks, etc. become less absorbent when coated with softener over a period of time. The dryer does a good job of making most things come out soft anyway, even without softener.

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Comments:

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I use the dryer sheets and to save money I tear them in half. Does just as good a job.

Posted by Jan on January 29, 2009 10:50 AM

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I cut sponges in half and keep them in a plastic container on top of my dryer filled with fabric softener diluted with water. I use a pair of tongs to squeeze out the sponge and toss it into the dryer. I just recycle the sponges. Lately I have found that vinegar does an awesome job in the rinse cycle. I might not go back to the fabric softener!

Posted by anonymous on February 11, 2009 6:41 PM

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Do your clothes smell funny with the vinegar. How much do you use in a load?

Posted by Michel on February 13, 2009 2:47 PM

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No vinegar smell, I fill the despenser

Posted by gmar on February 13, 2009 2:56 PM

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I use about 1/2 c. vineagar in the wash. Works perfectly.

Posted by anonymous on February 13, 2009 3:13 PM

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I've been using vinegar with really great results.

I put 1/3 or 1/2 cup (depending on load size) of white vinegar in the softener dispenser, then fill the rest of the dispenser with water.

Works great. There is absolutely no vinegar smell on the clothes, and I've not had any problem with static cling in the dryer.

Posted by anonymous on February 13, 2009 3:26 PM

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White or Apple cider vinegar?

Posted by anonymous on February 13, 2009 3:31 PM

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Use white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar could possibly stain, or add an off color to clothing? I don't know... but I use white vinegar.

Posted by anonymous on February 13, 2009 3:41 PM

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I use Country Save laundry detergent and it is a cost savings and good for the enviroment and then use the dryer balls from Nellies (no additional fabric softner needed.)

Posted by Marsha on February 13, 2009 4:15 PM

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Why do we even use fabric softerner? My mother never did. Did they even have it then? I don't use fabric softener or white vinegar. It's just another added expense that is not essential. I stoped using fabric softener 6-8 months ago and my husband has never said a word to me that the sheets, towels, clothes or socks are different. My feeling is that fabric softeners are just another thing that THEY have convinced us we NEED and another excuse to give our HARD EARNED money away. And, I for one, am no longer buying it. P.S. I don't own a working dryer. I line dry everything year round either outside or in the basement near the woodstove.

Posted by Robin on February 13, 2009 4:31 PM

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To Frugal Gramma.Should the sock be wet or dry? Thanks

Posted by Terry Schindler on February 13, 2009 4:31 PM

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I first stopped using fabric softener in my towels and wash cloths. I then thought the same way as Robin in a previous post. Why am I using it at all? So I stopped using any softener in my clothes. Sometimes I use white vinegar on my towels to soften them a little. The clothes are a little stiff but it does not bother us. I make my own laundry soap and I line dry everything but my sheets and blankets as they are to large for the drying racks I use in the winter. If I wash one load a day, I don't have to worry about room to hang all of them.

Posted by Sharon on February 13, 2009 7:59 PM

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I recently made powder laundry soap. It is wonderful and cheap to make. No problems with it. I will be trying the sock with softner trick. It is amazing just how much we really can save money on all of this stuff that we think we need!

Posted by anonymous on February 13, 2009 11:48 PM

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I have done all of the above, tearing sheets in half, using a sponge with fabric softener, and white vinegar. My favorite is the white vinegar. It's the cheapest, it softens the clothes and removes any static cling, and it's environmentally friendly.

Posted by Roxy on February 14, 2009 4:56 AM

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how do you make powder soap?

Posted by jamie on February 14, 2009 7:58 AM

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In an early post (2/14/09) Jamie asked "how to you make powder soap"? It was the last entry on the page and no next to page 2 to click on. Am I missing something. Did she get a reply on how to make soap? I would like to know.

Posted by Michele on February 15, 2009 8:53 AM

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When do you add the vinegar? Does it go in right at the beginning, or do you add it later in the cycle?

Posted by Susan on February 15, 2009 8:08 PM

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I make a liquid laundry soap that costs me about a penny a load and it cleans my clothes just as well as any I used to purchase. Here it is: one bar of cheap (cheaper the better) bath soap, 1 cup washing soda (I use Arm & Hammer), 1/2 cup Borax, 3 to 4 gals hot water. Chop/grate the bath soap into a medium sized pot. Add about 3 cups hot water and bring to a simmer (be careful as it will boil over easily) on the stove. After the soap has melted, add washing soda and borax - mix to dissolve. Pour into a 5 gallon bucket and add 3 gallons of hot water. Mix well and let sit over night. In the morning you will have a bucket of slime. I use one laundry scoop (saved from my days of purchased laundry soap) per load. Each box of washing soda and borax will make numerous batches of laundry soap. I also have a large amount of soaps from hotels and I use 4 of these in place of one bar of bath soap.

Posted by rulerof5 on February 15, 2009 11:48 PM

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Great ideas. Please keep them sharing !!

Posted by Alex on February 17, 2009 11:46 AM

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I will try the liquid laundry soap. I would also like to see the dry laundry soap recipe. Thanks! keep up the good work!!

Posted by susan on February 17, 2009 11:15 PM

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I have been using the dry laundry soap for a while now and am quite pleased with it. Grate a bar of soap (I use Fels-Naptha or Octagon--they're both old laundry soap brands) and add 1/2 cup Borax and 1/2 cup Super Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer makes it). Mix it up well, then use 1 Tablespoon for a load that is moderately dirty; if you have a dirtier load, add another tablespoonful. Some people use their food processor to grate the soap. If I'm doing a cold water wash (most of them) I fill the washer to the lowest level after putting in the soap, then let it agitate for 30 seconds to "melt" it and mix it up. But I haven't had a problem when I didn't have time to do that and just tossed it all in, either!

Posted by anonymous on February 18, 2009 4:28 PM

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For the dry soap recipe, do you need to use hot water in the wash or will cold work? We rarely use hot anymore to try and save on our gas (gas water heater) bill.

Posted by Tom Johnston on February 28, 2009 2:29 PM

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Sorry if this dumb, but can you use the dry soap in a front load washer? If so, do you get it to go in the dispenser or just add to the wash? Thank you.

Posted by anonymous on April 03, 2009 4:23 PM

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I use Dawn dish detergent to get spots off of my uniforms and it is great. A nurse taught me this years ago.

Posted by anonymous on April 06, 2009 12:27 PM

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I went to visit my sister, Susie, and when laundry day came she coughed all day. Of course she uses the high priced stuff, chemical city! I made her my homemade laundry soap (Duggars recipe)and fabric softner made of a 99 cent bottle of hair conditioner and a gallon of white vinegar. Next laundry day she didn't cough at all! She loves it and so does her daughter, Tina.

I also make homemade baby wipes and dish soap. You can make ten gallons of laundry soap for under 2.00. Now I'm gathering the stuff to make bar soap. I like to spend my money on other things, this really works very well. I love the liquid soap for lots of cleaning and it's all natural.

Posted by gale Osborn on June 08, 2009 7:32 PM

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What is the Duggar recipe?

Posted by anonymous on January 06, 2010 7:44 PM

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Does anybody have a "receipe" for laundry detergent for Allergic people like me that can't use perfume, chemical and harsh ingredients in detergents?

Posted by anonymous on January 07, 2010 2:50 PM

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I am alergic to fabric softner and have used white vinagar for many years. I just fill my softner cup with it. There is another advantage you don't have to worry about soap scum in your machine. The only smell is clean not perfumed.

Posted by Bonnie on January 07, 2010 3:37 PM

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Are you allergic to soap?If not go the laundry section of tip hero and read my recipe for laundry soap.You can cut the ingredients down if it seems too strong.There is no detergent in my recipe.Do not us any scent in the soap. If you are allergic to soap wash your clothes in baking soda and borax,rinse with vinagar.Try 1/4 cup of each and see how it works.Try the laundry soap I make,my grandaughter is highly allergic to detergent and she uses my soap all the time with no reaction. Gale

Posted by gale Osborn on January 07, 2010 8:41 PM

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I have used Gale's recipe for over a year now, no more allergic reactions to my clothing!

Posted by Jane on January 22, 2010 2:43 AM

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