Just curious - am I the only person in the world who doesn't use softener in their washing?

[merlin]

I hate clothes smelling strongly of detergent/softener.

So, what does it do for your clothes?

It makes them softer.

I don't use it due to eczema in the family.

I don't use anything. I tumble dry towels to keep them soft though.

I don't use them either. My mum really notices the difference between their softened clothes and our unsoftened ones, but I don't at all.

No, I don't. I haven't since ds was born with very sensitive skin. I have a friend whose dd has awful skin and it's only since i
I told her that the softener could be irritating it that she's seen an improvement. The GP didn't think to mention it I don't notice any difference in the softness at all, my clothes just don't have a noticeable smell. I have been a slave to Fairy non bio and got used to that smell, but now I have discovered ds is fine with M and S non bio of all things so we use that as it's much cheaper (but one get one free atm as well). That smells of nothing which does take some getting used to.

I never used to until My OH moved in and started buying it. I quite like the smell now.

What do you use instead of detergent?

So, I'm not alone then!

BeanieB - I DO use detergent, just not a strong smelling one - it clashes with my perfume

i dont use anything except detergent as it upsets dc skins

I used to but had to stop when DD2 was born due to her sensitive skin - came out in a rash.

I used to like it, but now don;t notice. Do use a tumble dryer though so that helps keep things soft.

Also a damn sight cheaper - that stuff costs money!

i dongt use softener... i just dont like that fact its a petroleum by product coating my clothes

i do use a glug of white vinegar though

Don't use it here

Can't use it - DS & DH both react really badly to it. The ONLY powder I can use is Fairy Non-Bio. Everything else causes a skin reaction.

Nah. Just one more thing to buy.

We live in a soft water area which probably makes a difference.

Can't use it, same reasons as Doodle2U, DH and DS1 both react to it, and we only use Fairy non-bio.

I don't. Just put in a wash ball and half a capful of Ecover which gives it a faint lavender smell.

Just the look and consistency of softener puts me off.

Another non-user of softener here - and that's in a hard water area.
As it happens, I prefer the "crisp" feel of non-softened clothes - but maybe I'm just weird.

Don't use it - BioD washing liquid & that's it (sensitive skin again).

I have to wash childrens clothes we are given or get off ebay a couple of times to get the 'funny smell' out of it before dd will wear it

I never use it either. We are in a soft water area if it makes a difference.

I never use it either. We are in a soft water area if it makes a difference.

I don't use it. I like my clothes when they dry all crispy on the line. Fabric softener makes them feel dirty, actually.

Never use it, it makes clothes feel slimey, and they smell too strong. I tumble towels all year round, mind, but a good snap and shake gets the stiffness out of most other fabrics.

Non users here too - the males in the family have eczema and the scent makes me sneeze.

I don't use it, we live in a hard water area and don't have a tumble drier.

Everything feels fine

Don't use it here. I think it's just one of those products that are marketed so that you think you need it when you don't really & I tend to think the less extra stuff you add to things the better (both for skin sensitivities and environmental reasons). I line dry my washing & any 'unsoftness' of it has never bothered me in the least. I expect it's what you are used to.

Nope don't use it. Also use very very little detergent as you just don't need as much as they say (and that stops your clothes being as hard as well, so means you don't need softener.) I find now I hate the smell of overly detergented or softenered washing.

We are in a hard water area.