Monday, January 18, 2010

A Frugal Laundry Tip!

A quick laundry tip...
At one of my 'Mommy Groups'...
We learned how to make homemade cleaning products.
Truth be told, I only enjoyed one of them.

Homemade dryer sheets.

You need:
water
liquid fabric softner
sponge
container



















You take 1 part fabric softner to 2 parts water
I make batches of:
1 Cup of fabric softner
2 Cups of water

Pour mixture into container. 
Shake to mix.
Cut up a new, clean sponge and drop them in.



I use a Vintage Tupperware Pic-a-deli to store it.




















Take the sponge out of the liquid and throw into the dryer!
Sqeeze excess out.


























This is how the sponge will look when it comes out of the dryer.
The mixture lasted about 4 months for our family.  (7-10 loads a week)
And for larger loads, I throw 2 sponges in the dryer.
So, this is super thrifty!
I will not go back to dryer sheets!

For more wonderful household tips, visit The Thrifty Decor Chick for her

Update-
Several of you have sent messages with questions:
YES I use this for whites.  NO I've never had any problems with the fabric softner staining the clothing.
My dryer is about 6 years old.
I squeeze the sponge a quick squeeze until it is no longer dripping.
~Amy

29 comments:

  1. I knew there was a way to do that. Do you squeeze it out when you throw it in the dryer? I may have to try this. I bought liquid softner and forget to put it in sometimes.

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  2. awesome! right now i have the bounce bar in the dryer and love it, but this looks just as easy. do you still use softener in the wash too or just the sponges?

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  3. Very cool idea. I am going to try this. My family will just have to find another way to amuse themselves instead of laughing at the dryer sheet hanging out the bottom of someone's pants.

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  4. Hey Amy, I did not know you could do this. I have been making my own washing powder off and on for a couple of years, and I enjoy it until I get lazy or start missing the smell of tide. With this I could solve my need for smell good laundry. Thanks for sharing, your the best.

    Cha Cha

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  5. Lots of people don't get along well with the chemicals in fabric softener, and my husband is one of them. For years I have been making a laundry rinse with vinegar, water, and essential oils. I use an old magnum wine bottle, fill it 1/3 full with vinegar, top up with tap water, and add 10-15 drops of essential oil, usually lavender or lemon.

    This does the same thing that fabric softener does without the harsh chemicals. It helps get the soap residue out of your clothes, and it leaves them smelling pretty. And it's cheap, too. :)

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  6. Great tip, Amy. I have to try it. I love the smell of fabric softener. Don't use it with towels though...it makes them less absorbent.

    xoxo
    Jane

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  7. Very cool idea and frugal too. I'm going to try this! Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Ooh, I love making homemade cleaning products!! Great post! And thanks for the sweet comment and for stopping by Smashed Peas & Carrots!
    Mags

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  9. Thank you for visiting my blog. Thank for the laundry tip. I am going to try this.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Love it! I made his years ago when the kid were little and even made my own baby wipes!
    Thanks for sharing~ Stephanie

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  11. This is great. I think I will try it. So easy! Hey...this will mean more money for thrift stores and more pretties for me!Kk

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  12. Cool. :) I don't use dryer sheets but if I did, I'd be trying your method for certain. Love homemade stuff!

    Donna

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  13. Great tip! Also love your nifty, thrifty little bar area. Definitely could be changed up for many different moods and occasions. Love those curbside items. Have a great day! :) Tammy

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  14. Not only are you saving $$, you are being green by not adding to the landfill.

    Thank you for your kind comment about my hall tree and stopping by my blog. :D

    Happy hunting,
    Teresa

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  15. How cools is this! I’m going to give it a try.
    Thanks for your sweet comment on my pictures. I want to retake mine too. I took mine at Glamour Shoots and they were as cheesy as can be. The kiddos now are taking to coolest senior pictures.

    http://domesticprincessintraining.blogspot.com

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  16. Wow - thanks for the awesome tip! May have to try this one..

    Danielle

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  17. thanks for the tip! i make homemade laundry soap and love it. So I am definitely going to try this!

    bon @ Drab to Fab

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  18. What a great tip! I will have to try this!! Thanks:)

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  19. I've never heard of this before! But I will definitely be trying it now! Thanks for this fabulous tip!

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  20. This is a great tip! Thanks so much for sharing!!

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  21. That is a great idea!! I make my own detergent but didn't know what to do for fabric softner. Thanks so much for sharing. I am going to make some today!! Very economical. I love it!

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  22. What a great idea! I'm going to have to give this a try...but then again I am a girl that likes the smell of my Snuggle! But, if I can save a few bucks...I am all over it! Thanks! ~mary~

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  23. I would have never thought to do this! Glad it works!

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  24. Thanks for the great idea! I use homemade cleaning products, but haven't heard of this one. I'll have to try it. Love your blog! I can relate to the toys all over the house. It's a battle sometimes! Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  25. Love it--I hope you will post this to the celebration party--you can celebrate cleaning and money saving tips. YEAH--cuz I said so.
    Glad you liked the lamp. did you get to see my table makeover?

    Cheri

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  26. What a great idea!! I am going to have to try this. I make my own laundry soap so this would be great to go with it! Thanks for sharing!!

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  27. Thanks for this tip! I can't wait to try it! Love your blog....I'm a follower!:)

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