by Elmica Roberts

Created on: October 09, 2010

Fabric softeners are an important part in the laundry cycle for without  them, clothes would be coarse and stiff. Everybody likes good smelling clothes which are soft textured, however it is good to know the pros and cons of using fabric softeners before deciding whether to continue to use them or to discard them altogether. 

Fabric softeners are often used in the final rinse of the laundry cycle, to make clothes soft and to make them smell good. Without fabric softeners, clothes and most especially towels will turn out coarse and harsh and more often than not, will more resemble an amery board rather than the cuddly clothes everybody likes! 

Have you ever thought why we do not mix clothes detergents and fabric conditioners together? The reason is that these two are totally incompatible together and in fact, fabric softeners cannot be added to the load until the clothes have been fully rinsed from detergent deposits. 

Fabric softeners work by coating the surface of the fabric with a thin layer of lubricant which will not be visible to the eye but which makes clothes softer to the touch. Another favourable property of fabric softeners is that since they include anti-static, synthetic clothes will be less prone to wrinkling and ironing will be made much easier.

Apart from these advantages, fabric softeners also have their down side. Many of the fabric softeners found on the market, contain strong agents which are deemed harmful to the human body. Toxic agents can have various side effects and when fabrics are exposed to hot water and heat, they may release vapours which can have a bad impact. 

Another con is that after continuous usage, fabric softeners decrease water absorption. Over a time, textiles will not retain their natural softness as the fibers in the cloth are broken down by continuous usage of fabric conditioners which will wear them out sooner than they should.  Because of this, fabrics will no longer be able to absorb moisture away from our body. 

Fabric softeners tend to produce a build up over time, which can cause clogging in the washing machine and will also causes clothes to lose their colour.

Fortunately, nowadays there more natural alternatives to be found on the market. There are various types of eco friendly fabric softeners which can be safely used. These eco friendly fabric conditioners contain environmentally friendly agents made from natural organic elements which are not detrimental to the human body or to the environment.

Dryer sheets can be used instead of the fabric conditioner for although they possess the same benefits, these can be placed with the clothes in the dryer.  Dryerballs can be used to eliminate static cling. They leave no residue on the clothes and they have no scent.

A more natural alternative is to add 1/2 cup of white vinegar or baking soda to the final rinse to soften water and reduce static cling.

If you put some fabric conditioner on a damp face cloth and put it in the clothes dryer, it will give the clothes that nice smell we like in them.

You may also opt to purchase more clothing which are made from natural fibres, for these will much reduce the need to make use of fabric conditioners.

Sources:

 http://ezinearticles.com/?Eco-Friendly-Laundry-Deter gents-And-Softeners&id=5157354

http://lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=household#f abr

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