You've probably already had the opportunity to learn about all the harmful ingredients that are stuffed with fabric softeners that we buy. However, what then is used as a replacement? What is the safe mouthwash to use if there are small children or allergies in the family? It couldn't be easier! Let's make a homemade fabric softener with our own hands.
Homemade fabric softener No. 1 - table vinegar
The most simple natural rinse aid. Cheap, affordable, non-toxic, very effective, in addition, vinegar has antibacterial properties. And as a bonus, vinegar removes all residues of the used detergent.
Pour about 50-100 mg of vinegar into the rinse compartment before washing. You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a fantastic scent. The result is excellent! After washing, the clothes become soft and the colors brighter!
Household fabric softener No. 2 - baking soda+ vinegar
The main ingredient is sodium bicarbonate, which is common baking soda. It is a safe natural ingredient and will help you wash and freshen your clothes better. Add 140 ml of 9% table vinegar to one liter of water, add soda there - half a glass of soda will be enough, mix everything and apply 120-240 ml of the resulting product per wash. You can add a couple of drops of any aromatic essential oil you like to add a pleasant scent to your clothes.
Home fabric softener No. 3 - water + vinegar + hair balm
This recipe for a rinse with the addition of hair balm is one of the most popular: you need to take six parts of water, three parts of 9% table vinegar, two parts of hair balm. Mix all the ingredients well and use 120 ml (or a little more) for each wash. This hair conditioner with balm received the most positive reviews from women who used it.
A homemade rinse aid for linen is, first of all, safe for health, which is especially important when there are small children or people with allergies in the family.
Conditioning things is a necessary process. The industry produces conditioners that have a different composition and aroma. It is not always possible to find and buy the one you need. Sometimes the reason for the refusal to buy can be the high cost of the product. There is a way out of this situation. You can make your own fabric softener.
The need to condition linen and clothes
Faced with clothing air conditioners, the question arises: what is it for? Rinses, which are produced industrially, contain surface-active components. When rinsing, they disperse along the surface of things, forming a kind of film. It has a number of positive aspects:
- The clothes become soft and comfortable while wearing.
- The electrostatic effect is removed from fabric, especially woolen fabric.
- Ironing things becomes easier by softening them.
- Colored things do not lose their color.
- Retains dirt on the surface of things, preventing it from penetrating into the fiber structure.
- I have industrial air fresheners wide range aromas.
The presence of these qualities indicates the need to use air conditioners for things.
The disadvantage of industrial rinses is the presence of harmful components in them. It can be benzyl alcohol, ethanol, pental, ethyl acetate, linalool, terpineol. These components are mostly used as aromatic fillers. But they can cause headaches, nervous disorders, drowsiness.
How to rinse things and not harm your health? To do this, you need to make your own fabric softener.
Self-production: advantages and methods
Making a rinse aid yourself has a number of advantages. These include:
- Saving money.
- Manufacturing is carried out from environmentally friendly fillers.
- It is possible to create your own fragrance.
- No irritation or allergies after conditioning.
- Qualitatively cleans things from washing powder.
- Perfectly softens the structure of fabric fibers.
- It can be stored for a long time and retain its properties.
There are several ways to make fabric softener at home. It can be made:
- Using acetic acid.
- From a mixture of borax and soda.
- Using tennis balls.
Each of these methods is characterized by its uniqueness. Which method is used depends on personal preference.
Vinegar Conditioner
By adding various fillers to the vinegar, you can prepare a special conditioner that will restore the quality of your clothes. It will become soft and will have a unique aroma. The clothes will be easy to iron and will not be electrified. The absence of electrification will eliminate the need to purchase antistatic drugs. In addition, the vinegar solution destroys a significant part of bacteria and harmful microorganisms. There are several options for making a rinse for home washing machine-automat.
Option 1.With lavender oil added
To prepare such a conditioner, you will need 4-4.5 liters of vinegar solution and lavender oil. Pour the vinegar into a container, add 20-25 drops of lavender oil and mix well. The prepared solution will add softness and aroma to the washed laundry.
If white linen is being washed and the washing machine has a full load, then during rinsing it will be enough to add 200-250 grams of solution. The volume of the solution can be reduced depending on the decrease in the volume of the laundry. When washing colored items, the volume of the added solution must be halved.
You can store the finished rinse aid in an opaque container for 1.5-2 months in a dark place.
Option 2.With the addition of mint
This variation is identical to the lavender variation. The difference is the smaller amount of vinegar for the conditioner. To prepare the conditioner, you will need 3-3.5 liters of vinegar. Pour vinegar into a container, add 20-25 drops of mint and mix thoroughly.
The addition volumes for rinsing white linen and colored clothes are the same as with the first option.
Option 3. Using baking soda and essential oil
To prepare such a homemade fabric softener, you will need 1.5 liters of water, 150 ml of vinegar, essential oil, 120 ml of baking soda.
A vinegar solution must be added to the prepared water and mixed thoroughly. After stirring in a thin stream, add baking soda. After mixing all the components, add 15-20 drops of essential oil to the solution and mix the solution thoroughly again.
It is necessary to carefully introduce soda into the solution. Vinegar and soda are active substances and interact with each other. As a result of their combination, foam is actively released. The foaming process is accompanied by a hissing sound.
Air conditioner is added to the washing machine through the filler compartment. For a full load of the machine, 100-150 ml of rinse aid is enough.
Option 4. With the addition of hair conditioner
Water, vinegar and hair conditioner will be used to make this freshener. The concentration of the components of the finished solution is: 6 parts of water, 3 parts of vinegar, 2 parts of conditioner. All components must be thoroughly mixed together. Any aromatic liquid or oil can be added to the prepared solution.
Air conditioner is added to the washing machine through the filler compartment. For a full load of the machine, 100-150 ml of rinse aid is enough. You can store the finished solution in an opaque container in a dark place.
Option 5. Simple vinegar
This method is used when there are no aromatic liquids, oils and other fillers. An ordinary vinegar solution serves as a conditioner.
Before rinsing, vinegar is poured into the tank of the washing machine through a special compartment. Given the high concentration of pure vinegar, it is recommended to pour it in small quantities. Approximately 50-100 grams for a full machine load. This volume will add softness to linen and clothes. In addition, the vinegar will kill bacteria and microorganisms.
Rinsing linen and clothes with clean vinegar will retain the smell after drying. Therefore, it is recommended to dry clothes and linen in a ventilated place, for example, outside.
Borax and Soda Conditioner
The smell of vinegar or vinegar residue is often unpleasant. In this case, you can prepare a freshener without adding vinegar. Borax and soda will be used as ingredients for the conditioner. They serve as a substitute for vinegar.
Option 1. Soda solution
Regular baking soda is used for refreshment. 120-150 grams of soda is stirred in water until completely dissolved and poured into the tank of the washing machine. After that, things are scrolled in a soda solution.
Baking soda softens water due to its chemical properties and makes clothes and linen soft.
Option 2. Borax
Borax is a type of baking soda and can also replace vinegar fabric softener. 50-100 grams of borax must be stirred in water until completely dissolved and poured into the tank of the washing machine. After that, we scroll through the things in the prepared solution. Borax makes the fabric soft. After drying, clothes and linen are easy to iron.
To remove stains from the collar and sleeves, you need to leave the clothes in the conditioner for half an hour before loading them into the washing machine. Problem areas can be moistened with vinegar.
A distinctive quality of borax is its ability to significantly soften hard water. To do this, before washing clothes, it is recommended to add 100 grams of borax diluted in water to the tank.
The chemical properties of borax make it possible not only to make soft clothes and linen, but also to achieve their maximum purity. Borax solution fights well against mold and fungi, bacteria and small insects.
Baking soda and borax will help to safely soften clothes and linen and save money. They are a great substitute for vinegar rinse. Their chemical properties make it possible to carry out additional cleaning of things, to remove stubborn stains.
A good conditioner can also be made by mixing an emollient hair shampoo and a little ginseng oil. This will give things a special softness and a subtle pleasant aroma.
Air conditioning with tennis balls
A large part of the population associates tennis balls with sports. Few people know that tennis balls can be used instead of fabric softener.
Their use as an alternative to other rinses allows the structure of their surface. The uniqueness of the method lies in the fact that electrification is removed from the surface of linen and clothes, the hardness of the fibers of the fabric decreases and the fabric becomes much softer. This affects its subsequent drying and ironing. The material for the manufacture of the surface of the balls is rubber. It is an environmentally friendly product and does not harm clothes and underwear.
The principle of conditioning is quite simple. Place 3-5 tennis balls in a drum with washed laundry or clothes. The number of balls depends on the volume of the washing machine drum and the number of items inside it. After the balls are loaded, you must turn on the washing machine. Constantly rolling, the balls hit the fabric fibers of things, making the clothes soft. The soft surface of the balls keeps clothes from being damaged. Sometimes rubber balls with bulges are used for conditioning. Partial deterioration of clothing or tissue tears may result from this use.
Tennis balls can be used to condition delicate clothing without damaging it.
Given the above, it can be understood that tennis balls are effective remedy which will make the laundry soft and delicate. Their low cost is an important argument in order to replace industrial rinse aids.
Knowing how to make a homemade rinse aid, you can start making it. Own production will give desired effect, and experience and time will tell you which air conditioner is more suitable for a family.
Not every housewife knows that you can make your own fabric softener at home, and not just buy it in a store. This is as easy as shelling pears to do. You have to put in very little effort. The main thing is to find a suitable recipe. A home-made rinse aid will cost several times less than a similar store-bought product. At the same time, in terms of quality and efficiency of use, a homemade softener is in no way inferior to an industrial one and will allow you to achieve what you want - to get perfectly soft, pleasant to the touch, good-smelling linen at minimal cost.
Benefits of home air conditioners
Few of us delve into the composition of store chemicals designed to soften linen. As practice shows, it is completely in vain. More than 95% of rinses from different manufacturers contain substances that are harmful and even dangerous for the human body, which can cause not only a mild allergic reaction, but also serious diseases. In such a situation, a completely justified question arises: what can be used instead of store softeners and how to replace such compositions? A good solution is to make a homemade fabric softener for use in the washing machine or hand wash. In this case, you will be 100% sure that only safe components are included in its composition, and after washing the laundry will acquire not a caustic chemical, but a light natural aroma, will be the most delicate and pleasant to the touch.
Other advantages of home-made air conditioners:
- do not damage the fabric, do not "eat" the color of the linen,
- extremely economical
- can be used not only for adults, but also for children's underwear.
How to make a natural conditioner at home?
The instructions for making a homemade softener will help you quickly prepare the right product. Here you must adhere to the following rule: do not violate the recipe and proportions indicated in the explanation.
Consider the most popular homemade fabric softener recipes:
Recipe 1 - with vinegar
Simple and affordable option. Vinegar can be found in the kitchen of every housewife. It is an acid that perfectly dissolves alkaline soap products and perfectly disinfects laundry. Just before starting the rinse cycle, pour a little vinegar (about 50 ml) into the fabric softener compartment.
Recipe 2 - with vinegar and essential oil
You can mix vinegar with a little of your favorite essential oil in a ratio of 20 drops to 4 liters of vinegar. In this way, we get the volume for long-term use. At wash white linen, add 250 ml of such a product, washing colored - 100-120 ml of conditioner.
Important! It is forbidden to use vinegar together with bleaches, as well as to use more than the recommended amount of the product. - this can lead to shrinkage of things.
Recipe 3 - with baking soda
If you're the type of person who hates the smell of vinegar, you can make a baking soda conditioner. The latter perfectly softens hard tap water, makes the washed things cloudy soft. Like vinegar, soda can be used in its pure form by adding half a glass of soda before the Rinse mode at the maximum load of the washing machine. If you wash very few items, then the amount of softener used should be reduced by half.
Recipe 4 - with vinegar, soda, essential oils
Another popular recipe: mix equal proportions of baking soda, vinegar and warm water in a plastic container. Stir the main ingredients vigorously and add 2-3 drops of essential oil. The resulting softener must be added during washing in a small amount. You can store the air conditioner in the refrigerator in a glass container for no more than six days. By increasing the amount of oil in the composition, you can achieve a more or less intense aroma.
Important! Vinegar, mixed with baking soda, gives a reaction, so proceed with caution. Also, make sure that the essential oil (especially citrus fruits: lemon, lemongrass, bergamot, orange, tangerine or grapefruit) does not get on the skin of the hands in its pure form. - it can cause an allergic reaction.
Recipe 5 - with borax
It will help not only soften the laundry during washing, but also get rid of stubborn stains. During washing, add a quarter glass of borax to the compartment of the washing machine.
Externally borax -
it is a powder of crystalline structure, a natural mineral. Used both in cosmetology and in preparation household chemicals... Known for its emollient properties, it is used in creams, balms, conditioners, rinses and bath bombs. Can be purchased at a pharmacy or ordered from an online store that sells ingredients for natural cosmetics.
Recipe 6 - with table salt
The product will improve the color of the fabric, make things after washing more pleasant to the touch and smell good. In a glass bowl, mix 4 cups of table salt with a few drops of essential oil and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or stick. Add 3-4 tablespoons of softener while rinsing. So natural home remedy can be stored in a sealed container in a cool place away from sunlight.
Most housewives who have tried home-made air conditioner at least once in their lives give up expensive store options forever. At the same time, they note that in terms of their qualities and action, home softeners really benefit in many ways. First of all, in matters of safety for the body.
Now you know how to soften your laundry without air conditioning at home. To do this, you will need inexpensive and affordable tools that are found in every kitchen. Try our recipes and Leave your feedback on their effectiveness in the comments.
The desire to have an environmentally friendly conditioner that makes the laundry soft during the wash process motivates you to search for methods for making it yourself. The use of known components avoids the unpleasant consequences inherent in chemical ready-made rinses. This is especially important for people with sensitive skin or with chronic diseases.
Conditioners made according to proven recipes are no less effective than expensive household chemicals.
The purpose of conditioning your laundry is to achieve the following benefits:
- an increase in the comfort of wearing products that, after washing with air conditioner, acquire a pleasant softness;
- removal of the electrostatic effect, which is especially important for woolen and synthetic clothing;
- easier ironing of linen;
- preservation of color saturation;
- long-term preservation of the cleanliness of things.
Due to the inclusion of aromatic substances in the structural formula, the laundry after using the conditioners acquires a pleasant aroma. Homemade rinses have many benefits:
- the ability to give your favorite aroma by introducing the appropriate essential oil into the composition;
- profitability;
- environmental Safety;
- no allergies and skin lesions after conditioning;
- quality softening of things;
- facilitating the removal of soap residues when rinsing.
It is important to carefully study the proposed sequence of actions and observe the proportions of the components included in the composition.
Vinegar conditioner
One of the most common do-it-yourself fabric softeners is a vinegar-based product. This strong acid helps soften textiles, remove soap residues, and eliminate static electricity. The antimicrobial properties of this product are known. Home craftsmen offer several recipes based on the use of table vinegar (6%).
The simplest method is to add two tablespoons of vinegar to the conditioner compartment before rinsing. The linen softened in this way is dried in the fresh air so that the vinegar aroma disappears.
For the next remedy, take a deep enamel pan. Pour in a liter of vinegar and 5 drops of lavender or mint essential oil. After thorough mixing, pour the composition, which has a maximum shelf life of 6 days, into a glass bottle with a stopper. When fully loaded in washing machine pour liquid no higher than the maximum mark. If the drum is not completely loaded or colored clothes are washed, the dose is halved.
An effective do-it-yourself scented fabric softener is made by mixing water, vinegar and hair conditioner in a 6: 3: 2 ratio with a few drops of your favorite scent essential oil. Store the rinse aid in a tightly closed dark glass container. Add half a glass to the compartment for the conditioner.
With baking soda
It is possible to make an air conditioner without a bite, as its harsh scent irritates the sense of smell. Baking soda is known to soften hard water. These properties are used in the following recipes.
You can use soda in its pure form. Pour a little less than half into a glass, add a little warm water, stir until dissolved and pour into a special compartment for the conditioner.
They also make a neutral air conditioner at home. For him, equal volumes of soda, slightly warmed water and table vinegar are measured in a spacious enamel pan. A violent neutralization reaction begins with the appearance of foam. After it dies down, add a few drops of flavoring and mix the liquid thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Store the composition in dark glass containers under a tight lid in a closed cabinet, where there is no access for children. Add to conditioner container as needed.
Other recipes
There are other options for making your own air conditioner suitable for a washing machine:
With brown
Sodium tetraborate or borax belongs to the group of antiseptics. It effectively softens water, counteracts the appearance of mold and mildew. When used, stains are removed, linen gains tenderness and pleasant softness. For cooking, take 50 g of borax for the same amount of warm water.
With table salt
If you use a home-made rinse aid based on table salt instead of a ready-made conditioner, then the result will be not only the softness of the products, but also an increase in their color saturation. You can prepare a product from fine salt in advance by taking four glasses of it and pouring it into a bowl. Knead the existing lumps, add the selected essential oil - 20 drops. After mixing with a wooden spatula, transfer the resulting powder conditioner into a dark glass container with a tight lid. Before use, dilute two tablespoons with the same amount of warm water and pour into the rinse aid tray of the washing machine.
The following recipe assumes the use of Epsom salts - magnesia, under the influence of which, along with the appearance of softness, the color of the products also increases. You can mix a glass of the product with a few drops of flavoring and apply in the same way as the previous composition.
The following type of conditioner is prepared on the basis of Epsom salt mixed with your favorite essential oil. A glass of warm water is poured into one bowl, in which half a glass of this mixture is completely dissolved. A glass of soda is poured into the second enameled volumetric container and 6 glasses of table vinegar are gradually poured. Wait until the formation of foam stops during the reaction and mix the two solutions. Pour into a dark bottle, close tightly. If necessary, pour about half a glass into the conditioner tray.
In some cases, you can replace the rinse aid with tennis rubber balls, which are placed directly into the drum. Enough 3-5 pieces. This technique is suitable for washing children's clothes and products that require careful handling, making them soft and free of static electricity.
Seeing the result after using homemade air conditioners and evaluating their cost-effectiveness, many people no longer return to expensive chemical analogues.
It is difficult to imagine washing without powder or rinse aid. And even a few decades ago there was no such variety of household chemicals, and the linen was looked after with "folk" means. We will tell you how to make a fabric softener with your own hands so that you can protect your skin from allergic reactions, your laundry from wear and tear, and your machine from breakdowns.
How to make fabric softener at home
If you decide to make a rinse aid for washing, you do not have to buy special ingredients. Everything that can be used as part of the product can be found at home or in the nearest hardware store... Let's consider the most common recipes.
Table vinegar has long been used to rinse clothes - it is the most affordable and harmless softener. It can be safely used for woolen items, and as a bonus, it retains bright colors of clothes. For manual washing, the solution can be used in its pure form, and for automatic washing it is worth mixing it with other substances so as not to harm the SMA. 
Important! When mixing the components of the conditioner, do not disturb the proportions.
Recipe number 1
Take a liter plastic bottle(for example, from an old remedy). Pour a liter of vinegar into it and add 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Shake well and use one glass at a time. If the load is half, pour half a glass of the product into the cuvette. This natural conditioner does not deteriorate for about 2 months.
Recipe number 2
The recipe is similar to the previous one, but use peppermint drops instead of lavender oil. It is recommended to store the liquid in an opaque bottle for no more than 8 weeks.
Recipe number 3
To make your washing machine conditioner, mix 3 ingredients:
- soda (regular or soda ash);
- warm water;
- vinegar.
The proportions of the components must be equal. For mixing, use an enamel saucepan and a wooden spoon (or spatula). If you wish, you can refresh the product by dropping any essential oil there. Store up to 60 days in a dark place.
Another recipe that can be easily repeated at home: You will need 3 ingredients. Take:
- vinegar essence - 300 ml;
- distilled water - 600 ml;
- hair conditioner - 200 ml.
Mix and use! Even though this home option is the most expensive, it has the highest ratings among housewives. 
Important! Acetic acid perfectly disinfects laundry and machine surfaces, and also washes out washing powder... The main advantage is the price. This vinegar-based mouthwash won't hit your budget.
Scented rinses
If you don't like the smell of vinegar, you can make your own fragrant products using your usual ingredients. Next, we will consider the composition of such air conditioners.
Option 1
Go to the pharmacy for Epsom salt (magnesia) - you will need about 250 g. Put 10-15 drops of orange essential oil in it. Place the detergent in the powder receptacle (2 tablespoons per wash cycle). If you are preparing the air conditioner for future use, then provide it with airtight storage.
Option 2
Take:
- 1 glass of warm water;
- 3 tbsp. l. soda;
- essential oil of sandalwood or jasmine.
Option 3
Need a thick rinse aid? Take hair conditioner (5-6 spoons), add twice as much sea salt and drip any essential oil. This will soften your laundry and will not harm your clipper or your skin. Use 3 to 5 tablespoons of this product for one wash. Now you know how to make an air conditioner manually and at the same time significantly save money, protect yourself from skin rashes, and protect the machine from breakdowns. We have brought to your attention those recipes that have collected only positive reviews.
If you're wondering how to soften your laundry without air conditioning, follow the advice of experienced housewives who use tennis balls for washing and rinsing. When the drum rotates, these balls constantly move among the laundry, inflicting soft blows on it, as a result, your clothes are shaken, it becomes more pleasant to the touch. 
Attention! The balls are not a substitute for scented rinses, but if you are not a scent lover, this is what you need.
By the way, balls do not affect the operation of the washer, unlike a solution of vinegar or borax. Therefore, when choosing what to replace a purchased product, give preference to tennis balls - they do not harm the machine, are not an allergen and perfectly soften clothes. Exactly what is needed! Summing up, consider the advantages of home-made air conditioners:
- affordable, unlike analogs from store shelves;
- vinegar products disinfect linen;
- facilitate ironing;
- are washed out of clothes and help to wash out the powder;
- people with allergies will find a suitable option from a variety of well-known recipes.
You can use vinegar instead of conditioner, tennis balls are just as effective. It remains only to make the right choice.
