Review: Homemade Laundry Soap + Fabric Softener

My way of saving money. I got the recipes/ideas from TipNut.com (I love that website!).

***Laundry Soap (DRY)***
- 1 grated bar of soap (Fels Naptha, plain Ivory, etc.; just as long as it is plain and doesn't have any colors, perfumes, or lotions in it)
- 1 cup Borax
- 1 cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer)
- 1 cup Baking Soda

Blend all ingredients well using a food processer if possible. Use 1 tablespoon for a light load, or use 2 tablespoons per heavy load. Safe for HE, frontload, septic, etc.

***Fabric Softener***
Dilute 1 part fabric softener to 5 parts water in a spray bottle. Spritz onto clothes just before drying. Safe to use on all fabrics and colors that you would normally use fabric softener on!

Enjoy, and please let me know how these two things work for you! :)

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• homemade
• laundry
• soap
• fabric
• softener
• save
• money

[BethC2012]

Is it safe to use bleach instead of oxi clean on whites? I've used it with store bought liquid laundry detergent?

[TBEventer2002]

@BethC2012 yep! I use bleach in every load of whites! :)

[byrdpa]

Would I get the same results using just grated soap instead of running it through a food processor? I don't have a food processor...just wondered. I have tried the fabric softener 5 to 1 ratio in a spray bottle and it worked really well! Thanks.

[TBEventer2002]

@byrdpa yep! make sure you use the finest grate though.

[KatieJean1989]

I was just wondering as to why you choose to use the Baking Soda?

[TBEventer2002]

@KatieJean1989: I believe that baking soda is a good deodorizer. I even use it on the bottom of my cats' litterboxes to neutralize odors. Also, adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your washer's self-clean cycle eliminates odors and cleans up! :) Thanks for watching!

[annkus3]

You could use vinegar, as a fabric softener instead of the shop ones as vinegar leaves a nice smell and its very, very cheap. You just use it in your load of wash as you do with the other fabric softener. We use it in Australia, it does the job for less money.

[nagaempress]

ive heard vinegar in the rinse works for fabric softner.... Also for your whites get Mrs Stuarts bluing! awesome stuff!

[ourrepurposedlives]

another thing you can do, which I do, is 1 part fabric softener, 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water. The vinegar works great with helping reduce stiffness from the clothes line and also works as an odor eliminator. OR you can just use 1/2 cup vinegar and add to rinse cycle. will still have fabric softener effect and clothes will not smell like vinegar.

[zone1282]

question i use fabric softer for when i hang clothes out specially it kepts the towels from getting crunchy. Does vinger keep my towels soft if i hang them out?

[dagoodnegress]

you can then take that fabric softner mixture and use it like febreez to freshen around the house or iron with just spray clothes and iron!

[gertie2u2]

I've had success saving money on fabric softener in this way: Buy a pack of dryer sheet fabric softener and a bottle of your favorite liquid fabric softener. Save the sheets after using them in a plastic container. Mix fabric softener and water half and half and pour over the saved sheets. Just wring and throw in dryer. I usually mix half and half. I've also seen thin cotton washcloths used in place of the used dryer sheets. They probably last a little longer, but dryer sheets last years.

[Dar0922]

@annkus3 I use vinegar instead of fabric softener and I actually prefer it. I find the smell of laundry soap mixed with the scent from fabric softener is just too much for me. And it is much cheaper to use Vinegar. The vinegar is virtually odourless as well.