Have you ever told someone that you make your own (fill in the blank) and they look at you like you've lost your mind?
Don't worry, it happens to me all the time. :-) Even amongst family!
Take my sister Rebecca for example. Even though she's one of the biggest "fans" of One Good Thing By Jillee...I don't think she's ever actually TRIED any of the homemade laundry and cleaning products I have posted about.
That is UNTIL NOW!
This is what she posted on her Facebook page a couple of days ago (I'm hoping she doesn't mind me sharing):I confess to being a laundry product snob...I love Caldrea, its green, scented w/ essential oils and pricey. But I love it! Today I ran out of my softener *pout*. A serious situation to be facing on the weekend, Amazon can't me more until Tues! So, I followed my sisters example (One Good Thing by Jillee), and made her favored DIY fabric softener: Vinegar, water and Rosemary Mint Sauve conditioner. Thats it! 3 ingredients. Holy Caldrea...I love it!! Clothes smelled great and felt even better. I am a believer, goodbye Caldrea...Ive got this now :)
Woo hoo...another "believer" is born! ;-) PLUS...she came up with a new scent for homemade fabric softener to try! Rosemary Mint! As much of a fan as I am of my Lavender scented stuff....the Rosemary Mint idea intrigued me!
So, since I was about to run out of my fabric softener I decided to make one batch of each...and now I have a WHOLE LOTTA fabric softener! lol. But I have to tell you....if you are fond of Rosemary and Mint...you will want to try this!
Here is the recipe from the original post:
Homemade Fabric Softener
Ingredients:
6 cups water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups Suave Rosemary Mint Conditioner
Directions:
1. Mix water, vinegar, and hair conditioner in a 1 gallon container; stir. Do not shake it; it will cause foaming.
2. Use the same amount you normally use in a rinse cycle or spritz it on a wash cloth and throw in dryer.
As a matter of fact...I decided more of my "doubting" friends needed to try it too....so I poured some of it into large mason jars and attached a "recipe" card telling them how they can make it!
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| free printable cards courtesy cottage-industrialist.com |
To all my "doubting" friends....you have been warned. Beware of visitors bearing mason jars! YOU might just be the next BELIEVER! :-)
"Saving the world" one skeptic at a time is today's.....
Well surprise, surprise :) Yes everyone, I'm a DIY fabric softener believer and a Rosemary Mint lover at that. Try it, you too will like it!
ReplyDeleteBtw, love the gifting idea!
ReplyDeleteSounds great Jillee! How is it used? What is the recipe?
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to try this...thanks!
ReplyDeleteAm I missing the directions? This looks amazing and I would love to try it.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds amazing...but where's the recipe for it????
ReplyDeleteyeah I'm not seeing the directions either though I suppose I can kind of read it off of the recipe cards in the pictures??
ReplyDeleteHere'e the recipe, I found it just to the right of this post <------
ReplyDelete6 cups water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups hair conditioner (Suave Rosemary Mint, if you so desire)
Makes 1 Gallon
LOL...did I say right? I meant left!! It's early :)
ReplyDeletelol! Thank you Anony! At least you POSTED it! DOH! Sorry everyone! I have updated THIS post to include the recipe AND included the link to the original post. sheesh...my blonde is showing...again. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCan I use any kind of conditioner?
ReplyDeleteThank so much for a great idea, also tried your homemade laundry soap, it is great and works for us. My clothes love it and so do i.
ReplyDeleteAnyone aware if it is safe for or tried this in a High Efficiency washer/dryer
ReplyDeleteLove the way you packaged them! Super cute!
ReplyDeleteYou can use 2 cups of ANY conditioner or even add some essential oils! Love saving money and my clothes are soft and static free!!
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get the essential oil that you use in these recipes. It isn't the fragrance oil that I see with the candles at Walmart is it?
ReplyDeleteI am going to make this now. but i am using Dove conditioner. I just bought my Rosemary Mint conditioner and dont want to part with it just yet.
ReplyDeleteKim....I get my essential oils through my sisters who sell doTerra. You can find out more at doTerra.com.
ReplyDeleteOR...you can find them on Amazon.com (just search for Essential Oils)
OR...you can find them at just about any "health food type" store.
They are not the fragrance oils like at Walmart.
Hope this helps. :-)
(And thanks for the idea...I think I need to do a post about this.) :-) Have a great day!
I've been using this recipe for awhile and love it! I use the Sauve apple scented conditioner...slightly fruity and very fresh smelling!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all your posts on homemade products for laundry and cleaning. They are amazing! I also love how you have set it up to save a pdf file of your post. THANK YOU! I enjoy checking your blog and following you on facebook. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think my grandma used to put 'fabric softener' in my hair as a child! LOL She used a big glass and put water, vinegar and conditioner in it and mixed it up. She used that to pour over my head to tame my wild curls. It worked great. She'd really laugh about this post if she were still with us!
ReplyDeleteI have a question for anyone who uses the "spray on a washcloth and put in the dryer" method. How wet do you get the washcloth? Is it really just one or two sprays? Do you get the washcloth damp? Or do you soak the cloth to the point of wringing it out before throwing it in the dryer? Just curious!
ReplyDeleteI'm confused about sauve is it hair conditioner and I live in the uk so any help with what would be similar here . I made the laundry detergent and I'm hooked it's fantastic . Thanks Diane
ReplyDeleteTHe Suave Rosemary Mint Conditioner was the first to come to my mind when I read your DYI fabric softener post. I LOVE the way it smells!! Glsd to know it works well in tyour "recipe". Thanks for all your great idea and good things!
ReplyDelete~Denise in OH
Diane, Suave is just one of the cheapest conditioners in our stores. It comes in many different scents. So just find a nice smelling cheap conditioner you like. Any brand will work. :)
ReplyDeleteSo it not hair conditioner then . It's what we call fabric softener for clothes . But doesn't that defeat the object if you've already bought it .
DeleteDoh I get it now . I've just read it again . This is what happens when you read stuff on you iPhone . Thanks Diane.x
ReplyDeleteIt is hair conditioner, just the cheap brand
ReplyDeleteThanks for the help answering Diane's question. :-) Yep....hair conditioner.
ReplyDeleteBrenda...when I used the washcloth method I would get it pretty soaked and wring it out...but I don't know that that is necessary. You might want to try it both ways and see which one you like better. :-)
I love this idea! I recently started making my own laundry detergent with grated laundry soap (it's called Zote), sodium carbonate (pool ash) and borax. It works great and saves money. I also set up a pulley clothesline to air dry the laundry. Thanks for the share!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone with sensitive skin tried this method? Know of a good conditioner that is gentle for allergies?
ReplyDeleteAlso- does the washcloth method leave spots on clothes, or does it all come out clean?
if you have allergies you can use an all naturaal conditioner or replace the conditioner with a few drops of essenial oils
ReplyDeleteWondering about HE compatability?
ReplyDeleteI have so many doubting friends about the homemade stuff...but man I've become a believer!
ReplyDelete(oh and Nicole I have made this with a different scent and it works great in my HE washer!)
I just want to know where you got your large jug at the top of your page. I also saw you used a similar or same jug with your homemade laundry detergent.
ReplyDeleteI used this recipe but changed it a little. It worked perfectly! My mom loves it as well :) Here is what I used.
ReplyDelete(Makes 1 Gallon)
9 cups of water
4 and 1/2 cups of Distilled White Vinegar
1 bottle (22.5oz) of Suave shampoo - Mango Scent
Love it, love it, love it!
Thanks so much for sharing this and giving us a way to save money and have a fabric softener that I love better than any that I have ever bought!
Lots of great comments/suggestions on this! Thanks everyone for contributing to the community! :-) I love it!
ReplyDeleteAnony...Feb 17...the "jug" you are referring to is an empty Minute Maid OJ container. I just love these bottles. One of mine cracked yesterday...so I HAD to go buy more Orange Juice! :-)
Here's a pic:
http://www.brandpackaging.com/BP/Home/Images/128oz%20Original%20OJ%20side%20shot2_big.jpg
for people looking for essential oils, vitacost.com has them pretty cheap...shipping is also free if the order is over $49 or a flat rate of $4.99 if it is less....
ReplyDeleteif you use my referral link, you get $10 off your order and I get $10 off of mine :)
http://www.vitacost.com/Referee?wlsrc=rsReferral&ReferralCode=60253244
This may be a dumb question, but is shea butter and cocoa butter the same thing? The link for the shea butter is for cocoa butter and you mentioned your husband didn't like the chocolate smell...I have bought the other ingredients, but I have never bought shea butter. I want to make sure I get the right thing.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS!
@ Anonymous for alternative recipe using Mango scent. Did you mean for the mango to be shampoo or conditioner?
ReplyDeleteSo excited to try this...Thank You!
ReplyDeleteDiane, Shea butter and Cocoa butter are no the same thing...I buy both of mine off of ebay because vitacost doesn't sell it...shea butter has more of a strong nutty smell and the cocoa butter has more of a chocolate smell...hope this helps :)
ReplyDeleteI get both of mine in their raw unrefined form (this means they have not gone through any chemical processes). you can look on ebay...I get my shea butter at 2 pounds for around $17 and cocoa butter at 2 pounds for around $19.
Can this be used in the HE washers?
ReplyDeleteOh Jill you are a lifesaver! I'm so tight-budgeted right now but I simply cannot sacrifice fabric conditioners from my grocery list and now I can!
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you!
I have read that if you soak a washcloth in the fabric softener, wring it out and then let it air dry, you can throw that bad boy in the wash up to 40 times!! I have yet to try it, but I'm going to.
ReplyDelete35 years ago when money was tight I couldn't afford extras I did the washcloth trick (I came up with it on my own, taking a cue from dryer sheets). I used a dry washcloth put a little fsbric on it and never washed it. It eventually became saturated enough that I didn't have to add softner every time. Gonna try this recipe. Love saving money.
ReplyDeleteif this makes 1 gal .save your old plastic container.
ReplyDeleteanyone wondering about HE use - check out this link ... it's more for detergent - but it clears up alot of related questions
ReplyDeletehttp://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg081640456247.html
Do you think you could put this in a Downy ball??
ReplyDeleteI am wondering about sensitive skin. My newborn son and my toddler daughter have super sensitive skin!! It's crazy. Does anyone have a suggestion on what kind of conditioner to use? And if I don't use conditioner and I use essential oils do I use 2 cups of the oil??? So confused!!! HELP!
ReplyDelete*MommyOf2Buckeyes - Columbus,OH*
i just made some with suave sweet pea violet and im patiently waiting for my washer to finish!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, if you used 2 cups of essential oil you'd be spending a FORTUNE and they'd be able to smell your laundry a state away! I don't think you can just ELIMINATE the conditioner, though...you need to add something with lipids to the water/vinegar mix. I'm just not sure what. :/
ReplyDeleteOoooo....sweet pea violet sounds nice! Let us know how it turns out. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes...don't use 2 cups of OIL! lol. Someone above mentioned using an all natural conditioner? Maybe that's an option for sensitive skin.
*MommyOf2Buckeyes*, you asked about not using the conditioner. Here is a recipe you can use without the conditioner, and with or without a few drops of essential oil.
ReplyDeleteI would think it would be fine for sensitive skin.
(BTW this is not my recipe. I found it on the net. This is what I have used a few times lately. Seems to do well, but if you have things that cause static, it lessens it but doesn't prevent it.)
2 Cups White Vinegar
2 Cups Baking Soda
4 Cups Water
Combine slowly and carefully over sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz.
Pour into plastic bottle, cover, and shake.
*Hint - Reuse your "Downy" bottle.
Use 1/4 cup in the final rinse or in a "Downy Ball".
Wondering if this leaves "greasy residue stains" in HE washers like liquid fabric softener. Anyone know?
ReplyDeleteI just made this and I love it. My coworkers think I am insane!! But with two girls, one in private school and one in preschool, I have to find ways to save money and still get the results I want. Thank you so much. I used the Suave Humectant conditioner, it smells good and my whole family has used this on their hair so I know no allergic reactions!
ReplyDeletethis sounds wonderful! Can't wait to try it. Thanks for the great idea. Mary from Cambridge, Md.
ReplyDeleteFor the last year I put 1/2 c vinegar in for fabric softener. I have a HE Washer. For dryer sheets I pour a bottle of Purex Sensitive Skin Fabric Softener in a pitcher and fill the fabric softener container with water once and add it to the softener. I keep 2 washcloth's in the liquid and wring one out and throw it in the dryer with the clothes. Leaves a nice scent and no static.
ReplyDeletemade and used this today. also for my daughter I made a batch with sweet pea and violet conditioner and that also smells wonderful.
ReplyDeletesomeone else mentioned the sweet pea and violet too. I really want to try that! :-)
ReplyDeleteI just whipped up a batch of this (and you're "Shout" and "Wrinkle Releaser"). I love this stuff!! My friends and family think I'm crazy, I just keep joking with them that "I am honing in my post-apocalyptic skills." You have a FANTASTIC blog Jill!! I am hooked!! Thank you! - Bailey
ReplyDeletehow much do you use per load?
ReplyDeleteAnony...I can relate. My friends and family are slowly yet surely being won over. Be patient...it will happen for you too. It just makes too much sense! :-)
ReplyDeleteI fill my fabric softener dispenser...and it seems to be about 1/2 cup. :-)
Has anyone tried this in a High Efficiency washing machine?
ReplyDeleteOK, so what am I doing wrong?? I followed the directions to the t and of course it smells great before I use it but my clothes do not smell like Rosemary Mint or anything else at all. Also, the washcloth soaked in liquid fabric softener and dried before using works great for static cling and lasts a long time but again after the first few loads the awesome smell was gone.
ReplyDeleteTo everyone asking about the HE machine:
ReplyDeleteI have been using just vinegar in my HE machine since I got them 2 months ago because I dont like how store fabric softener gunks up the laundry tub and pipes. I have been using this homemade fabric softener for about 3 weeks now and like it so much better then just vinegar. I know it has not been very long since I got the new machines but so far I have not had any problems with the fabric softener and I dont see how it could create a problem either
I am SOOOOOO glad I found this blog! I have been couponing for about a year now to save money but with the solutions I have seen on here I will save even more not having to buy the big ticket items like laundry detergent, fabric softener and dishwasher detergent! I am super stoked and can't wait to try out the recipes next weekend. I'm going to go on a trip through the rest of your blog and see what other goodies I can find :) Thank you for posting all these cool ideas and HONEST reviews! ~Kelly
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any idea if this would be safe for a septic system? I use conditioner on my hair, but I don't use very much and I don't wash my hair multiple times a day (like doing multiple loads of laundry in one day). I'm just worried about creating build up in my septic tank.
ReplyDeleteI have a septic system and I can't see this hurting it at all. You'd use less conditioner with this doing multiple loads of wash, than conditioning your hair in one shampoo. This isn't anywhere as thick as conditioner by itself. It's diluted down and works great.
ReplyDeleteCan you put this mixture in a Downey ball like you would normally do?
ReplyDeleteI have a top loading machine. Do I put this in the dispenser at the beginning like regular fabric softener?
ReplyDeleteThis would be fine in a downy ball. :-)
ReplyDeleteI also have a top loading machine...and I put mine in the fabric softener dispenser.
sailormom61...I have found that the smell is pretty subtle after going through the wash and the dryer. If you're looking for more of a "scent" I would suggest using one of the scent boosters like the Downy Unstopables. :-)
What a great idea! I have been looking for a way to save money on dryer sheets. Can't wait to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteJust made this! I randomly had all of the things I needed at home already, so it only took a few minutes to concoct this! I'm about to try it out on a load of laundry! :)
ReplyDeleteI guess my question is what is the point of hair conditioner? Plain old vinegar does the same job as the recipe and the rinse cycle gets rid of vinegar smell.
ReplyDeleteI have never actually tried it myself. But I have heard just use vinegar instead of fabric softener and the rinse cycle will get rid of the smell. I will ask the person that told me this when she puts in the vinegar. I just use the sheets and I am starting to get sick of them and looking for new ways.
ReplyDeleteFound this recipe on Pintrest. Made it today! It was so easy and fast! Thanks for the great idea.
ReplyDelete