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.

@perigord Ariel Excel Gel.

I do use skin friendly fabric softener as it does soften clothes but I was truly at the 4 new softeners that Lenor has just started marketing (Secret Kiss, Secret Dazzle etc) which are £8.00!! a bottle at Tesco.
They are just standard size bottles and it doesn't say on the bottle how many washes it will do, like most softeners do. I assume that's so you aren't reminded that you are paying 2-3 times the prices of general softener.
Lenor describes each of the smells like a perfumier would but when I smelled them they just reminded me of toilet cleaner and air freshners.....

We love in an area with really hard water. Clothing cones out like cardboard if you don't use conditioner.

I'm always baffled by the use of vinegar - doesn't it make your clothes smell of vinegar?!

Aussie poster here.
Can confirm cuddly is fucking grim for clothes and expensive! The MIL uses it says it all we ended up with a bottle from aforementioned MIL and did use it - we'd dab a bit on a piece of kitchen towel, dampen the towel then wipe over hard surfaces. Lovely smell. Just a shite conditioner for clothes.

Can 110% recommend the cheap ($3 for a 2L bottle) fabric conditioners in Coles. I use the Cotton fresh one, they also do one called sunny days which is nice too. Also, they don't contain animal fat or tallow

Anyway, back to the OP!
I use fabric softener in with my clothes but not in with DS's. I definitely notice a difference without. We have a rainwater tank but I can't use fabric conditioner in the washing machine drawer if I'm doing towels either - it makes them feel weird and almost waterproof! So I put it in with the wash powder. It washes enough of it away that it doesn't feel weird but leaves enough for a nice smell.

I've washed without a couple of times when I've run out and everything feels awful. Horrible scratchy towels, rough cardboard clothes, not nice. I can definitely tell when others don't use it too, the things just feel rough.

Maybe it depends where you live, I don't know, but I have very hard water and wouldn't wash hair OR clothes without conditioner unless I absolutely had no choice.

Love it. Makes everything smell so nice.

I'm always baffled by the use of vinegar - doesn't it make your clothes smell of vinegar?!

Not even a tiny bit.

Use Lenor.

I'm always baffled by the use of vinegar - doesn't it make your clothes smell of vinegar?!

Nope. Drop in some essential oils and your clothes will smell like what you want them to

Im with @jemjemjem50 its lush!

I've never used it but got a free sample a few months ago and the socks came out nicer but that's about it

It’s a no no if you have eczema

I find just the opposite

DD has eczema and her skin is better when I use softener. I don't use it on my clothes or towels/bedding

We do live in Scotland where our water is lovely and soft naturally - no limescale issues.

When we used to live Dahn Sarf the water was very hard but I found it was harder to get the clothes clean in the first place, I needed to use more expensive powder, and more of it. I didn't notice a softness difference though at the end of the wash. I did use vinegar in the wash every fortnight or so, but that was to prevent damage to the machine from the water rather than to condition my clothes.

The absolute nicest washing smell is after the washing's brought in after a blow in the garden to dry it, fresh and natural. All fabric softeners smell really artificial to me and some are really strong! MIL is a bit of a Comfort addict and yes to the towels not drying properly - they do feel very soft, but they slip and slide all over you and don't absorb anything.

Haven't used it for about 20 years . I stopped using it because it clogged up the detergent drawer and I hated cleaning it out. Not using it has made no difference to how clothes feel. They still smell freshly laundered. I do tumble dry towels though , even in the summer as I like them to be soft and line drying make them crispy.

Wouldn't be without it! My clothes get cardboardy very quickly without it. I don't use with towels though or they don't dry.

Not used it in years, can't say I notice the difference other than my clothes don't have a strong long lasting smell which is fine for me as I don't want a scent competing with my perfume!

I don't know what my Aunty uses or how much but I was looking after her GD at the weekend and her clothes just smelled over powering!

Waste of money and space in my house

I find just the opposite smile

DD has eczema and her skin is better when I use softener. I don't use it on my clothes or towels/bedding
Wel that’s what the dermatologist told me when I took dd to see her for her eczema.

So what do you use it on if you don’t use it on your bedding/ towels and clothes ?

I used it every wash for years until DS2 arrived with his odd skin and allergies. He has eczema and asthma and both can be aggravated by this kind of thing so we cut back on everything unnecessary and his eczema hasn't shown it's head at all this winter so it's helping.

I like the smell of some, but the pay-off in terms of DS2's skin is incomparable and freshly-laundered clothes still smell lovely.

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.

fabric softener may make clothes more flammable: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/liquid-fabric-softener-may-make-clothes-more-flammable-quebec-coroner-1.340282

I don’t use it on towels, sports stuff or cashmere.

I wonder if having a tumble dryer makes a difference.

If I don’t use Fabric Softener, my clothes feel hard and scratchy - but we don’t have a tumble dryer and need to air dry/ heated airers.

I use loads, to make clothes smell nice and soft!

I use conditioner for work shirts and work clothes, it makes ironing so much easier and quicker. The "Pure" version doesn't smell strongly, I can't notice a difference between loads with or without in term of smell.