DIY Natural Scented Fabric Softener

Making your own fabric softener and dryer sheets is made easy and cost effective by using ingredients and materials readily found in most households. If you like a light scent on your clean laundry, you can coordinate the scents of your laundry powder, fabric softener, and dryer sheets.

Fabric Softener
Equipment

• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Permanent marker

Ingredients

• 32 ounces Distilled White Vinegar*
• 1-2 teaspoons Essential oil*

Making the Softener
Add your essential oil to the vinegar container and shake well to incorporate. Label your container to let others in your household know that it contains essential oils and is NOT for culinary purposes.

Using the Softener
The vinegar mixture should be diluted with water before being used in your laundry.  For regular sizes loads, combine 1/4 cup of vinegar mixture with 3/4 cups of water.  For large loads, use 1/2 cup of vinegar mixture and 1/2 cup of water.  Add the diluted mixture to the fabric softener dispenser at the beginning of the wash cycle. If you do not have a dispenser, add the softener at the beginning of the rinse cycle.
This will leave a faint essential oil scent but you will not smell vinegar on the rinsed and dried clothing.  The vinegar helps soften your clothing, and aids in reduction of static in the dryer phase.  This softener also works well with air dried or line dried clothing.
*Never use vinegar on Dry-Clean ONLY garments.
*Use recommended precautions when using essential oils.