Gransnet forums

House and home

Fabric Conditioner

(95 Posts)
Elless Tue 27-Aug-24 10:35:54

When fabric conditioner first became available it did seem to make a difference to a wash and you could smell it. I find it so annoying that you now have to 'boost' the scent with beads or elixir - I've tried both and it doesn't seem to make any difference. I also mixed the elixir with the conditioner but it went really watery and didn't smell much at all!

cc Wed 28-Aug-24 14:59:07

At one time they used to advertise fabric conditioner saying that it made things easier to iron, so I did try it on bedlinen though I found it made it limp. I don't like the smell so now I don't use anything except Zoflora if I'm washing something that needs it or if one of us is ill.

Jaxjacky Wed 28-Aug-24 14:57:12

I’ve never used conditioner and I’ve never had a tumble drier either.

Witzend Wed 28-Aug-24 14:16:24

I do actually use a little conditioner when hand washing pure wool, but that doesn’t happen very often.

grannybuy Wed 28-Aug-24 14:11:11

I never use it either. I’m tired of the adverts constantly trying to persuade us to buy yet another laundry product. I use washing powder, but I worry that this is going to be phased out, as in the supermarkets, powder is outnumbered by the large selection of pods/tablets.

grandtanteJE65 Wed 28-Aug-24 13:29:48

Being allergic to most degergents and to perfumes, I would dearly love to see all fabric softerns banned, or at the very least only marketed in scentless varieties.

Vinegar does the job just as well.

Those of you who are so fortunate not to be allergic to perfumes, might just take the rest of us into consideration.

Cambia Wed 28-Aug-24 13:09:16

I haven’t used it for ages and it makes no difference at all! I do make my own soap liquid detergent and use essential oils for this. Someone said my laundry smelt beautiful! No harmful chemicals or any further plastic waste and cheaper so win win all round.

Peaches7 Wed 28-Aug-24 13:05:36

I use smol products,which are environmentally friendly, they don't use plastics in their products, and they do refills for all their range of products,plus they are delivered to your door

Mt61 Wed 28-Aug-24 12:58:58

FlexibleFriend

I don't use it, I use ariel liquid and soda crystals in varying degrees in every wash. My washing machine never smells and I don't do ironing either, I tumble dry everything for convenience as I got sick of the birds using my washing for target practice.

🤣🤣🤣 soda crystals are very good too- clean my machine with soda crystals

HowNowBrownCow Wed 28-Aug-24 12:55:52

I use fabric conditioner and annoyingly bought a load of it recently (12 bottles remaining) as it was on offer! I shall try to return it and use the home made recipes in future.

HowNowBrownCow Wed 28-Aug-24 12:53:16

Astitchintime

I make my own fabric conditioner using vegetable gelatine and other ingredients - PM if you want the recipe.
It is kinder to the environment, reduces single use plastics, doesn't harm the waterways and isn't scented with all manner of artificial nasty scents.

Yes please Astitchintime.

MickyD Wed 28-Aug-24 12:47:29

Wow I’m glad I read this. I use conditioner every single day but from today I’ll not use it again.

Sarahr Wed 28-Aug-24 12:24:44

We rarely use fabric conditioner now. Just put a tablespoonful of soda in every was, halve the recommended quantity of washing powder/liquid, and then dry on the line outside. Soft clothes and lovely outdoor scent. Can't beat it.

MissInterpreted Wed 28-Aug-24 11:54:38

Well, I've used it for years and have no intention of stopping. I like it and so does my OH. In fact, all the family use it. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't.

Moggycuddler Wed 28-Aug-24 11:53:12

It does make things feel softer on the skin though. I tried not using it for a while but cotton shirts etc felt a bit rougher and creased more. So I went back to it, Comfort Pure hypoallergenic.

J52 Wed 28-Aug-24 11:13:47

Nano14

hollysteers

Never used it, I’m tight and also like my towels rough to the feel.

Me too, soft towels don't dry you properly.

Yes I like rough towels, they exfoliate your skin and keep it soft.

Nano14 Wed 28-Aug-24 10:22:20

hollysteers

Never used it, I’m tight and also like my towels rough to the feel.

Me too, soft towels don't dry you properly.

Elless Wed 28-Aug-24 10:16:17

Wow, didn't manage to get back on to Gransnet yesterday. I'm amazed that most people don't use fabric conditioner. I never use it on towels but if I don't use it I do notice a difference on items like socks, does using soda crystals soften your clothes.
I must admit that sometimes I have done a wash with no detergent because I do think it builds up in clothes etc but that is if I can use a higher temperature.

Tiley Wed 28-Aug-24 09:35:25

Haven't used it in years, complete waste of money in my opinion.

Franbern Wed 28-Aug-24 08:48:58

I use washing sheets in my machine. Take up so little room for storage, and no plastic residue of any sort left by them. The only other thing I put into the washing machine drum is something like Calgon. Have not used any sort of so-called conditioner for very many years.

I nearly always wash on a low number (30), nothing I wash is really dirty - prefer to air dry than tumble if possible. My clothes seem to last forever.

Patsy70 Tue 27-Aug-24 21:26:13

I was told by a reliable source that fabric conditioners damage the washing machine, so haven’t used it for years. I use vinegar instead, and also to clean through at a high temperature every few weeks. I only use a liquid detergent directly into the drum. Seems to work.

Oreo Tue 27-Aug-24 20:58:24

PamelaJ1

So who does use it then? I don’t either but there it is on the shelves. Where does it go to?

I use it😁
Towels and sheets and anything cotton dry like boards without it, it’s a very hard water area.
I also like bedding to have a flowery scent, lovely 🥰
I only use powder for the actual wash, it keeps the machine cleaner.

sazz1 Tue 27-Aug-24 20:45:05

I never use fabric conditioner on towelsbut I do use comfort pure on synthetic clothing to stop the static and clinging
Occasionally I do towels with just a small dash of disinfectant at 50C and no detergent as there's usually enough detergent left in them after washing and drying. Most machines don't rinse very well.

midgey Tue 27-Aug-24 20:37:43

When I was working I had a colleague who could tell who owned the unnamed clothing lost at school!

Delila Tue 27-Aug-24 20:10:43

Thanks Witzend - I did wonder about clumps of undissolved powder.

Witzend Tue 27-Aug-24 19:26:54

Delila

*Witzend*, is there an advantage in putting powder straight into the drum? Doesn’t it dissolve more efficiently as the water flushes it from the dispenser?

Soda crystals go in the drawer. The powder evidently dissolves perfectly well - I’ve never found any lumps, and I’ve been doing this for some years now.