
Welcome to my blog - grab your favorite mug and fill it with whatever you like best to drink, pull up a chair, sit back and have a glimpse into my life ...
<><Becky



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Entry 26 of 523
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Homemade Fabric Softener
Posted in Recipes
I don't know about you but I was getting really tired of the price fluctuations with fabric softener. It ranges in price from about $5 - $8 a bottle, and you aren't always getting the name brand product for those prices!!!
We only found one brand of dryer sheets that we could use because Don reacts to a lot of them (Bounce is the worst) and we only found that one brand at a store about an hour away from us. So, dryer sheets are out for us as well.
Last month while pondering the fabric softener dilemma I decided to see if there was any recipes online to make your own - I am pleased to report that there is indeed and yesterday I tried it out. The reason that I waited so long was because I wanted to use up the store bought stuff that I had. I can't remember where I found the recipe so I, unfortunately, can not give credit where credit is due. Here is what I did:
Homemade Fabric Softener
3 cups cold water
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1 cup hair conditioner
- mix all of the above ingredients in a bowl, stir and pour into an empty fabric softener bottle. Use as you would regular fabric softener.
This recipe makes enough fabric softener to fill a 1.1 L bottle with about 1/2 cup (give or take) left over. You can use any kind of hair conditioner that you want, the kind that I used for this batch was Natures Botanics Fruits Apple Fresh scent (it cost about $1). When I was choosing a conditioner for the fabric softener I basically went through the aisle of hair care products and smelled the cheaper brands to find one I liked.
One thing I would recommend when making this recipe is that you save at least one bottle from your store bought fabric softener and then just reuse the bottle - I have three bottles, 2 of them are currently empty. When I make this recipe again I will double it (or maybe triple it) and fill all my fabric softener bottles so I don't have to make it as often. Oh, you could also mark the recipe on one of the bottles or print it out and tack it up in your laundry area so that you have it for future use. If you are really organized you could put the recipe in your home-management binder ... I'm not there yet, lol. 
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Comments
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by homesteadmama4
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Thanks for the recipe. I will be trying that when my current bottle is finished.
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You're welcome. =)
<>< Becky
Edited by Becky on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 11:20
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by gabbie427
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Thanks for the recipe!!!
God's Blessings,
Amy Jo
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You're welcome, Amy Jo. =)
<>< Becky
Edited by Becky on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 11:20
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by haflinger
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First off I would like to thank you for stopping by my blog.. Your blog is so cute that kitten is something else..
I don't use fabric softener cause it cost so much..But I will try this.. One thing what type of vinegar? white or apple?
And about how much does it make? So I know what size of container to come up with...Thanks..
SIster Brenda
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You are so welcome, Sister Brenda - the cost of fabric softener was one of the main reasons that I wanted to try making it myself. The amounts listed in the recipe made about 5 cups of fabric softener, you could easily half (or double) this recipe without affecting the results of the fabric softener. Oh, and I used white vinegar.
<>< Becky
Edited by Becky on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 05:34
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by abmiller
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I use just straight white vinegar instead of fabric softener. Sometimes I soak fresh orange peel in the vinegar to give it a less vinegar-y scent. This works really well, is so much cheaper & gives the clothes a fresh non-perfumy smell.
~Anissa
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Soaking an orange peel in the vinegar sounds very interesting - I find it amazing that there is absolutely no smell of vinegar when the clothes are dry.
<>< Becky
Edited by Becky on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 05:38
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Thursday, August 21, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by haflinger
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Thank you! I was wondering do you think you could an oil scent of some sort in it? has anybody tried it.
SIster Brenda
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You're welcome - I'm not sure if you could use an essential oil in it or not. Maybe try making a 1/2 batch (or smaller) to try it out. For a scent in it, I'm thinking that that is the reason for the hair conditioner - the stronger smelling the hair conditioner, the stronger smelling the fabric softener will be. If you try it with the oil in it, I would love to hear how it works.
<>< Becky
Edited by Becky on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 10:43
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≈ Iced Coffee Syrup
≈ Sewing (as needed)
≈ Knitting (always)
≈ Baking
≈ Follow Homeblessing Plan!!
-- This is a work in progress section --

Weekly Homeblessing Plan:
Project List for
Weekly Homeblessing List:
• My Bible currently in Psalms
• Created To Be His Helpmeet
• You Can Teach Your Child Successfully

SEWING
Currently Sewing:
≈ Jumper for Taryn ≈
~started on: 02-28-08~
~last worked on: 02-28-08~
Sewing To-Do List:
≈ Swiffer Duster Covers
For Gift Giving:
≈ Mom's Christmas present
≈ Christmas Pajamas for the kids
Sewing Wish List:
≈ Wrap Skirts for me
≈ Lunch Bags
≈ Reusable Sandwich Keepers
KNITTING
Currently Knitting:
≈ Knitting Machine Toque ...≈
~started on: 11-25-08~
~last worked on: 11-26-08~
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈ Prayer Shawl ... ≈
~started on: 11-26-08~
~last worked on: 11-30-08~
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈ Furry Felted Mittens ... ≈
~started on: 12-1-08~
~last worked on: 12-4-08~
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈ Christmas Knitting ≈
*** Nothing at the moment ***
Knitting To-Do List:
≈ Swiffer Sweeper cloths
• Wet/Dry Swiffer Mop cloth
• Mr. Clean Magic Reach Mop cloth
≈ Tawashi's
≈ Round Tablecloth for Mom
Year Round Knitting:
≈ Christmas Presents
Knitting Wish List:
≈ Ball Band throw rug for in front of kitchen sink
Finished Knitting List of 2008:
Hand Knitting
• Hannah Ponytail Hat
≈ Felted Slippers for Mom
≈ Flaming 'C' Illusion Scarf
≈ My Knitting Bag
≈ 3 Prayer Cloths
≈ 12 Tawashi's
≈ 4 Pair of Socks
≈ Tissue Cozy
≈ Mesh Shopping Bag
≈ Irish Hiking fingerless mitts
≈ Round Baby Blanket
≈ 2 Pairs of Furry Mittens
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
Studio HK-100 Knitting Machine
≈ Dishcloth - 1
≈ Felted Purse (small) - 4
≈ Felted Bags (medium/large) - 2
≈ Felted Grocery bag
≈ Charlotte's Toque
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
Innovations Knitting Machine
≈ Ski Mask - 1
≈ Double Knit Toque - 1
≈ Very Long Red Tube Scarf - 1
CROCHETING
Currently Crocheting:
≈ Nothing at the moment
Crocheting To-Do List:
• Swiffer Sweeper cloths
Year Round Crocheting:
≈ Christmas Presents
Crocheting Wish List:
• Seraphina Shawl
Finished Crochet List of 2008:
≈ Felted Slippers for my Mom
≈ Crochet Dish Sponge - 1
≈ Doll Carrier for Taryn
• Half Moon Shawl
≈ Crown for Charlotte
≈ Artificial Nest
≈ Tam

Iced Coffee Syrup
≈ coffee
≈ water
≈ sugar
***IMPORTANT***: you need a percolator style coffee pot to make this.
DO NOT use a drip style coffee maker to make this syrup!!!!!
* Make one pot of coffee, then discard the grounds.
* Add fresh grounds, percolate again, with the coffee as liquid, not fresh water.
* Do this three times.
* To the finished coffee mixture, add one half the amount of sugar (if you end up with 3 cups coffee mixture, add 1 1/2 cups sugar).
* Mix until sugar is completely dissolved.
* To use: add 2 - 3 tablespoons of syrup to a 10 oz glass of milk, stir to mix and enjoy.
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