AIBU to never use fabric conditioner?

[Greysparkles]

After a very random boring conversation with a friend she thinks I'm some sort of slattern for never using it. I say it smells awful and no one's ever complained so why would I bother
Who is BU?

Clothes without it make my face go like this 😬
But I don’t think anyone’s unreasonable for not using it!

I don’t use it for towels, it really does ruin them. I live in a hard water area though so put a small amount in the rest of my washing. I find comfort pure smells the least offensive.

I used to love the smell of fabric softener, but haven't used them for years. It's due to dc's allergy. And I like it that way now, no artificial unnatural strong smell of chemicals. If your friend tells you you are slattern for not using it, just give them legitimate reason, real or fake. That will shut them up for sure. But I am also sure that your friend don't really care if you do or not, tbh.

The less chemical stuff I put on my clothes the better. Never use it.

Why though? What does it add apart from manufactured scent?

Mine doesn't add scent very much at all. Maybe for an hour after I get them out of the washer. It just means they can bend and feel much more comfortable when I put them on.

Maybe it's one of those things where if you were brought up doing X then you end up copying it. Like my mum always used fabric softener so wearing clothes that have been washed without it feels AWFUL.

must make climbing into bed a stinky waxy shit show

Sounds like some kind of kinky fetish

I live in a hard water area and my clothes aren't scratchy or crunchy 🤷‍♂️ my poor kettle on the other hand!....

No I never use it, and if I get second hand clothes for the kids the smell of it makes me feel a bit sick so I have to instantly wash them. Our clothes are perfectly fresh and lovely, and it's a load less plastic bottles in the sea.

OMG! I thought it was just me. I HATE fabric conditioner. I HATE the synthetic smell and that when another child borrows your child’s clothes the mum returns them freshly washed and STINKING of chemical scent. To me, it’s entirely unnecessary, accounts for absolutely unnecessary plastic, and should be BANNED.

We stopped using it because my DP read a report about how it's loaded with carcinogenics. I was worried about the crunch factor because god forbid I have to start ironing! but honestly I haven't noticed the difference. Maybe it's because we also use a gentle non-bio washing powder.

Horrid stuff it stripped all the oil out of my fingertips 40 yrs ago when I had to work with the stuff. Like caustic soda but worse.
It chemically strips the oil out of wool making the fibres brittle. Never use it on wool mix trousers that are washable as the thread sewing them is synthetic and it goes through the weakened wool in the material like a cheese wire. Only takes about 3 washes. I ruined 3 pairs of Elvi suit trousers that way.

Fabric conditioner is the thing that clogs up washing machines.
Also it's just more chemical laid next to your skin.
No don't use it.

I used it for years. DH told me he had never used it so I stopped. I really can't tell the difference.

Hate the stuff. It stops towels drying and makes clothes feel icky and a bit sticky the moment they are worn and come into contact with any sweat. I think the particles get lodged into the fabric or something.

YANBU.

We don't use it. Totally unnecessary and horrible for the environment.

So I've stopped buying it because we've moved country and I'm still figuring out what it is in a different language, especially seeing as all the wash stuff is in liquid form.
But I'm also with most of the people here that I don't really like the smell.

So questions for those who use vinegar, how much? does it not make the clothes smell of vinegar a little?

I use it. I like that freshly washed smell. Bedding just doesn't have that clean smell imo.

I use white vinegar which I buy in an Asian supermarket so very cheap.

You shouldn't use it on towels. White vinegar is what you should be using

I do but I don't have a tumble dryer.

People comment on how nice I smell when it's usually soap, fabric conditioner and hair detangling spray.
On the days I wear perfume, no such comments.

I don't use it. I don't mind the smell so much, but it's just not necessary. A couple of tablespoons of white vinegar in the rinse helps get rid of all the soap (which is what leaves it crunchy) and does not leave a smell. I live in a very hard water area.

Ive never used it and I've never given the slightest shit what anyone else might think about it!

We use cloth nappies and can’t use fabric conditioner with them. As a result, I just don’t buy it so that no one (looking at DH or a well meaning MIL) accidentally adds it to a nappy wash.

The washing liquid smells strongly enough to start with, why on earth add shite smelling fabric softener on top?

I never use it either. I do use the Dettol antibacterial stuff though (or the supermarkets own equivalent if available).

Do what you like. I think it stinks.

It is definitely an artefact of capitalism - which must expand perpetually in order to stand still. Thus retailers must continually convince you that you have new 'needs' that you would never have identified by yourself.