Fabric rinse (softener alternative)

White vinegar in the rinse cycle to wash out soap and mineral residue, which leaves fabric feeling softer. A simple swap for commercial softener.

NEVER use in the same load as chlorine bleach. Vinegar plus bleach releases chlorine gas.
Never mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in the same bottle. It forms corrosive peracetic acid. Use them in separate loads.
Repeated vinegar use can wear rubber seals in some washers. Check your washer maker's advice.
Don't combine it with baking soda in the bottle. They cancel each other out and build pressure.
Label the bottle clearly so nobody mistakes it for a drink or a cleaning product.

Steps

Funnel the vinegar into the bottle. If adding scent, shake the essential oil and glycerin together first, then add the vinegar and shake well.
Label the bottle.
Pour 1/4–1/2 cup (60–120 ml) into the fabric softener dispenser, or into the drum at the start of the rinse cycle.
Shake the bottle before each use if it contains oil.
Wash and dry as usual. The vinegar smell disappears as the laundry dries.
Don't use it with chlorine bleach loads, and skip it if your washer maker advises against vinegar.

Clothes still feel stiff: Vinegar removes residue but isn't a true softener. Use less detergent or soap, dry with wool dryer balls, and shake clothes before drying.
Laundry smells of vinegar: Use less, around 1/4 cup, and make sure the rinse runs fully.
Oil spots on fabric: The oil separated. Mix it with glycerin first, shake well, or leave the oil out.