So, What Exactly is Fabric Softener?
In case you were wondering, here’s what you ought to know.
by Julia Pelly
While we do laundry nearly every day, we often don’t stop and think about exactly how our clothes go from dirty and dingy to clean and fresh in the washer and dryer. While most people have a pretty good idea of how laundry detergent and the wash and dry cycle on their machines work, most don’t know much about fabric softener. So, what exactly is fabric softener? How does it work? And should you be using it?
What is fabric softener?
Washing machines tend to put a lot of stress on the fabrics they’re working to clean and this, in tandem with air-drying, can give fabric a harsh, hard feeling. Fabric softener can either:
- Be applied during the washing cycle as a liquid or for clothes that will be dried in the dryer or hung to dry
- Be applied during the drying cycle as a dryer sheet for clothes that will be dried in the dryer only
Fabric softener is designed to give clothing a soft, fresh feeling and a pleasant scent. It also reduces the number of wrinkles in machine-dried clothing, which makes it easier to iron clothes and can even reduce the overall time it takes to dry garments in the machine.
How does fabric softener work?
Fabric softener works its magic by coating the surface of the fabric in the washer or dryer with chemical compounds that are electrically charged. This electrical charge causes the threads to puff up, making the fabric feel softer than fabric not washed or dried with a softener.
Fabric softeners also coat the surface of the fabric they’re softening with anti-static properties. This prevents the build-up of electrostatic charges. When clothing has an excess buildup of electrostatic charges, it can cause it to stick to other fabrics or make popping noises when it’s pulled apart from other fabrics. Clothing that has been washed or dried with a fabric softener is typically fluffy, wrinkle-free.
Should you be using fabric softener?
If you want softer, fluffier clothes that are easier to iron and that dry faster, you should consider using fabric softener. Most people choose to use fabric softener on some but not all of their laundry loads.
The items that are most popular to use with fabric softener are towels, sheets, and blankets, but many people find that they enjoy a little extra softness on everything from t-shirts to jeans.
There are only a few fabrics that you should not use fabric softener with. these include:
- Moisture-wicking sportswear
- Flame-proof children’s clothing
- Nylon or synthetic fabrics like polyester
In some cases, it’s also best to avoid using fabric softener on baby clothing due to infants’ extra sensitive skin that might not respond well to the chemicals in fabric softener.
When we do laundry — even at 2ULaundry — every cost per load counts. Now that you know the basics to fabric softener, toss a little into your next load so you can enjoy your softer, fluffier, better-smelling clothing and towels!
