The little something for your dryer as promised in my Natural Laundry Soap post
Homemade natural Fabric Softener Pouch
I try to always credit recipes and ideas when I post them here and these fabric softener pouches came from a book on SouleMama’s side bar which I checked out of our local library. MAKE YOUR PLACE by Raleigh Briggs
Also-let it be known, that I HATE the smell of dryer sheets. When they waft out of the dryer vent and scent the whole neighborhood or especially when you pass someone while out running and the lingering smell of Downey or Snugglie fills my nose!!! Really that should be outlawed. These pouches are in no way overwhelming or offensive.
The directions say you will need to make pouches out of tightly woven fabric. I have never sewed before so I thought this would be a great little first project for me!!
These really don’t need to be very big at all-maybe 4 x 3.
Fold a rectangle of fabric in half and sew up the sides. Add a couple of spoonfuls of this mixture:
1/2 cup baking soda
1 T arrowroot powder
1 T rice flour or cornstarch
1-3 drops essential oils of your choice
Tie up the pouch tightly and pop it in the dryer with your clothes. Refill the pouch when the scent fades. I made a couple with different scents…Lemon-Eucalyptus and the other Lemon-Orange.
The scent from these pouches is very subtle, really just fresh smelling, soft laundry.
now THIS I will try!
Do these reduce static, or are they just for softness/scent? The winter season brings lots of static to our house… I’d love to use something like this if it will help with that!
I’ve been looking for something like this! Thanks so much for posting – and they are very cute!
Steph–I have noticed that they do reduce static.
Hay—Good luck!!
Tracie–thanks!
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The book is “Make your place by Raleigh Briggs” I have been wanting to try the fabric softener as we have gone without for years. I tried the all purpose laundry soap and I loved it.
Thanks so much Angela!!
I’ m a bit surprised that this recipe calls for both arrowroot and cornstarch as they are both thickening agents. In cooking recipes that call for 1 teaspoon arrowroot you would substitute 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch. Since I don’t have any arrowroot in the house right now I’m just going to try it with the corn starch….wish me luck.
A very smart way of saving as well. While reading I realized that you adviced to used corn starch and as a commenter posted it is a thickening agent and it get me start thinking. I am very curious in how this will operate and so will be certainly trying it out.
Truth be told—on my first batch I couldn’t find my arrowroot so I just used cornstarch and it was fine!! Good luck.