A fabric softener is a type of conditioner that is used in washing machines while rinsing the clothes. These softeners are primarily hydrophobic. The softeners are made of cotton, wool, or hydrophobic materials like nylon, polyacrylonitrile, polyethene terephthalate, etc.
Fabric softeners are essential tools in your arsenal for keeping your clothes looking their best. This article will discuss the different types of fabric softeners available and explain why they’re so important. We’ll also give you tips on using them properly to get the most out of them. So get ready to feel like a clothes guru!
7 Best Fabric Softeners to Buy in 2024
Wool Dryer Balls by Smart Sheep
The Smart Sheep wool dryer balls help reduce the static, shortening the drying time and softening the fabric. They also help in untangling clothes like bedsheets. Since these balls are natural, they are more gentle on clothes than other synthetic balls or one made out of plastic. They are very gentle on the skin and can be used for baby clothes. Each ball can be used 1000 times. The top reasons to buy it are –
- Softens clothes
- Ideal for people with sensitive skin
- Can last for 2-4 years or 1000 loads
- Reduces wrinkles and lint
- Can collect pet hairs from clothes
- Seperates clothes that reduces dryer time
- Natural fabric softener
- Reduces drying time
- Cost Effective and Practical
- Some people complained of bad smell
- Some experienced increase in static
Bounce Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets
Get your clothes dry faster and with fewer wrinkles. This product is great for light to medium-sized laundry loads. The Bounce Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets have a soft, fluffy feel making it easier to sort and fold laundry without damaging your clothing. Bounce Dryer Sheets help dry clothes. In addition, it also helps in minimizing the static electricity effects on clothes. Some of the top benefits of the product are –
- Reduces wrinkles in clothes
- Helps in repelling hairs and lint
- Stops static cling
- Stops odor
- Soften the clothes
- Great even for sensitive skin
It is safe to be used in machine washing of all types.
Ingredients
- Dipalmethyl Hydroxyethylammonium Methosulfate
- Polyester substrate
- Fatty acid
- Fragrance
- Clay
- Amazing Smell
- Removes static cling effectively
- Price
- Perfect wrinkles remover
- Few people did not like its smell
- Few thought smell was very strong
Gain Dryer Sheets, Original, 240 Count
The original Gain comes in amber, green, and citrus scents. The dryer sheets do the job well, like reducing wrinkles, increasing softness, less static cling, and great scent. The brand says that the scent might last upto six weeks. Please do not use it on clothes that are flame resistant, as it might reduce the resistance. Keep away from pets or kids.
Ingredients
- Cationic Softeners
- Perfume
- Inexpensive
- Long lasting
- Great smell
- Strong smell for few
- Few people with sensitive skin had problems
- Few experienced issues with static
Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets
There is no doubt that Bounce is the most cost-effective brand for fabric softener. In our list, it is appearing for the 2nd time. It works in 3 ways –
- Fights with static build up
- Repels link and per hairs
- Adds softness to the clothes
People with sensitive skin can go for it due to its hypoallergenic properties. It is relatively unlikely to cause a type of allergic reaction. To attain this, no perfumes or dyes are added. Its ability to prevent wrinkles is yet another reason to go for it.
Ingredients
- Biodegradable cationic softeners
- Polyester substrate
- Best for sensitive skin type people
- Great for people with asthma
- Due to lack of perfume, few did not like the smell
Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls
The natural wool dryer balls from Handy Laundry is far superior to the plastic hedgehog dryer balls. It makes ironing easy or eliminates it, reduces links on clothes, and minimizes wrinkles. It is an all-natural product that is a good alternative for even liquid fabric softeners. These are eco-friendly and saves energy. It can reduce the drying time by up to 25%. Let’s have a look at its primary benefits –
- Saves Money – Reduce dryer time and saves energy cost, reusable
- Superior quality – 100% New Zealand wool
- Wrinkles – Reduces link and wrinkles
- Ironing – Eliminates or makes ironing easy
- Good for removing Static
- Fewer Wrinkles
- Much less Dry time
- Reusable
- Some people complained of shape change after few uses
- Few people found that it increases static than decreasing
- Embeded wool fibers in clothes for few
Downy Ultra Liquid Fabric Conditioner
Cothes are damaged at the fiber level due to agitated spinning in machine and the heat. Downy Fabric Softener nullifies all the harm and keeps the clothes soft and smooth. Some of the primary benefits of using this are –
- Strengthens and smoothens the fibers
- Reduces wrinkles in clothes
- Fights static cling
- Presence of scent pearls for long lasting fragrance
- Prevents color fade
Inngredients
- Water
- Diethylester Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride
- Fragrance
- Polyquaternium-33
- Formic Acid
- Pentasodium Pentetate
Bounce Fresh Linen Scented Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets
Another product from Bounce sneaked in our top 10. These fabric softener sheets repel lint & pet hair and add softness to your clothes. They also fight static and give out iron fewer clothes. The fresh linen scent adds to everything and makes it a perfect buy. People with sensitive skin might want to test it before using it. Since it contains perfumes, people should check their smell too before buying it to use regularly.
- Long lasting scent
- Reliable product
- Price
- Smell
Fabric softeners FAQs
What do fabric softeners do?
The ingredients present in the fabric softners gets deposited on fabric fibers. The primary function it carries out are –
- It fights with the wrinkles
- Reduces static cling
- Reduces friction between fibers
- Adds a soft touch to the clothes
- Add fresh scent
- Protects clothes from wear and tear
Where to add fabric softener in the washer?
If you have a top load washing machine without a dispenser, pour the softener while rinsing. Do not pour it on clothes directly, or it may cause stains. Pour it on the washer tub’s water.
You can also put it in the detergent drawer before starting the wash cycle simultaneously while adding detergent. There would be a tiny compartment with a star or flower sign for the softener.
What are the dangers of fabric softeners?
Some of the major of fabric softeners are –
- It might cause skin irritation and allergic reactions
- It could be harmful to the environment as it contains harsh chemicals that might pollute water supplies and soil
- It might increase the risk of asthma and respiratory problems
- They might damage clothes, leave behind a sticky residue that at times are difficult to remove
When should I use fabric softener?
If you plan on washing clothes in cold water, you may want to soften the fabric before laundering them. This will help avoid wrinkles and shrinkage caused by the dryer cycle. You can also use fabric softener when cleaning fabrics with harsh chemicals or chlorine bleach. Adding it to the washroom cleaner will help kill bacteria and remove odors that could be harmful to your health. Lastly, fabric softener can also be used as a final rinse after washing clothes in warm water. It works by removing the water molecules from your clothes, making them feel less clingy and smoother.
