Laundry Tip: Make Liquid Fabric Softener Last Longer

Love the way liquid fabric softener leaves your clothes smelling? Hate the price and having to buy it every time you turn around? Have you tried skipping buying it only to have to deal with all of that static electricity? Well... that is no fun either.

I have just the solution for you! This simple tip will make any liquid fabric softener last at least 4 times longer and your clothes will still have that same wonderful smell and no static electricity.

Buy yourself a couple of packs of sponges. I found mine at Dollar General for $2.00 each. While I was at it, I went ahead and bought a new bottle of liquid fabric softener for $3.00. (I don't typically use fabric softener because the powdered laundry soap I make has Purex Crystals in it, eliminating this need for me. But, it is nice to have on hand for if/when I decide to use it.)

I cut my sponges in half length-wise and then in half across the middle, getting four small sponges out of each sponge I started with. This gave me a total of 52 small sponges.

I put all of the little sponges into a container I had on hand. I recycled an old, plastic snack tub. You can use a plastic coffee can, or any other container you would like. Plastic or glass is best.

Then, I simply poured the liquid fabric softener over the sponges until the liquid fabric softener was about 2 inches from the top. I was only able to pour about 3/4 of my new bottle of liquid fabric softener into my container. This gives me more to refill my container as I use it up.

 Next, you will need to label your container. I always put the name of what is in the container and the date on mine so I can see just how long it lasts. 

Directions for use:
When you start a load of laundry, use one small sponge per load. Squeeze out excess liquid and place in your washing machine with your dirty laundry. When the washing machine finishes, put laundry AND sponge into dryer. After dryer finishes, place small sponge back into the container to re-use.

Eventually, the liquid fabric softener will be used, just refill container with fabric softener remaining in original bottle. You will be so surprised at how much longer this will make one bottle of fabric softener last!

My bottle stated that it was a 40 load bottle (which would last me about a month if I followed the instructions on the bottle). I only used 3/4 of the bottle filling my container. I had 52 sponges to start off. They will be recycled over and over again. I am predicting this one 40 load bottle will last me around 6 months, if I wash on average one - two loads of clothes per day.

DIY Laundry Pods

Do you go to a laundromat  to do your laundry and hate carrying big bottles of soap and fabric softener? Or maybe you are going to be traveling and need to do laundry while you are away. I have a solution for you. Make these laundry pods and make your life a bit easier. These are simple to make and easy to carry.

They only have five ingredients and odds are you have most of it in your house now

Ingredients:
3 cups of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 cup of Fels Naptha Bar Soap - shredded
4 tablespoons of Epsom Salt
6 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide
1/2 cup of vinegar

Directions:

Add 1 cup of shredded Fels Naptha bar soap to a mixing bowl.

Then, add 3 cups of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda.

Next, add 4 tablespoons of Epsom Salt.

Then you will need to add 6 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. It will fizz and bubble. This is normal. Next, add 1/2 cup of vinegar and stir.

The mixture should have the texture of slightly wet sand.

Use a tablespoon measuring spoon to make scoops. Pull against side of bowl to remove excess from spoon. Place on a parchment covered tray or cookie sheet.

Allow pods to dry over night. Then, store in an airtight container. Will make about 40 laundry pods. Each pod costs only pennies to make and is safe in HE machines. No fabric softener is needed when you use these pods.

DIY Laundry Soap Powdered

Tired of paying high prices for name brand laundry soap? Not me. I have been making my own for years. This is my favorite DIY powdered laundry soap. It makes enough to last for months and costs less than $21.00 total. You have to try this one!

You will need this for your ingredients:
1)   4 pound box of Borax ($3.38)
1)   3 pound 7 ounce box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda ($3.24)
1)   3 pound container of Oxi Clean ($2.73)
2)   14.1 ounce bars of Zote Soap ($0.97 each)
1)   4 pound box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda ($2.24)
1)   55 ounce bottle of Crystals Fabric Softener ($8.96)
All ingredients were purchased at Walmart in the laundry aisle.
The cost for everything was $20.55 before tax.

Directions:
Grate the Zote Soap. I used a food processor.  You can grate it by hand, or slice it and put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and crumble it. Do it anyway you want, I just found the food processor to be the quickest and easiest way. You want it to look like pink shredded cheese.
This is what it should look like after grating.

Next you will want to layer your ingredients. Think of making lasagna. Once you have used all your ingredients in the layering process, it will look like this.

Now it is time to mix all of the ingredients. You can do it the old fashioned way with a big spoon and stir until you feel like your arm will fall off.

Or you can do it the easy way by pouring it into a garbage bag and rolling it back and forth.

 

When you get it mixed well, fill your containers. I try to recycle my old ones by refilling them. I label the front with 'Laundry Soap' with directions on how to use.

I make a label with the ingredients for the back. This way, I know exactly how much and what types of ingredients are in it so I do not have to hunt for the recipe when I get ready to make more.

Now, how much to use per load? It only takes 2 tablespoons per load. I use the scoop that came in my oxi clean container. You can also use the lid from the Purex Crystals bottle. Fill to the middle line on the  bottle lid.

You will be surprised by how much this makes and by how little it takes per load. It should last 6 - 12 months depending on how big your family is and how much laundry is done each day in your home.

It is safe to use on HE machines.

To make it easier and more fun to make, get a laundry soap making buddy. In my case, I went to Mom's and we made 2 batches. This way she had one and I had one to take home. We spent the day together AND got something done! Yay us!