Just discovered fabric softener

It will give you a rash—and you’ll smell like a cheap drugstore cosmetics counter. It doesn’t help.

I am terribly allergic to it now. If you get rashes and itchiness, you'll know where they came from. I just deal with the static zapping nowadays. It's better than the maddening itching I get from softeners and dryer sheets.

Bounce is for Republicans; Snuggle is for whores. Downy is for Southern ladies with good reputations and intact hymens.

[quote]Just discovered fabric softener

OMG, just wait until you discover Cheez Whiz!

I use both. Downey in the wash, Bounce sheet in the dryer to prevent static

It's like floor wax.

Garbage with chemical perfumes.

And it ruins the absorbency of your towels.

Why do Americans crave nasty, fake aromas in everything?

^ it's also a delicious dessert topping!

When I walk my dog in my suburban neighborhood, the houses that use this shit reek. The dryer vents intensify the cheap smell and blow it out to the street. Unless you smell worse that that perfumed crap, it’s just more unnecessary chemicals in your life.

[quote]Just discovered fabric softener

No, you didn't, Columbus!

Using vinegar is a better fabric softener.

If your fabrics are not soft, buy better fabrics.

The problem is vinegar smells rancid

[quote]Downy is for Southern ladies with good reputations and intact hymens.

So NO ONE ON EARTH uses Downy anymore????

I come from a Downy family who used it on everything, even rags. My mother used to buy it every time she went to the store, I remember we had about 8 bottles one time.

I start getting antsy if I have less than one Costco-sized bottle, but only buy it when it’s on sale there.

I also use Bounce in the dryer & even add a 2nd sheet if it’s a larger load.

Ecozone do a fully-biodegradable fabric softener with natural scents that I like. They also sell a special towel softener that doesn't affect the towels' absorbency. It's great for line drying; saves using the tumble dryer.

For r13:

OP, it imparts vulgar and cheap fragrances and destroys the feel of fabric. But you do you.

If you want to avoid stiff air-dried towels, simply dry them for 5 minutes in a hot dryer then hang them. Just the brief blast of hot air fluffs the fibres.

[quote]I use both. Downey in the wash, Bounce sheet in the dryer to prevent static

I use this same combination. Some of my clothes are 20 years old and still in perfect condition. Will continue to do so.

I use eco-friendly liquid softener in every load. I have no allergies to it, I can't find any indication that its damaging my mostly cotton fabrics, I like the smell, and will continue to use it.

Love your post R7.

Next up, Cheez Whiz and Mountain Dew.

Kelly Ripa swears by this laundry guy...

Vinegar doesn't smell once dry and helps remove lingering detergent from fabrics. I love it but understand why others do not.

I don't use it, OP. Nowadays, static electricity is the only excitement I get out of life.

For nifty orange-scented laundry, toss ½ cup of TANG® breakfast drink mix in your dryer with your laundry.

I discovered Febreze.

But, its odd smell lingers for days, gives me a headache, and makes me feel light-headed. So I undiscovered it.

I stopped using liquid fabric softener because it was leaving oily spots on my clothes (due to my washing machine's malfunctioning dispenser). I now only use Bounce sheets in the dryer.

Unscented and uneverythingelse

Line dry all my laundry. NO static cling when you line dry. Neener, neener, neener.

Fabric softener is déclassé.

There are people I encounter who reek of fabric softener the way some people reek of perfume or cologne. I can only imagine how much they’re using.

They have spiked balls that you put in the dryer that replace fabric softener, I have never tried them but no chemicals seems attractive and they have a 4.4 out of 5 rating.

Smelling like fabric softener is something trashy people think is classy.

Fabric softener is basically grease that coats the fibers of your clothing. If you are using a dryer, you don’t even need it. Eventually it builds up and traps odors. As someone else said, if you want softer clothing, buy better fabrics.

Detergent removes grease from your wardrobe.

Fabric softener just adds it back in.

Have you discovered washing your feets yet, OP?

I use Bounce on everything except dishtowels and cleaning rags. I do use it on my bath towels because it makes them a lot softer.

R32, I tried the spiked balls and they dent up the inside of my dryer

Fabrics are scratchy without a dryer sheet.

I am freaked out that Gain has a detergent that they intentionally market as 'extra scented'. Gain is pretty strongly scented as it is. I only like unscented detergent, no fabric softener however, the lady who does my laundry has different ideas.

Not only do I disliked scented laundry, I do my wash with extra rinse and spin cycle.

One of my colleagues uses the scent balls in addition to strong-scented detergent and fabric softener. It's too much, especially when she wears perfume as well! She's so used to it, she must've gone nose-blind.

Well that's the thing. I dislike laundry product fragrances but adore fragrances and perfumes. Don't mix these. I don't use scented soaps, either. Just edts and edps. By the way one must spray these on fabric to get much sillage nowadays so washing clothes is the opportunity to remove all odors from them.

Ironing clothes softens them nicely.

R29 and I bet it smells heavenly. Line dried sheets are incredible and softeners have never duplicated the scent. It just smells really fresh.

I love the scent of laundry with my clothes. I use downy and bounce with a tad bit of vinegar.

You guys saying it smells are not aware of how musty your clothing smells. I have a friend who doesn't use scented anything and I can't sit closer than a few feet away as she smells like mildew.

I'm too old to give a fuck if anyone think my clothing smelling good means I'm "trashy." I like it. I'm not here to please anyone else.

[quote] You guys saying it smells are not aware of how musty your clothing smells.

If your clothing smells musty without fabric softener and dryer sheets, then that's a separate issue.

[quote]OP, it imparts vulgar and cheap fragrances and destroys the feel of fabric. But you do you.

I stand with that arbiter if taste, R16.

It just seems so very common. And you can smell the stuff lingering in the damp air outside American homes, on clothes...a sickly sweet smell meant to smell - somehow - "fresh.".

What is the point of it? It makes natural fiber things feel polyester, and smell bad.

It's unknown where I live, where there are maybe a half dozen brands of laundry detergent and one or two types of each brand. In the U.S. it would be a life's work to try all the varieties and types in a grocery store laundry products aisle - and for what?

Yes, r44, there is nothing like the fresh smell of line dried laundry.

If I win the lottery, my newly hired staff will be line drying all my laundry as well.

Six pins, Dolores! Six pins, not five!

It has been said it can break down natural fibres, yet I still use it for my washable sailcloth slipcovers, and my linen-blend curtains. The softener helps to not only cut down on wrinkles, but also provides a bit of stain resistance to fabrics. I had a dog when I had the slips made, and it was both practical, as well as cleaner.

My boyfriend at the time had a geriatric Rottweiler as well, who did not take kindly to baths. The fragrance was a welcome addition to the upholstery. I only like the yellow Suavitel scents, and I probably use less than half of what is recommended. I don't use softener for my clothes.

If your friend smells like mildew, that means they're leaving their wet clothes in the washer for too long before transferring to the dryer. No fabric softener can fix that.

The best smelling detergent I know is Purex for Baby. Dermatologist-approved!

I use it for all my bedding and bath towels.

Tide has a nice scent

Takeaway from R50 geriatric Rottweiler stank PLUS cloying fabric softener fragrance is better than geriatric Rottweiler stank alone.

I use unscented laundry detergent. I stopped using fabric softener when I mover out of my parents house and couldn’t afford it. I don’t miss it. I actually prefer rough scratchy bath towels.

The Rottweiler was probably very cute

[quote] "It will give you a rash—and you’ll smell like a cheap drugstore cosmetics counter. It doesn’t help."

My college costume design professor is highly anti-fabric softener due to its chemical content, and deems it unnecessary. Of course, we didn't use it in show laundry anyway. She's also a vegetarian, so it's just a part of her overall demeanor.

My name is Sue and I am a boy and I am in the 4th Grade. I got new shoes and 2 shirts and 1 pants for Back to School! Don't worry I have lots of other clothes. I don't understand this thread. I asked my mommy about soft fabric and she said stop being a pansy Sue, and go outside and play with the other boys.

I like a rough towel and always hang laundry in the sun…Fabric softener is greasy, smelly, and reminds me of people who fry food at home and never air out. Also hate that cat litter that stinks like fabric softener. So plastic!

Don’t masturbate with fabric softener. You dick will never get hard!

I also just started using fabric softener this year - much prefer it now.

R54 & R56 Yes to both!

R52 I'll have to get a whiff of that Purex now. I use original Dreft for bed linens, and blankets. Clean and very light hypoallergenic scent.

Dryer sheets. So much easier plus it gives my laundry another rinse cycle with clean water instead of liquid softener. Arm & Hammer scent free dryer sheets. Check them out.

All is all you need - free and clear detergent and dryer sheets.

I always use Downy liquid when I wash jeans so they come out soft