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.

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

I use it on HER clothes. As I said I don't use it on MY clothes. Is that confusing?! I didn't think so.

I quite like the smell of fabric softeners but I don't use them as it's just extra chemicals being absorbed by us that we don't need. I use Sainsbury's bio powder and the clothes smell lovely, don't need fabric conditioner.

As someone who ironed clothes for money as part of a laundering company you do notice if the clothes haven’t had softener- takes more effort to iron!

I use loads, to make clothes smell nice

No criticism Sparkles, but "nice" is a value judgement - your idea of what's nice probably isn't mine and isn't the next person's either. Nice to me certainly isn't the chemically smell of fab con.

Do use it. Very hard water area here. I think it makes a difference. Or maybe I'm kidding myself?

Blueskypink. I use Dettol or Halo. I always rub on the smelly bits and leave overnight. I usually pre-spray with white vinegar spray (Stardrops from Home Bargains) too which really helps neutralise the smell.

While we are on the subject of soft V crunchy towels, is there a trick to keeping them soft or are the people with soft towels just replacing them often?

Using fabric softner is vulgar

Gosh, I just love it when Nancy Mitford comes out to play. For the record, no-one cares anymore Nancy.

I don't use it myself. I'm very much 'less is more' when it comes to laundry and just use powder. We're in Ireland and our water is soft (makes a huge difference after London water). Also Irish people are obsessed with hanging clothes on the line (despite the constant rain) so clothes should smell nice and fresh from being outside.

You can avoid the animal components in household products by looking for the cruelty free leaping bunny logo.
There's lots about.

I love my clothes and washing to smell of fabric softener. It's only £2 or £3 for a big bottle so it's hardly a waste of money.
I put loads in everything although I wouldn't buy the unstoppables as I think they are too expensive

The point of fabric softener is surely to lubricate the fibres, preventing wear on the fibres by rubbing - meaning your clothes last longer. It may not be cost effective with the cost of clothes these days, but that's the reason, not to make it smell good or be soft, towels are soft, but you don't use it on those.

I use it. My clothes always get really static without it, which in turn makes my hair look ridiculous.

I like the smell and softness. My clothes last for years, so it's no impediment to their longevity.

I never "got" perfume. Laundered clothes will have some scent on them. Why layer up many different layers of smell. I accept I'm in a minority on the perfume which can be so much more pungent than washing powder/ conditioner.

My mum's towels are like cardboard, it's like rubbing yourself with sandpaper, the children always complain!

My towels are soft (fabric conditioner like Pure or a Fairy one with little smell) and snuggly.

Do what you want, but don't complain you don't have snuggly fluffy towels (and of course they dry us, do you think we walk around wet?!)

I use fabric conditioner on my towels, and they are still like cardboard if air dried. The thing that makes a difference is the tumble dryer.

I almost never use fabric softener - I find a lot of the fragrances they use are too overpowering for my taste - almost headache-inducing.

I am also baffled by some fragrances - particularly the Lenor range that includes precious gems - Amethyst and Floral Bouquet, Emerald and Ivory Flower, Diamond and Lotus - how, in the name of all that is holy, do you dream up a fragrance for a rock? Diamonds don't smell of anything!

Totally with OP here. I detest fabric softener and that awful aroma that lingers. I do however love the smell of detergent. Fabric softener has all sorts of gunk in it to make it thick and glucky and it does not do washing machine dispensers any favours.

Well I must be about as vulgar as they come then!! I always use fabric softener and I even have a favourite one that I save for a treat if I’m having a bad day haha! I don’t use nearly as much as the bottle says though- I just put a small dribble in with most things (apart from towels, although I don’t actually think it makes the biggest difference of all time if you’re using so little!).

I do not use softener. Do not like the smell.
However, I have recently got a Bosch Titan machine and I have noticed the clothes are harder when dried. I am in a soft water area.
Would vinegar work?

Haaaaaatttteee the smell of it, any/all of it, it gives me the absolute rage. I hosted my book group and one of the guests reeked of it. My dining room stank for a week. It contains a waxy carrier which rubs off on everything it touches so it must have been on the dining room chairs.

We live in a hard water area and don't generally use the tumble dryer. Hammam towels stay soft regardless of how you wash them. I think it's the terry towels that go funny when hung to dry.

'The point of fabric softener is surely to lubricate the fibres, preventing wear on the fibres by rubbing - meaning your clothes last longer.' That's an interesting theory but no, the point of it is to scent and wax your clothes so they feel softer, and to take your money. It doesn't make your clothes last longer and in some cases is bad for them (and you).
www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a19506/fabric-softener-cleaning-product/
www.scientificamerican.com/article/greener-laundry/

I tried using less detergent as instruction manual recommended that!

I use 2-in-1 Sainsbury's capsules.

Convinced it gummed up our old machine that we had for 10+ years.
Don't use it with new one. And do a weekly wash for the machine iyswim to avoid gunk coming back.

I don't think many people find a whiff of fabric softener on a person offensive but perhaps some have a very sensitive sense of smell. I don't mind the smell of other people's perfume either.

I'd much prefer that to a person who smells strongly of dog. I spent a long time sitting next to someone on a coach once who owned 3 dogs and it made me feel quite sick.

Surely if it's making clothes slimy then you're using too much or your machine is not rinsing properly? I buy the concentrated softener and water it down in a large bottle.

Different strokes for different folks though.

Oh I love a bit of comfort in every wash.