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I don't know about you guys but we do a lot of laundry in my home. Fortunately, my husband does all of our laundry. I am a huge fan of Bounce products and it's something I would normally buy even if I didn't have a coupon.
Unless you are using coupons those dryer sheets can be somewhat expensive. I've got a few solutions to help you stretch your wallet.
Homemade Dryer Sheets-
Option A: Fill a Tupperware Container with 2 parts water and 1 part liquid fabric softener. Cut a kitchen sponge in half. Soak the sponges in the solution over night. The next day you can squeeze all the excess liquid out of one of the sponges and toss it in your dryer. Then toss it back in to soak when your done. I recommend putting a black x on one with a permanent marker so you can remember which one still needs to soak.
Option B: Add 2oz of liquid Fabric Softener in a spray bottle and fill it with water. Spray a wash cloth, rag or old sock and toss it in the dryer. Works just like a dryer sheet and if diluted properly it won't stain your clothes. (I always recommend you do a test run before you try any home remedy so you don't ruin something nice.)
Option C: If you don't mind the smell of white vinegar add 1/4 -1/2 cup to your wash. Softens towels and gets out musty smells. Vinegar is very inexpensive.
If you have a fabric softner tip to share I'd love to hear it.
About the Author
Consumer Queen has written 2133 posts on ConsumerQueen.com.
Melissa Garcia AKA The Consumer Queen is a Walmart Mom, Savings.com Deal Pro and All You Savings Star. Melissa is also the Internet Marketing Manager for AdvancePierre Foods.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice
Thanks I am definatly going to try ~A 
Have you personally tried any of these? Did they stain and which one worked best for you?? Thanks Marilyn
I have done both the vinegar and the sponge. I still reccomend doing a test because everyones washing machines are different. Works perfect for mine. I am doing a test on the spray bottle now.
but these still utilize fabric softener which is still pricey =/
Not when you use coupons and you are also diluting it to make it stretch 3 times as longer. When you compare that to normal dryer sheets you are saving more money. Unless of course you are getting the free dryer sheets we posted about this week.
Vinegar works great int he laundry , I also use liquid dishwashing detergent in my whites with the soap. Gets out that red clay stain all the time.
Dish soap? Really? I haven’t heard that one thanks for sharing! Note: This is probably safe for normal washing machines but i would be careful if you have the new HE ones
I love Vinegar as a fabric softener and deodorizer. It does smell when you put it in the washing machine but not after the clothes are dried. It just leave a great fresh smell. It also removes the soap residue for those who have a sensitivity to it .
Yes I love Dollar tree
Yep Vinegar works great too
Yep it’s a great deoderizer too
I’ve been using vinegar instead of fabric softener for years and everything comes out smelling good.
Do you think Jabdodd above meant DISHWASHER soap in with her whites that gets red clay out? It often has a bit of bleach in it & might not oversuds like dishWASHING soap might…I’d love to know for sure as I live among GA red clay!
That’s a good question….I didn’t think about that but you’re right it wouldn’t oversuds like the dish soap.
These are great ideas! I have used the vinegar in the past and it works just fine. It does have that smell untill your clothes are dried. You could combine the 2? Save a lot has a huge bottle of vinegar for super cheap!
We are using the 2parts to 1 part with a sponge and we bought our fabric softner with a coupon (although I later found out I could have used that coupon at dollar tree and got my fabric softner free that week). Another benefit to the vineger is if you have a front load washer, it helps to keep the hoses and such clean and combat against any mold issues that are so commonly complained about. We don’t have a front load washer yet, but one of these years when we replace our set I hope too.
I love dish soap to get grease stains out of my sons shirts (french fries) just pre-treat and scrup a little.. i’ve found that old bottle brushes work great in the laundry room… just make sure it is bleach free and you rinse before you run it through the washer.
I use the multiple sponge method and LOVE it!!! I only squeeze out about 2/3 of the liquid from the sponge because I didn’t feel like my clothes were as soft if I squeezed it all out. I usually do laundry only once a week so I have cut up 4 sponges in order to make 8 dryer sponges. I also make my own baby wipes and will try to make my own laundry soap in the next week or two!
Amanda you will have to email me your homemade Laundry Soap and baby wipes and we can post it on CQ and give you credit
Great idea, thanks for sharing
I make the homemade wipes and there really easy and work really well you get a roll of papertowel I have tried many and the vive or bounty or members mark brand have worked best you cut the paper towel roll in half pull out the cardboard put it in a container I use the a tall one that is used to store cereal in a cup mix 1c water 1tbs baby oil 1tbs baby shampoo and 1tbs witch hazle mix it together and pour it over the papertowels let them soak for about 20min before using and also some papertowels are more absorbent to need a little more water but that part is just trial and erreor the witch hazle I get from the dollar store hope that helps someone
Thanks Miranda!