Using homemade white vinegar fabric softener offers several benefits, including:

1. Eco-Friendly: It's a natural and environmentally friendly alternative to commercial fabric softeners, reducing the use of chemicals in your laundry routine, which are extremely toxic to your health and the environment, deeply affecting aquatic lives.

2. Cost-Effective: Homemade fabric softener is more budget-friendly compared to store-bought alternatives, helping you save money on laundry expenses.

3. Removes Residues: It helps to remove detergent residues from your clothes, leaving them softer and more comfortable to wear.

4. Reduced Allergen Risk: It can be a better option for individuals with sensitive skin or allergies, as it doesn’t come with the hundreds of chemicals (mostly derivatives of the petrochemical industry) cleverly disguised under the name ‘fragrance’ on the label and main ingredients found in many commercial fabric softeners.

5. Fresh Scent: Adding citrus peels to the vinegar infusion provides a natural, pleasant fragrance to your laundry. No need for expensive essential oils.

6. Softens Clothes: White vinegar helps to naturally soften fabrics, making your clothes feel more comfortable.

7. Versatile: In addition to softening clothes, you can use this homemade fabric softener for various cleaning tasks in your home, such as descaling appliances and cleaning glass and surfaces.

8. Reduced Static: It can help reduce static electricity in your clothes, making them less likely to cling together.

Overall, making your own white vinegar fabric softener is a simple and effective way to enhance your laundry routine while being environmentally conscious and cost-efficient.

White Vinegar Fabric Softener Recipe

Ingredients:

1 litre of white vinegar

Citrus peel (oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruits, fresh or dehydrated)

1 litre of filtered or rainwater

1. In a large glass jar or container, place the citrus peels.

2. Pour white vinegar over the citrus peels in the jar.

3. Seal the jar or container with a tight-fitting lid.

4. Allow the mixture to sit for about 4 to 5 weeks. During this time, the vinegar will absorb the pleasant citrus fragrance from the peels.

5. After the infusion period, strain the mixture to remove the citrus peels.

6. Transfer the citrus-infused white vinegar to a recycled or suitable container for storage. Mix it with water to dilute it, making it ready for use as a fabric softener.

7. When doing laundry, add approximately 100ml (or 1 glass) of your homemade citrus-infused white vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine. This will help soften your clothes and leave them with a fresh, citrus scent.

Usage:

Use 100ml or 1 glass per load.

*If you make it with just oranges, this preparation makes for a perfect leave-in hair conditioner. Orange peels add fragrance and help with detangling, while the vinegar adds shine to your hair.

Tip: if you prefer a much stronger scent, you can mix in up to 20 drops of your favourite essential oil to the 100 millilitres before pouring it into the drawer of the watching machine,