Yes, regular distilled white vinegar works quite well as a fabric softner. I was one that never used fabric softner; so, I definitely noticed the difference. Is it better than the chemical softner that’s regularly sold? I don’t know, but from what other frugal vinegar fabric softner online users have said, “It’s just as good.” Vinegar smell goes away when it dries, but honestly, I didn’t smell any vinegar when passing the wet clothes to the dryer. My homemade detergent actually smelled even better when I used the vinegar. What’s great is that you can get a gallon of this crap for around $2 bucks depending on your location. Oh and by the way, don’t just throw the softner into the washer with the soap. That’s just a waste, that softner dispensor in every washer is there for a reason. Use it; it dispenses the softner at the correct time during the wash. 

Test: It Works! Passed with flying Colors

Amount Used: 1/2 cup to every load.