I love Purex Crystal Laundry Fabric Softener! However, I find it a little too expensive so I only buy it once in a while. Fortunately, when announcing Laundry Week here at PinTried-it a reader commented how she would love to make her own Purex Fabric Softener Crystals. I immediately headed to Pinterest and found a quick DIY how-to guide to making your own laundry fabric softener crystals! Of course, I tried it out right away!
Tips:
The essential oil is not necessary if you do not want it scented and just want the softening power.
If you use fragrance be sure to keep in an air tight container or Ziploc bag so the scent does not escape.
The amount you use per load is up to you. I am using about 1/2 cup per average size load.
You can control the scent power by adding more or less.
I bought Ice Cream Salt because it was a lot cheaper ($1.57 for 4 lbs!) and according to the ingredient list is simply Sea Salt!
Verdict:
I tested this out on a load of towels and jeans. It smelled great but didn’t seem to have a strong enough scent. I decided to add more fragrance oil to my mixture- another 20-30 drops (I eye-balled it). After I added more my next load of clothes smell GREAT!! I loved folding them because it stirred up the smell!! haha I even went around the house finding blankets to wash so my house would smell good.
My clothes, especially the towels, were also super soft!!
I will definitely be adding these fabric softener crystals to the handmade laundry soap mixture!
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Okay, so this might sound dumb, but I haven’t tried the store bought crystals yet. Do you just put them in when you start the wash or does it have to be at a certain point int he cycle?
You are suppose to put them in first, before your clothes.
I cannot wait to try this! I love Purex Crystals too and the bottle we have is just about gone. Think I will order me some essential oils and do this. Looks cheaper and also I would have more options as far as scent goes because the Purex Crystals only come in a few “flavors.”
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I have a question that may seem silly. I am new to essential oils and I’m not sure when I google things if I am looking at the right stuff. lol I was curious if you could give me information on what you’ve used, some different brands, the cheapest option and where to buy them. I would need to order online unless you can buy something like this at Walmart. (I live in the middle of nowhere!)
Hello Marti, I live in the middle of nowhere to!
I buy my fragrance oil at Wal-mart. get it in the isle with the candles and warmers and things like that. I use the “fresh linen sent” oil. You can get a small bottle for $0.88 or a larger one for around $2. I hope this helps! 
Ive never tried crystals , Does it matter if its a hot or cold wash?
It does not. I use them in cold water. I thought hot water would be important so the crystal would dissolve but from my experience- cold water is just fine.
is there a difference in canning salt and ice cream salt?
I think that the only difference would be that canning salt is fine-grained than Ice cream salt, but I bet they would work the same way.
Hi,
I have an he washer, do I put it in the washer or do I put them in the fabric softner slot on top.
I would but them in the washer itself. I don’t think they would work if you used the fabric softener slot.
what water temp do you have to use? will the salt melt in cold water? I dont want to use this and then pull my clothing out with salt crystals still on them, kwim?
I understand your concern Alandou. I thought the same thing when I tried them out. I can assure you that you won’t have salt crystals even if you use cold water. I use cold water in mine and they work just fine.
Where can you find ice cream salt at Walmart?
It might be a seasonal thing t buy at Wal-mart? If there is a place that your Wal-mart sells Ice cream makers I would think that would be a good place to start. I have also seen the salt at Rural King.
Hello Sara,
I have found the exact same ice cream salt used in the tutorial at Walmart. It is in the same isle you buy regular table salt in (I think either baking or spice isle…) At my Walmart it is on the very bottom shelf next to the larger pour spout containers of table salt. Hope this helps.
I couldn’t see in the comments where we are to use the salts. Is it in the wash cycle or rinse?
put them in for the wash, I add the crystals as my washer is filling up, before I put the clothes in.
I just wanted to say essential oils and fragrance oils are not the same thing. Use 100%essential oils for a non toxic fabric softener and you also won’t need as many drops, probably only half.
. Making this tonight!
Okay, so I did this just now. Just because I love the Pyrex crystals but they are so expensive! Plus I love cheap stuff, hehe. Anyways, so I just have this question. In Pyrex crystals you add them in the wash cycle do you do the same w this homemade one? Or when do you add it? Thanks
I always add mine before I put in the clothes, as the water is running. My habit is to start the water, add my detergent and crystals. Then I put the clothes in.
My daughters allergic to the essential oil, would it be okay to mix some softner into it for smell? I love gain and wondered if that would work.
I am not sure if that would work or not. If you try it out, let us know how it works.
I read that you add the salt crystals in the beginning of the wash cycle. Doesn’t the rinse cycle wash away the softening effect?
It works great for me that way Nancy.
I would like to start out by saying that this is a fabulous method for softening laundry! I found this post via Pinterest and I now use this method instead of using store bought softener. The only thing I would like to say about it is to use caution with the fragrance oils from Walmart. These oils are not the same as essential oils in any way. The Walmart oils are for oil burners and potpourri only. I actually have a bottle from a few years back and this is the warning on the bottle: “Caution: EYE IRRITANT. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing.”
These oils are full of chemicals and I suspect the main ingredient is alcohol (based on the smell). I also live in the middle of nowhere and don’t have access to any stores that carry true essential oils. I have been ordering mine on Drugstore.com and if you watch the site, you can usually get them on sale. I have been using the lavender and love it. I think I paid around $7.99 for the bottle I got (NOW brand). It is definitely more costly than the fragrance oils, but still MUCH cheaper than buying the store bought softener. Sorry to make this so long! I just want to stress again that I’m not trying to be negative in any way! Thank you again for this “recipe”. It has helped change my life!
I did 1 cup of epsom salts to 20 drops of rose essential oil (from Whole Foods). I measured the capacity of the Purex cap (1/4 cup) and used that same amount for the first load. No scent
Second load had the same result. I’ve read elsewhere that the essential oils didn’t really add any scent to the clothes. I’m totally addicted to the blast of scent the Purex gives and that’s what I’m trying to duplicate.
I’m going to try adding more oil to the salts and maybe double the amount of salts I use in a load. Had anyone else had this experience, and have you found a solution?
I believe that Purex crystals is now a scent booster only. So I was thinking mixing the epsom salt with the booster to make it last longer. Thoughts?
I bet that would work if you want the Purex crystal sent, and just want to stretch it. Plus the salt will help as a fabric softener! If you try it, let us know how it works! Thanks for the comment Jos
Has anyone added this in the DIY laundry detergent instead of the purex crystals?
Fabric softener made from icecream salt: how much do you use per load?
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