to think fabric softener is a waste of money?

[k2p2k2tog]

Know MN loves a laundry thread....

We don't use separate fabric softener or fabric conditioner in the washing machine. My clothes don't seem to be crusty or stinky washed with normal powder or the capsules and nothing else. No complaints from the other people who live in this house. Also the marketing of those "unstoppables" things - who on earth would want to walk around smelling of washing powder or fabric conditioner? Isn't that what body spray and perfume is for? And those products to get bacteria out of clothes - totally pointless for a normal wash.

All those plastic bottles of fabric conditioner.

Ive been using it and can't say im very impressed. Washing still drying very crusty.

Using fabric softner is vulgar

It's about as vulgar as misspelling 'softener' or missing out the full stop at the end of a sentence.

Using fabric softner is vulgar

Using the word "vulgar" is cunty....

I've never used it.

Read this recently:

https://www.choice.com.au/shonky-awards/hall-of-shame/shonkys-2017/cuddly-sensitive-fabric-softener]

There are several drawbacks to fabric softeners. They add chemicals to your freshly washed clothes that may cause irritation to some people, and over time they cause a gunky build-up in washing machines known as scrud. They may also reduce flame-resistance in fabrics, which is why some fabric softeners come with a warning not to use them on children’s sleepwear.

The chemicals in fabric softeners reduce water absorption in fabrics, which is not much good for towels or nappies.

One product won a Shonky award for performing worse than water while costing 3000 times more

I agree, I don't use it. I don't think your clothes need it and I don't think it does your washing machine any good.

And I agree with you about the smell - I often spray my clothes with body spray when I'm dressed, I'd much rather smell that than fabric conditioner!

I also don't see the point of the anti-bacterial stuff. If it's for cotton stuff you can just put things on a boil wash - which has the advantage of also giving your washing machine a good clean.

It does all strike me as a huge waste of money.

The only addition I add to my wash is occasionally using a "Vanish Oxi Action" type stain remover, although I use Tesco's own brand which seems to work fine.

I've always loved fabric conditioner until I had a baby and was told it's not very good for their skin, so I stopped. Haven't missed it to be honest.

I use Fairy powder and fabric conditioner, the smell is very subtle and lovely. Most other brands affect my eczema.

I don't use it on towels or anything that says not to use it like school blazers, jumpers, skort etc but definitely find shirts/skirts are less wrinkly with it so use it for them. Might just be my water hardness/ machine

I've never used it, my mum never used it, always lived in a hard water area. My clothes are definitely not like cardboard, but I do find that thing that have clearly been washed using fabric conditioner always feel a bit slimy, as well as the awful smell.

I hate it when I stay away overnight in sheets that are covered in it, and then have to put pj's in the wash straightaway because if I wear them again in my bed it will smell too.
I get the 'each to their own' thing, but it's the widespread belief that stuff like this is a necessity that has caused the pollution/waste issues we have.

Nope, haven't used it for years now. I use a laundry liquid as don't like the smell of the powder detergent, and there's no noticeable difference to the clothes using fabric softener or not. You should never use softener with towels anyway as it makes them less absorbent, effectively coats them in a film - why would you do that? Just dry towels in a dryer or on radiators to avoid the hard and crisp off-the-line feeling.

I bloody love the stuff. Lenor Gold for me. I sent some of ds' clothes off to a friend for her DS. She messaged me when she received them and asked what I used because they smelled so nice. And a few friends have also asked what combo of washing powder and softener I use as they wanted to replicate. Long live fabric softener.

Using fabric softner is vulgar

Thank goodness that self-appointed arbiter of etiquette on MN is here...

What powder do you use shmith?

Haven't used in years. Don't see the point and the smell is migrainous. Even in a hard water area.

I was addicted to it, used a ridiculous amount in each was as I loved the smell. I stopped using it after I met DH who has sensitive skin.

I don't notice one bit that we don't use it. Saved loads of money and we're saving the environment too!

They may also reduce flame-resistance in fabrics, which is why some fabric softeners come with a warning not to use them on children’s sleepwear.

Bloody hell - I didn't know this.

I'm in a hard water area but I've found if I use half the amount suggested it softens the fabric without leaving a slimy finish.

I use it on my dark washes, which are predominantly clothes.

On my white washes which are predominantly bedding/towels (and my undercrackers) etc, I use white vinegar. On the rare occaision that I screw it up and use softener instead of vinegar, I do notice that my pants are softer.

I love it. The smell of blue Lenor is heavenly. I realise others may disagree.

I use Persil washing powder and find that gives our clothes a light clean scent, so have never seen the need for fabric softener which I find over powering

I love fabric conditioner makes the clothes smell lovely and feel much softer. My Mum just uses detergent and her clothes and towels are like cardboard!

It contains ANIMAL FAT? Seriously?!!

Yep. It’s called tallow.

www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/products-you-didnt-know-contain-animal-ingredients/

I use alllll the things in my washing. Just love stuff to look lovely and clean and smell good.

Especially children's school uniform. I love the polos to be bright white and them to smell lovely every day.

I tend to use the unstoppables in things that don't get washed frequently. So big jumpers etc that go longer without a wash, keeps them fresh. And I use them when I wash things that will be packed when we're going on holiday.

It’s a no no if you have eczema.