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It is difficult to imagine washing without powder or rinse aid. And a few decades ago, there was no such variety of household chemicals, and linen was looked after by “folk” means. We will tell you how to make fabric softener with your own hands so that you can protect your skin from allergic reactions, linen from wear and tear, and the machine from breakdowns.
How to make fabric softener at home
If you decide to make a laundry detergent, you don’t 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. Consider the most common recipes.
Vinegar based
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 the bright colors of clothes. For hand washing, the solution can be used in its pure form, but for automatic washing it is worth mixing it with other substances so as not to harm the CMA.
Important! When mixing the components of the conditioner, do not violate the proportions.
Recipe No.1
Take a liter plastic bottle (for example, from an old product). Pour a liter of vinegar into it and drip 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Shake well and use one glass at a time to rinse. 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 No.2
The recipe is similar to the previous one, but use mint drops instead of lavender oil. It is recommended to store the liquid in an opaque bottle for no more than 8 weeks.
Recipe No.3
To make a washing machine conditioner, mix 3 ingredients:
- soda (regular or soda);
- warm water;
- vinegar.
The proportions of the components must be equal. An enamel saucepan and a wooden spoon (or spatula) are suitable for mixing. If desired, you can refresh the product by dropping any essential oil there. Store up to 60 days in a dark place.
Recipe No.4
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 enjoy! Even though this home option is the most expensive, it has the highest ratings among housewives.
Important! Acetic acid perfectly disinfects linen and machine surfaces, and also washes out washing powder. The main advantage is the price. Such a vinegar-based rinse will not hit the budget.
Based on the storm
Borax is famous for its ability to soften water, so it is used for washing and rinsing. There are no secrets to use: pour 50 g of the substance into the rinse compartment. An invaluable property of borax is that it eliminates linen mites, mold, fungus and other parasites. Things after washing with brown are soft and clean. But do not overdo it – at high concentrations it is allergenic.
Scented rinses
If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, you can make your own scented products using familiar ingredients. Next, consider the composition of such air conditioners.
Option 1
Go to the pharmacy for Epsom salts (magnesia) – you will need about 250 g of it. Drop 10-15 drops of orange essential oil into it. Place the detergent in the powder container (2 tablespoons per wash cycle). If you are preparing the air conditioner for the future, then ensure that it is hermetically stored.
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 tablespoons), add twice as much sea salt and drip any essential oil. Such a tool will soften the laundry and will not harm the machine and your skin. Use 3 to 5 tablespoons of this product per wash. Now you know how to make an air conditioner manually and at the same time save a lot, protect yourself from skin rashes, and the machine from breakdowns. We have brought to your attention those recipes that have collected only positive reviews.
What can replace the air conditioner for a washing machine
If you’re wondering how to soften laundry without conditioner, take the advice of experienced housewives who use tennis balls for washing and rinsing. These balls, when the drum rotates, constantly move among the laundry, inflicting soft blows on it, as a result, your clothes are shaken, becoming more pleasant to the touch.
Attention! Balls will not replace fragrant rinses, but if you are not a fan of smells, this is what you need.
By the way, the balls do not affect the operation of the washer in any way, unlike a solution of vinegar or borax. Therefore, when choosing how 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 analogues from store shelves;
- acetic agents disinfect linen;
- facilitate ironing;
- are washed out of clothes and help wash the powder;
- people with allergies will choose the appropriate 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.