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Original poster

Fabric Conditioner - any good alternatives?

22 replies

Mercy · 10/02/2006 15:46

We live in a hard water area and whichever brand of fabric conditioner I use, our clothes and towels always end up being rough and uncomfortable.

Can anyone recommend an alternative, a good brand or just another method of dealing with this? eg, would tumble drying help?

OP posts:

zippitippitoes · 10/02/2006 15:48

I think our water is pretty hard and we don't use any conditioner and tumble dry towels (conditioner makes them less absorbent anyway doesn't it?)

morningpaper · 10/02/2006 15:51

Tumble drying is MARVELLOUS for making everything soft and cuddly

But everything shrinks and your electric bill will soar

It's worth it though

Bettikitten · 10/02/2006 15:55

For extra softness I dip my bounce sheets into the fabric softener before I put them in the dryer, makes them smell lovely too . YOu could also use baby wipes dipped in fabric cond too.

Original poster

Mercy · 10/02/2006 16:08

Thanks everyone.

I was trying to avoid the tumble drying option for the exact reasons morningpaper mentioned! Plus I only have a washer-dryer and can't fit very much in there. But would this help to soften clothes that have already gone hard?

OP posts:

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/02/2006 16:08

Yep - tumble dry all my towels and babygros etc to get them soft.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/02/2006 16:10

Yes it should do. If i want to save money on the electric i dry them first and then put them in the tumbler with a flannel i have soaked and wrung out for half/a third of the time to fluff them up.

Lonelymum · 10/02/2006 16:11

If you use Calgon in your washing machine, that makes your water soft.

Dh has been complaining about scratchy shirt collars and towels - he has sensitive skin poor lamb, personally I love the crisp rough feel, especially in new washed towels, I know, I am weird - and I bought Calgon and fabric conditioner last week. bit early to say if they are making a huge difference, but this is a difference certainly.

Lonelymum · 10/02/2006 16:12

there is a difference, that should say.

fishie · 10/02/2006 16:16

i use water softener and it helps a bit, also try not to dry towels etc directly on the radiator, drying slowly seems to stop them getting really crispy, although some of poor ds's bibs are like cheese graters.

Original poster

Mercy · 10/02/2006 16:40

LM, I use Calgon but it doesn't seem to make much difference tbh.

Fishie, what do you mean by water softener? (lol at cheese graters)

OP posts:

Branster · 10/02/2006 16:43

are you using enough calgol? i think the instructions on the pack say about 4 tbs for hard water area. there are some strips you can get to test your water and see how hard it is.

Lonelymum · 10/02/2006 16:46

Good grief, I thought it was 4 tsps but looking at the packet now, it doesn't say whether it is tsps or tbsps. The dosage is medium hardness needs 32 ml or 2 spoons, hard needs 64ml or 4 spoons and very hard areas ned 96 ml or 6 spoons. A sppon therefore must be 16ml - does anyone know if that is a tsp or a tbsp?

zippitippitoes · 10/02/2006 16:49

tsp is about 5ml isn't it

Lonelymum · 10/02/2006 16:50

Oh Lord so Branster is right and I should be using tbsp! That will use up the whole box in about a week I should think. Did you realise Mercy? Maybe that is why it doesn't seem to be working for you.

fishie · 10/02/2006 16:52

it's called Aqua Softna (startling originality there ) like calgon is powder stuff, but much cheaper - i get it in waitrose.

Original poster

Mercy · 10/02/2006 17:06

I've been using Calgon tablets - it doens't say anything on the box about different amounts for degree of water hardness.

Thanks Fishie, I'll give that a try.

Just fed up of having clothes that look (and feel) like they've been made out of cardboard - they just sort of stand up on their own!

OP posts:

Original poster

Mercy · 10/02/2006 20:56

I know it's a really boring subject but has anyone else got any ideas? especially for alternative methods?

OP posts:

cyan · 10/02/2006 21:00

calgon good, my mum swears by it. I use aldritt from the LIDL, i know not best place in the world but it's cheap and my towels always come out smelling fresh and feeling soft, they have to be as im training to be a massage therapist.

melrose · 10/02/2006 21:01

I've never used fabric softener, always thought it was a bot of a marketing ploy and I know you should not use it on towels as reduces their absorbancy. I do tumble dry everything that is tumble dryable though!

cyan · 10/02/2006 21:06

ive never had a problem with fabric conditioner TBH. I dont have the use of a tumble dryer, and even when I did whilst I was living at my folks I never used it as I found my clothes always shrunk. Bt suppose for towels it's a bit different

Gingerbear · 10/02/2006 21:23

those spikey rubber balls from Lakeland in the tumble dryer work.
Also. adding white vinegar to the wash - worked wonders on DD's nappies.

WestCountryLass · 10/02/2006 22:34

Oooo, a question I can answer! Yes, tumble drying would certainly help! We used washing powders with fabric cond in as well as fabric conditioner and our laundry was always rough but we purchased a tumble dryer two weeks ago and now our clothes are lovely and soft.

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