You can’t use fabric softener on some clothes because it cuts the absorbency of cotton towels. Care labels also say to skip it on activewear, microfiber and outerwear. In US federal laundering tests, liquid softener also reduced flame resistance in one polyester fabric.
We washed the same towels with and without softener. Below, we cover how the coating works and which clothes to keep it off. We also cover how to recover towels, activewear and greasy marks.
Quick Summary
- Keep softener off children’s flame-resistant sleepwear. Labels on softener packages say not to use it on any garment labeled flame resistant.
- Skip softener when you wash down jackets and sleeping bags. Makers say it hurts the gear’s performance.
- Wash towels again without softener if you already used it. Towel makers say white vinegar in the wash helps break down the buildup.
How Softener Sticks to Fabric
1. The coating clings to fibers and stays put
Softener leaves a coating that stays through the wash. Its main ingredient is positively charged [1]. Most fabrics carry the opposite charge, so they pick the coating up and keep it.
2. The fatty part lubricates the fibers
The fatty, water-hating part of that ingredient lubricates the fibers, which is why treated clothes feel smooth, soft and flexible.
3. Rinse softener soaks in and dryer sheets stay on the surface
Rinse softener and dryer sheets do not act the same way. Rinse softener is a liquid that goes easily into the fibers and builds up, while dryer sheet softener stays on the fabric surface and does not build up much.
Clothes to Keep Softener Away From
1. Children’s flame-resistant sleepwear
Softener does not belong on any garment labeled flame resistant. Labels on both liquid and sheet softener packages say so [2]. In the US, children’s sleepwear must be flame resistant and able to self-extinguish [3].
2. Towels and cotton clothes
A journal study found that cotton’s water absorbency decreases when softener is used [4]. Researchers describe a trade-off between softness and high water absorbency.
A Texas Tech University thesis found the biggest loss in absorbency came after the first wash [5]. It then improved bit by bit but stayed below the original level in the worst-hit fabrics. Our guide to fabric softener on towels has more on it.
Cotton clothes feel less comfortable in summer after softener. Virginia Tech researchers found that both rinse softener and dryer sheets cut the water vapor passing through cotton. They name T-shirts and underwear as the clothes people worry about in hot weather.
3. Activewear and moisture-wicking clothes
The softener coating blocks the moisture-wicking channels, so the fabric stops wicking sweat. That is why activewear care labels say to skip it. Makers add that it traps sweat odor.
4. Microfiber cloths
Makers of microfiber cloths say to skip both softener and dryer sheets. They explain that the residue coats and clogs the fine gaps between the fibers, so the cloth stops picking up dirt and liquid.
5. Wool and cashmere
Softener alters the natural softness of the fibers, so cashmere makers tell you to skip it in their care pages.
6. Waterproof outerwear
Softener works against the waterproofing, so care pages for waterproof outerwear say not to use it when you wash the garment.
7. Down jackets and sleeping bags
Down makers’ care pages say softener hurts the gear’s performance, so they tell you to skip it when washing jackets and sleeping bags.
8. Swimwear and other stretch clothes
Skip softener on swimwear and spandex gym clothes. Care pages for these stretch fabrics say that softener damages their elasticity.
How to Recover From Softener and What to Use Instead
1. Rewash towels without softener and add vinegar
Rewash towels without softener and add white vinegar to the wash. The vinegar helps break down the softener buildup and restore absorbency, according to towel care pages.
2. Soak smelly activewear in vinegar
Soak activewear that smells in white vinegar before a normal wash. Makers of activewear suggest this as a way to clear lingering odor.
3. Rewash oily spots and greasy marks
Treat softener marks with soap or detergent, but check the care label first and skip any product it prohibits [6]. Pretest any cleaner on an out-of-sight spot too.
Undiluted softener poured straight onto fabric can leave greasy blue-gray marks, and so can too much in the dryer. Rub the mark with a bar of soap and launder.
Or saturate the mark with concentrated detergent and water, then launder in hot water. If several items are marked, take them to a dry cleaner.
Dryer sheets may cause oily spots on some fabrics, so check each garment as it comes out of the dryer. If a spot shows up, rub it with a detergent paste and rewash [7].
4. White vinegar can stand in for softener
Try white vinegar in place of softener. Utah State University Extension says vinegar can be used as a softener in laundry cleaning [8].
If you want other options for softer towels, our guide to the best thing to soften towels walks through them.
FAQs
Do Dryer Sheets Hurt Towel Absorbency as Much as Liquid Softener?
No, dryer sheets hurt towel absorbency less than liquid softener. Virginia Tech researchers reviewed earlier studies that found dryer-type softeners had no effect on water absorbency or only a slight one.
Does Fabric Softener Stop Static Cling?
Yes, fabric softener can stop static cling. A Texas Tech University thesis found that two of the three softener types eliminated it in its tests. Both caused the greatest absorbency loss. The dryer spray softener did not reduce cling on nylon fabric.
What Happens If You Wash Clothes with Only Fabric Softener?
If you wash clothes with only fabric softener, you get soft, fluffy clothes but no detergent. A New Mexico State University Extension guide lists detergent as basic equipment for getting clothes clean. It says softener goes in only during the final rinse or the dispenser cup.
References:
- https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/10919/32307/1/finalthesis1.pdf
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/03/10/00-5531/standard-for-the-flammability-of-childrens-sleepwear-sizes-0-through-6x-standard-for-the
- https://www.cpsc.gov/FAQ/Childrens-Sleepwear
- https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jos/70/4/70_ess20297/_article
- https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/bitstreams/7027e3b4-85e6-457f-9565-d2a535621a7e/download
- https://site.extension.uga.edu/textiles/care/stain-removal/remove-stains-from-fabric-softener-bluing/
- https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_c/C503.pdf
- https://extension.usu.edu/archive/home-cleaning-chemicals
