If you're looking for ease and combating
It can also decrease static. But that residue isn't only on your clothes—it builds up in your dryer, too. As such, Rich counsels against relying on dryer sheets. “Dryer sheets may be better than liquid softener, but they can leave a residue on the dryer moisture sensor reducing its effectiveness,” he says.
While it may be tempting to wash or dry workout clothes with fabric softener, don't. If they're composed of moisture-wicking performance fabric, it may do more harm than good. "The coating that fabric conditioner leaves behind can harm the ability for these fabrics to wick," says Richardson.
Cons of Fabric Softener
Builds Up on Clothes: Over time, fabric softeners can leave a residue on clothing, affecting their absorbency and breathability.
Distilled White Vinegar Rinse
Adding one cup of distilled white vinegar to the final rinse cycle can give your clothes and linens the softness you desire without using dryer sheets. The mild acetic acid in the vinegar cuts through any detergent residue left in the fibers that makes the fabric feel scratchy.
Our best overall pick is Downy Ultra Liquid Fabric Conditioner, which has a robust formula that offers seven different benefits (like wrinkle reduction, color protection, and freshness).
Vinegar: White vinegar can act as a natural fabric softener and odor neutralizer. Adding half a cup to one cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help soften fabrics, reduce static cling, and remove detergent residues.
Fabric softener is fatty and clumpy by nature, which could eventually clog your washing machine's pipes and collect in the fabric softener dispenser. If you do not remove the residual softener, you could begin to see or smell mold in your washing machine. Neither clogging nor mold growth are desirable for your washer.
Vinegar: The Natural Alternative
Vinegar, especially white vinegar, has been a go-to natural cleaning agent for generations. When used in laundry, it acts as a fabric softener deodorizer and can even help remove soap residue. It's a natural way to soften clothes without introducing additional chemicals.
Wool dryer balls are made of all-natural products, last longer than dryer sheets, and are compostable when they're no longer being used in your laundry routine. They cut down on the amount of electricity you'll be using and don't contain harmful additives or single-use packaging.
Vinegar Soak: Place your towels in the washing machine and add one cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. The vinegar will break down mineral buildup and soap residue that can contribute to fabric stiffness.
Scent boosters give your clothes a stronger, longer-lasting scent after washing, whereas fabric softeners coat fibers to help soften clothes and reduce static cling on garments. Scent boosters do not leave residue on clothes.
Synthetic and water-resistant materials.
Fabric softener can wear down the effectiveness of water-resistant materials and synthetic fabrics such as polyester. A garment made with elastane, like spandex, can lose its ability to stretch and reshape itself.
Downy Free & Gentle offers conditioning sensitive skin benefits that can reduce friction between clothes and skin, while Bounce Free & Gentle further enhances the fabric care process with an anti-static treatment specially formulated to repel animal hair from clothes.
Use dryer balls infused with your favorite scented oils
Simply add a few drops of your preferred oil, toss them into the dryer, and voila! Your laundry will come out smelling like a field of lavender or a tropical paradise. Not to mention, it's a more eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets.
Remember, fabric softener is completely optional, and your garments will likely pop out of the dryer feeling fresh, clean, and soft without it. However, “For some, it might make doing their laundry a little more fun to use an extra product that smells very good and is colorful,” Fulford says.
Dryer sheets can leave a coating of residue inside your dryer. The residue can get on your dryer's sensors and interfere with its ability to properly dry. Sheets are disposable, that means you have to keep buying them and they create waste that goes into landfills.
Detergent should never end up in the fabric softener compartment. For one thing, it would miss the actual wash cycle. Putting detergent in the wrong compartment can also result in detergent residue remaining on the fabric, which can cause skin irritations, according to the IKW.
Try spritzing lavender water on your clothes before throwing them in the washing machine. The scent of lavender is so long-lasting that it will be there even after drying. Make use of dried herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and mint. Put these herbs in a muslin cloth and keep them in the dryer for a lovely scent.
Should I use dryer sheets? It depends on the load. Dryer sheets work well for most everyday items made of natural fibers, such as cotton shirts, pants and socks, but it's best to avoid using dryer sheets on athleticwear & microfiber, towels, flame-resistant clothing and water-repellent fabric.
Adding baking soda to your wash load can boost cleaning ability, help remove stains and also help neutralize odors, leaving your items looking brighter and smelling fresh.
If you're looking for ease and combating static cling, dryer sheets might be the way to go. But if you want an all-around softening experience and are mindful of long-term costs, fabric softeners could be your best bet.
If your clothes often feel stiff after coming out of the laundry, adding some vinegar to the load can help. "Vinegar softens clothes by breaking down excess detergent that makes clothes feel stiff," says Patric Richardson of The Laundry Evangelist.
Combine 2 cups of white vinegar with 20-30 drops of essential oil in a container. Store the mixture and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup to your laundry during the rinse cycle.