that fabric conditioner is VILE?

[BrazenlyDefying]

We are staying in a (very nice and modern) holiday let this week. No complaints apart from one. The entire house REEKS of fabric conditioner. The owners have obviously splashed out on nice white cotton bedding and thick, expensive towels, but it's all ruined by the stench. You get into bed and all you can smell is the chemical reek. You can't dry yourself with the chemical reeking towels because they're so "conditioned" that they slip all over you without actually absorbing anything.

Why do people do this? It doesn't smell clean, or laundered. It smells artificial and nasty. Just don't. At home we don't use conditioner at all, the water is soft and it's totally unnecessary. Laundry straight in off the line smells wonderfully fresh, the fab con stuff doesn't.

Should be banned!

Lots of the big brands are also made with animal fat it’s what gives it that slick, greasy texture.

I use smol capsules - really recommend them! They still condition the fabric but the smell is naturally fragranced and much less overpowering. Plus they’re vegan, cruelty free, and packaged in an environmentally friendly way.

Agree never use the stuff. As if it wasn’t bad enough you can get stuff which makes your fabric conditioner smell stronger. Wtf.

YANBU Thank goodness I thought I was alone.

They must be using far too much. I use aerial bold all in one tabs or persil + comfort pure and the washing smells lovely and not overpowering.

We don't use them at all! Those capsule things you sling straight in the machine. No extra conditioner. Line dry where possible.

I love it, I use a non scented one for sensitive skin, and no you shouldn't use it on towels, but I love the way it makes things soft.

As most washign powder is scented, washing will always smell of 'chemicals'

@Lavacake - how much is the Smol fabric conditioner and do you have to have a regular order?

Oh, yuck!

I think it's one of those smells people become accustomed to, so they don't realise they stink. My MIL uses it and the smell is so strong that my daughter's hair smells of it after she's been in their house. But she's used to it and says it 'doesn't have any smell'.

When I met DP I got her to stop using it for a few weeks, and then she popped a tab in the wash when doing a load of towels, and she was shocked how much the smell really registered when she wasn't used to it.

We live in an extremely hard water area and our clothes and towels and bedding are like cardboard. Plus the limescale in the kettle is ridiculous 2 weeks after descaling. I wish I could soften the clothes slightly but DD and I are both very allergic to fabric conditioners. The vast majority of them do smell overpoweringly awful but my friend has one that is lovely. She hands down clothes to us and they always smell great.

Awful stuff, if anyone has tips on how to get it out of secondhand clothes I'm all ears

I use it on wollens- unscented comfort pure- but never really on anything else- particularly towels! I find it helps extend the life of school jumpers.

I made the mistake recently though of buying Lenor Gold- it is utterly vile- smells strongly of piss. I had to rewash again and dump the bottle.

I thought I was the only one who didnt like it, I see posters saying they it for their clothes to smell clean (whatever that is) but they dont seem to realize that all they do is stink of chemical.

Horrible stuff

It's unnecessary and terrible for the environment. Yet another triumph of marketing - create a need and make money. The planet would benefit enormously if people realised how they're being manipulated into needing all sorts of ridiculous things to make someone else money.

I love it! I love my clothes smelling of it 😊

My ds friend used to get a lift with us to school but I had to make an excuse not to take him in the end because he reeks of the most stomach churning fabric conditioner/washing powder. It was awful, like cheap air freshener, my poor IBS stomach just couldn’t hack it 🤢

I use a small amount of comfort for clothes but never for bedding and towels. I finish the towels off in the dryer for 10 minutes to soften them up.

I'm worried we all stink now

Well they must have used too much, if it's so strong and feels "greasy". Either that or their rinse cycle on the washing machine isn't working properly.

I don't get the fabric conditioner hate on here though. If you use a small capfull, washing is soft and has a faint hint of fresh fragrance. All good in my eyes.

Saying the whole place "reeks" of a "nasty stench" makes you sound like a drama queen Op. I'm sure it's not that bad.

Hellish stuff.
I buy a fair bit of clothing from eBay and, as pp mentioned, it takes a good few washes to get rid of it.
(Also, animal fat 🤢)

I'm with you. I borrowed some ski thermals from a friend once and had to wash them about 4 times before they were 'fresh' enough to wear.
I dread to think how much conditioner one of my neighbours uses - their tumble drier vents to the outdoors and you can tell when she's got it on because the smell of conditioner wafts down the road. It's just a marketing gimmick (and I say that as someone who works in marketing!)

I suppose vegans would avoid a product containing (a small amount) of animal fat, otherwise what's the issue? It's also in toothpaste, most hair conditioners, wine, condoms, plastic bags and the new fivers.

@GunsAndShips We are in a very hard water area too and we use soda crystals in with the washing to soften the water.
I hate fabric conditioner too it gunks up the machine as well and is really unnecessary.

WWE already smell of soap/shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, deodorant, moisturiser, perfume - why add yet another smell to the cacophony? And don’t get me started on room fragrance.

I don't use it as I try to go as close as 'zero waste' as possible (I am very far, but trying!) and my son has sensitive skin.
Also, I realized years ago that the smell doesn't survive my tumble drier anyway.
I now just soften my towels in the tumble dryer and keep everything else on the line and for the pleasant smell I just buy the laundry powder I prefer and keep it in an airtight container.

I've never used it. We live in a hard water area and our clothes never seem to be stiff, although maybe we are just used to that!

YANBU I use it for certain things as it does make them easier to iron.
However DH bought Comfort Pure instead of my usual one though and it smells absolutely awful, so strong even from using a quarter of the recommended amount.