Fabric softeners and enhancers are popular for a reason; they help keep your clothes looking and feeling their best.
What Is It and Why Use It?
Fabric softeners (also called fabric conditioners) are a popular type of fabric enhancer, used in laundry to make fabrics feel softer and fluffier, reduce static and wrinkles, and often also add a pleasant scent. They protect fabric, preventing fading, pilling, fuzzing, and stretching, which is especially important for natural fibers like cotton and linen that can be rougher and more prone to damage.
Fabric softeners can also reduce drying time as well as making ironing easier or unnecessary. They come in various forms including liquid, sheets, and packets designed to enhance the texture and lifespan of your clothes.
How It Works
When you wash your hair, shampoo cleans and conditioner softens and protects. When you wash your clothes, detergent is the shampoo and fabric softener is the conditioner. Like hair conditioner, fabric softeners work by coating the surface, but it also penetrates the fabric fibers. This lubricates the fibers and reduces friction, leading to the many benefits of using the product.
The key ingredient used in both conditioners and fabric softeners is often primarily cationic surfactants, usually derived from fatty acids. These positively charged surfactant particles attach to the negatively charged clothing fibers. This helps prevent the process of hydrogen bonding, which can cause wrinkles and stiff fabric. Learn more about the role of surfactants in cleaning products.
There are different fabric softener forms and they are incorporated in different ways in the laundry cycle, but each works by distributing the product evenly across a load of laundry.
How to Use It
For all types of fabric softeners, read and follow the label directions. This will give you details on the correct amount to use and when to add it in the laundry cycle. During use and storage, keep fabric softeners out of reach and sight of small children and older adults with cognitive difficulties. Beyond that, usage will depend on the product form:
Liquid Fabric Softener or Softener Sheets
Liquid fabric softeners should be added to the final rinse water of your laundry cycle. Many washing machines have a fabric softener compartment that automatically takes care of when and how to add the product. Just make sure to activate the fabric softener cycle if your machine has one If noted in the product instructions, dilute the softener with water before adding it to avoid staining or spotting on fabrics. There are also softener sheets designed to dissolve and disperse in the washer.
Dryer Sheets
While liquid and sheet fabric softeners are used in the washer, dryer sheets are placed directly into the dryer with your clothes to provide benefits specific to the dryer. The heat and tumbling action of the dryer creates an imbalance in electrons, leading to static cling and other challenges such as wrinkles and lint. To combat this environment, dryer sheets are designed to be heat-activated so they can protect clothes throughout the dryer’s tumbling action. As the dryer heats up, the softening agents are released and transferred to the fabric, providing softness and reducing static and wrinkles.
Packet-Type In-Dryer Softeners
These softeners use a distribution method where they are attached to the fin of the dryer drum. They are designed to release the softening agents evenly throughout the drying cycle, ensuring all fabrics receive the benefits.
When to Use It (And When Not To)
Fabric softeners are particularly beneficial for reducing static cling in synthetic fibers and making fabrics softer and fluffier. They can be used on many different fabrics with beneficial results. In nearly all cases, it will enhance your laundry and protect the clothes you love.
There is a concern that because fabric softeners tend to be hydrophobic, meaning they repel water, this will affect the absorbency of fabric. You may think, what about towels? Does the same thing that causes them to be soft and fluffy cause them to work less? The short answer is no. The key to keeping towels soft without compromising their functionality is in using the right amount of fabric softener. Similarly, modern fabric softeners can be used on things like microfiber cloths and athleticwear without impacting their absorbency or moisture-wicking properties.
However, there is an exception to the rule. Be cautious when using them on children's sleepwear or any garments labeled as flame-resistant, as softeners can reduce flame retardancy.
Fabric Softener FAQ
Should I be using fabric softener?
You should use fabric softener if you want the benefits associated with it, such as reducing static cling, softening fabrics, and protecting fabric to extend its lifespan. Fabric conditioner can even be used on delicate fabrics such as wool and silk. Just check your garment’s care label for any precautions.
Is fabric softener good for my clothes?
Fabric softener can extend the life of your clothes by reducing friction and wear. Like using just shampoo without conditioner, washing your clothes with detergent without using a softener can leave your clothes exposed to damage like pilling, stretching, fuzzing, and fading.
Is fabric softener okay for my skin?
Fabric softeners are usually dermatologically tested and are safe when used as directed. However, if you have sensitive skin, there are fabric softeners specifically formulated to be hypoallergenic and these can be a good option. There are even fabric softeners without added dyes or fragrances if you’re looking for the benefits of softener without added scent. Adding a fabric rinse product (more information below) may also be helpful for removing excess detergent, which could be the cause of irritation.
How does fabric softener affect my washer and dryer?
When used properly, fabric softeners should not impact your appliances. Always follow manufacturer instructions and avoid using too much. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the washing machine dispenser and running an empty hot wash cycle with a washing machine cleaner, can help prevent potential buildup from excess fabric softener or hard water. Regular maintenance should also be conducted on the dryer, such as wiping down the interior of the dryer drum periodically with a clean, damp towel.
What’s in fabric softeners?
Fabric softeners contain ingredients that condition the fabrics as well as others that may act as a preservative, fragrance, or emulsifier. Like other products, they contain a combination of ingredients that each serve a specific function in the formulation. Learn more about how to read a product label to find its ingredients and their functions.
Can I use dryer balls instead?
Dryer balls may help speed up the drying time and may reduce some wrinkles, but the benefits are typically negligible and they will not provide many of the valuable benefits of a fabric softener or dryer sheet. Fabric softeners work by protecting and conditioning the fibers in the fabric and reducing friction while a dryer ball increases friction and beats up fibers. Dryer balls will not help extend the life of your clothing like fabric softeners can.
See how fabric softener can help care for your clothes, your home, and your loved ones.
Fabric Enhancer Guide
When doing the laundry, the primary purpose is to get fabrics clean and this is the role of things like detergents, bleaches, and stain removers. Our Laundry Basics Guide walks through the laundry cleaning options and how to use them. Beyond that, we have additional desires for our laundry, including that our clothes last longer, feel softer, smell fresher, and are free from static and wrinkles. That’s where fabric enhancers come in. Fabric softener or conditioner is just one type of fabric enhancer, but let’s take a look at some of the others:
Scent Boosters
Scent boosters add long-lasting fragrance to your clothes, keeping fabric smelling fresh and delightful. These small, water-soluble beads are added directly to the washer drum before loading clothes, allowing them to dissolve and infuse fabrics with a pleasant scent that can last for weeks.
Fabric Rinse
Fabric rinse is designed to be added to the rinse cycle to soften fabrics by effectively removing any residues that may be left behind after the wash cycle. By eliminating these residues, fabric rinse ensures that your clothes are free from any potential irritants that can cause skin discomfort. Fabric rinses also help to remove odor-causing buildup that detergents can leave behind.
Laundry Sanitizer
Laundry sanitizer is a powerful addition to your laundry routine when you’re looking for sanitizing or disinfecting benefits and are designed to ensure your clothes are not only clean but also free from harmful bacteria. By adding a laundry sanitizer or bleach (as long as it’s safe for the fabric) to the wash cycle and following the instructions, you can eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria that can cause unpleasant odors and pose health risks. See when a laundry sanitizer or bleach can play a role in laundry care for better health.
Wrinkle Release and Static Guard Spray
Wrinkle release and static guard spray are versatile fabric enhancers designed to improve the appearance and feel of your clothes. Wrinkle release spray works by relaxing fabric fibers, reducing the effort required for ironing and helping to smooth out creases effortlessly. Static guard spray, on the other hand, is used to prevent static cling, keeping fabrics smooth and free from annoying static shocks. By applying it to your garments, you can ensure they stay looking fresh and well-maintained throughout the day.
Color Brighteners and Dye Catchers
Color brighteners and dye trapping sheets are essential laundry aids designed to preserve and enhance the vibrant hues of your garments. Color brighteners work by adding optical enhancers to the fabric, making colors appear more vivid and bright. These additives absorb ultraviolet light and emit visible blue light, which counteracts any yellowing and improves the overall appearance of the clothes. Color catcher sheets, on the other hand, are formulated to trap and absorb loose dyes that can bleed during the wash cycle. By preventing these dyes from transferring onto other fabrics, color catcher sheets help maintain the original color integrity of your clothes.
Odor Eliminator
Odor eliminator laundry enhancers are specialized additives designed to neutralize and remove stubborn, lingering smells from your clothes. By incorporating these enhancers into the wash cycle, they effectively tackle and eliminate unpleasant odors at their source, ensuring your garments emerge from the washing machine smelling clean and revitalized.