The easiest alternative is to buy yourself a gallon of vinegar and then add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oils. DO NOT use fagrance oils as they may contain artificial colors or scents that could damage your clothes! I personally like lavender, peppermint or eucalyptus. You can put this in your fabric softener ball and it does not leave a residue on your machine.
Fresh Lemon Fabric Softener
You will need 2 C. water, 5 C. white vinegar, 1 C. baking soda, 20 drops lemon essential oil
Mix vinegar and water in 1/2 gallon jar, THEN slowly add the baking soda. DO NOT try and add the vinegar to the baking soda or you end up with this:
Finally, add your lemon essential oil. You use 1/2 – 1 C. per load of laundry. Again, I like to stick it in the fabric softener ball.
Dryer Sheets
The simplest method: Use a clean cloth place 2-3 drops of essential oil on the cloth and toss in the dryer. Refresh with a drop or two of oil between loads. Wash cloth after every few loads. This adds a nice fragrance and does not ruin your dryer like the store bought sheets.
Some combos to try:
cedarwood and patchouli or sandlewood for a masculine scent
orange oil and geranium for a floral scent
peppermint and eucalyptus for when you have a cold
orange, lemon and grapefruit for a fruity scent
Another option is to mix one gallon water and one cup concentrated liquid fabric softener in a container. Every time you do laundry, dip an old washcloth or 1/2 a sponge into the mix, wring out, and dry with your clothes. Put the lid on the container and don't forget to label.
If you just want fragrance without the extra softener you can mix 1 C. water (distilled or filtered is best), 1/2 C. alcohol (I use isopropyl or vodka) and 20 drops of your favorite essential combo. Place the wet clothes in the dryer and spritz 4-5 times with softener mix and dry as usual. This leaves a nice scent on your clothes without being over-powering.
Happy Laundry!
