How to Make Fabric Softener (Home Business)

Many times, we find clothes too stiff to be worn and stop using them altogether. However, stiff clothes can be made comfortable by treating them with fabric softener, which makes them lose all their tautness. If the softener is a homemade one, all the more better.

Business Potential

The market demand for fabric softener is steady because they are used in large quantities every day, and you can supply hotels with this consumable product.

Word-of-mouth is the best marketing strategy for your products, so let the product speak for itself by giving trial packs to your potential clients. You can also give trial packs as gifts to friends, neighbors, and relatives, whom you can then ask for referrals.

The strongest selling point for your products, of course, is the fact that they are not only of high quality but are also cheaper than their commercial counterparts.

For Commercial Use

Raw materials: (These can usually be purchased in minimum quantities of half a kilogram or half a liter)

* 250 grams fabric softener flakes
* 2 liters + 1 liter distilled or de-ionized water
* 10 ml ethyl alcohol
* 10 ml downy fragrance

Tools and equipment:

* wooden or plastic ladle (sandok)
* medium-sized basin (stainless steel or plastic)
* kitchen scale
* measuring spoons and cups
* gas stove
* cooking pot
* 330 ml PET bottles (available at Cachetrade in Cubao, Quezon City)

Procedure

1. Boil 2 liters distilled water in a pot.
2. While waiting for the water to boil, crush the fabric softener flakes, either using a mortar and pestle, or, put the flakes in a basin and roll a glass jar over it. Do this until the flakes become powdery.
3. Remove the pot from heat. Pour the powdered fabric softener into the pot. Stir the mixture with a ladle until the powdered fabric softener dissolves completely.
4. Add the ethyl alcohol and the downy fragrance. Mix well.
5. Let the mixture cool for a while, then add another liter of distilled water. Make sure all the substances have thoroughly dissolved.
6. When the mixture has cooled enough, pour it into the PET bottles.

The yield of the fabric softener mixture is 3.27 liters. Using 330-ml bottles, you can produce nine to 10 bottles of fabric softener from it. The shelf life of this fabric softener is one year.

You can add a markup of 40 to 45 percent to the total production cost to determine your selling price.

Do’s and Don’ts

* Use tools exclusively for making fabric softener, not the ones you use for food.
* Keep chemicals out of children’s reach.
* Use a facemask when processing, especially if you have asthma.
* Although the ingredients are safe to use, it is recommended that people with highly sensitive skin wear gloves.
* Measure ingredients accurately at all times.

For Home Use

Recipe #1 Raw materials:

* Baking Soda
* Distilled White Vinegar
* Water
* Essential Oil (optional)
* Large Bucket/ Container
* A large Stick

Procedure

1. First of all, you need to get a large bucket or container, which is enough to hold at least one gallon of liquid.
2. Put 1 cup baking soda in your bucket or container. Thereafter, add 1 cup of water to it. Mix it well.
3. Next, you need to pour in 6 cups of distilled white vinegar to the water-baking soda mixture. Make sure that you pour the vinegar very slowly, into the mixture.
4. You will notice fizz forming in the bucket/ container, because of vinegar reacting with baking soda. Let the mixture fizz for a few minutes.
5. Add 6 cups of water to the mixture. With this, the fizzing process will come to an end.
6. With help of a large stick, mix the ingredients properly.
7. Next, add 10-15 drops of pure essential oil. It will help give the fabric softener a pleasant scent. Mix the ingredients again, with the help of the large stick.
8. Your fabric softener is ready! All you need to do is put it in a clean container of your choice and store properly.

Recipe #2 Raw materials:

* 3 cups White Vinegar
* 2 cups Hair Conditioner
* 6 cups Water
* Large Container (with lid)
* Stick

Procedure

1. First of all, take a large container that has a lid. Now, pour white vinegar and hair conditioner. Mix the ingredients well, with a stick. By doing so, the mixture will become frothy, mainly due to the presence of the hair conditioner.
2. Now, it is the time to add water to the vinegar-conditioner mixture. This would reduce the frothiness of the mixture and make it look and act just like a fabric softener.
3. Close the lid of the container and store it in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.

Tips:

* For every bucket of clothes, you may add one tablespoon of the homemade fabric softener.
* Always mix the soda-vinegar-water mixture with a stick, not with your bare hands. It might harm your skin.
* Before softening your expensive clothes, try the fabric softener on your inexpensive clothes first and look for any chemical reaction. If the product doesn’t ruin the fabric of your clothes, you have prepared the right concentrate of the softener!

Read also Soap-Making Business Guide

sources: entrepreneur.com.ph, lifestyle.iloveindia.com, photo from manila.olx.com.ph
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Source: http://www.mixph.com/2010/05/how-to-make-fabric-softener-home-business.html