I began to experiment when I remembered that vinegar is not only a wonderful cleansing agent, but a water softener as well. And, baking soda is not only a whitener, but it regulates the pH level in the water, cutting through the mineral deposits (which makes your clothes feel stiff). So, why not combine the two?
Ingredients
Here's all the you'll need to make your own Laundry Softener:
Container
1 Cup of Baking Soda
6 Cups of White Vinegar
(8 drops of Essential Oil if you are worried about the vinegar smell in your house. There will not be a vinegar smell on your clothing.)
Instructions
Pour the 1 Cup of Baking Soda into your container.
Slowly, I REPEAT-SLOWLY add the vinegar a little at a time.
It will fizz and bubble up. Allow it to recede and then add a little more until you have added all 6 Cups of Vinegar.
Add the essential oils if desired.
Allow the detergent to breathe for a little while (5 minutes or so) before capping it.
Add about ½ Cup of this mixture to your laundry's rinse cycle (I set a timer as I start my load for about 20 minutes in to the washing cycle) or place it in the softener reservoir (if you have one).
Recipe by Potholes & Pantyhose at https://www.potholesandpantyhose.com/2012/08/simple-homemade-laundry-softener/