Fabric conditioners - are they a con?

this very morning I removed the dispenser drawer from the washer and into the dishwasher with other plastics which are washed once a month when the water filter jug is changed etc.
on a 50deg 50min wash with a Finish allinone tablet.
The fc section was still rather slimy so I ended up applying a toothbrush and white vinegar to remove this.
I squirt white vinegar (29p from Tesco or Asda) into the dw but not the washing machine as I read that it will perish the rubber gasket.

towels when possible line dried, thin ones I can remove leg hair with they are so rough, but smell good.
I discovered Waitrose or Sainsbury delicates wash, both smell lovely, gentle on clothes, Persil Bio for linen sheets, t towels, Tesco own non bio powder for regular towels, dark bedding, much cheaper, no complaints.
I used Lidl/Aldi white conditioner which smelt lovely - now I don’t use it at all and don’t miss it.

I rarely use FC as I realised that it leaves a sticky black deposit in the dispenser drawer which I have to remove and wash out periodically.

I stopped using conditioner years ago as I found the smell became stale when the laundry was in storage for a while. I really don’t like those synthetic perfumes that are in everything, you can even buy perfumed granules to add to the sickly smell. I use Smol laundry capsules which are low on chemicals but even their very light scent is too much for me. Fortubately is doesn’t hang around.

You can use white vinegar in your wash and this softens, doesn’t make the clothes smell and cleans the washer and costs pennies.

I like my clothes to smell nice, so I add a scented oil designed for the purpose, I use a tumble drier because my mobility restricts me from hanging on a line. The tumble dryer fluffs towels, without the conditioner taking away the absorption properties

FC not good for towels as stated above. also gums up washing machine drawer. Be careful with vinegar though which can also affect machine hoses/gasket if used regularly.

In summer when the washing can be pegged out thefresh air smell is lovely. In winter fabric conditioner is added, it helps erase some of the creases . It’s added if the clothes are to be stored. The water here is soft so no scratchy towels. I see people in the shops sniffing the fabric conditioner, it seems to be more the smell than the other properties. It’s quite a saving when it’s dropped from the shopping list.

I read somewhere that a cloth wrung out with diluted fc is amazing for wiping skirting boards. Prevents dust apparently!

I do use it, because otherwise my son complains that his socks are "crusty". I also line dry towels, as I prefer them rough to exfoliate.

Use it on man-made fibres to stop static. Towels are half dried on the line then finish in the tumble dryer

Sara1954

My new washing machine dispenses it automatically, so it’s either everything or not at all. But I have noticed I’m using a lot less, so obviously my washing machine is a bit more frugal with it than I was.

You can surely just put water in the softener holder? It won't affect the washing.

And apparently softeners aren't only bad for towels but also for clothes containing Lycra or similar stretchy fibres. So no use for socks with stretchy tops or any garment containing synthetic elastic.

I have used softeners on pure cotton duvet covers but they don't seem to make much difference to them as regards ironing so I don't bother now.
I stayed with two of my children during our renovation last year and they both use those "all-in-one" capsules. Quite a few of my clothes really suffered, my t-shirts went into holes in places where they rub when you wear them. I believe that the softeners actually weaken the fibres in the fabric, particularly those made of organic cotton it appears. I gave them all a thorough wash in a normal detergent and the holes stopped appearing.
The same thing happened to my favourite towel when I used an "all-in-one" detergent some years ago.

I remember Gran used to put a Dolly Blue in the tub to improve whites.

I used to tumble dry towels but my tumble dryer started tripping the electrics, then with the price of electricity we have stopped using it.

There are lots of things people buy unnecessarily. I use limescale remover as I'm in a hard water area but when visiting family in Lancashire where I grew up I noticed the supermarket shelves were well stocked with it. Surely no-one needs it when the water is so soft! I do still use fabric softener but not on towels so they are a bit rough when not tumble dried.

Parsley3 I haven’t seen dreft for several years . Is it still in the green box

I try to avoid chemicals and so I use laundry nuts or a laundry egg.

I used to use gallons of it . I loved the smell !

Then , I read about it coating towels and reducing the absorbancy .

I put the towels in a tub of hot water and watched a lot of residue come out .
I rinsed them in vinegar infused water .

These days , I use fabric softener on cardigans and jumpers .

Fabric softeners contain lanolin ( at least some do). So you can't use it on teatowels or any cloths you will be cleaning windows with - it would be like smearing oil all over the windows. I do a machine full of cleaning cloths every few weeks and wash them at 90° with only soda crystals then line dry them.

I haven't used softener for ages and am quite honestly quite amazed that it is still produced and sold. I do however use the stuff which disinfects the washing and goes in the compartment for softener. Only use this when there are socks in the wash, as a 30° wash won't get rid of any fungal infections which may have affected our feet.

Only use it on my woolies and bedding for my spare bed after use and put away for the next time I have visitors to stay.

Never use it on towels as I read years ago it stops them absorbing water.

I have been using some liquid for a while now, it’s called Laundry Cleanser rather oddly because it goes into the fabric softener compartment.

The first lot was from “ fabulosa” I think then I bought some from Aldi.

Rather pleasant aroma (sniff test first) it is meant for low temperature washes such as recommended for synthetics which I’ve noticed can stink,

I think with low temp washes quick drying is the key whereas natural fabrics such as towels, sheets etc if washed hot will stay fresh even when not hung up until next day.

Yes, they are a con and a waste of money. All packaged in plastic and full of chemicals.

I used to wash my bed sheets in liquid detergent and it smelled nice for at least a week. Now it maybe lasts a couple of nights. I think the manufacturers are putting less perfume in the product because, not only do they want us to spend our hard earned cash on fabric conditioners but those expensive little ball things you throw in the drum with the wash as well. They really do take the proverbial

I bought Dreft this morning as it was on offer in Waitrose.

Fabric conditioner isn’t exactly new is it? - The original was Comfort (as far as I recall)

I distinctly remember my Mum using it in the twin tub final rinse, diluted in a jug. It must have been more for softening element then, as the “perfume” was mild. That was late 60s/early 70s

Things tended to “come out” of the spinner looking a bit strangled then and then came the arrival of nylon (shriek!) and bri-nylon( double shriek !!) along with it’s friendCrimplene 😝

We got a front loader then and then the tumbler.

That’s when Lenor first took off and the choices of “perfumes”have increased year on year ever since
Ps. Whatever happened to Dreft - it kept woollens as soft as a lamb, it also made me sneeze when doing a hand-wash