Am Done Stockpiling Fabric Softeners

[launderess]

Just rubbished several bottles of Vernel "rose" fabric softener along with few bottles of others. One's own fault really; purchased job lot on great offer from Europe, but didn't use things up quickly. All had turned into gloppy curdled messes that resembled bad Hollandaise sauce. Oh and all the lovely scent was gone as well.

No amount of shaking would return things to stable emulsions, thus inside of washer and often laundry was coated with film of not dissolved FS.

Pity really as one loves Vernel fabric softeners and they aren't sold locally. Amazon.com used to carry (at insane prices), but that seems to have ended.

https://www.amazon.com/Vernel-Concentrated-Fabric-Softener-formally/dp/B06XGS42QY?th=1[this post was last edited: 4/28/2022-05:12]

 

[henene4]

Softener going bad

Has always been a mystery to me. It happens randomly, no matter how well you store it, to any softener. Also basically any brand I have seen that with.

Only had it happen once or twice myself - used it once not knowing that that product was supposed to look differently.
Smeary clothing, smeary door seal and half of it still in the compartment.

I used to be very annoyed about my flatmates just using my stuff without asking.

But soon realised that if they didn't, I would have had enough detergent and softener for more than a year.
So I let them, and I can buy as I desire.

Vernel was my grandmas favorite softener, the blue one however.
And I inherited that prefference through my mother: More blue than yellow or red.
Maybe a white, neutral one.

My mum prefers Lenor though, my new favorite is the Comfort Fresh Explosion, either the intense version or not, they are almost the same anyway.
Currently have an extra large bottle of blue vernel open and some Vernel supreme on the self.
On my shopping list for today it says Kuschelweich since that's on offer and a few people I know use it.

What I am certainly guilty off is overdosing softener far more than detergent.

Even if I wash partial loads, I tend to use a full cap... Haven't had any issue with that oversoftened feel though, so knock on wood.

 

[mrboilwash]

Nothing that contains water and oils or water and sufactants should be excessively stockpiled.
It`s not just about the change in appearance like FS getting thick or even worse to separate, the greater risk is the prevalence of microbes meaning the stuff might turn into a stinky mess and maybe even harm your health.
Unless a product contains huge amounts of alcohol like perfume of has an extremely high of low pH like toilet bowl cleaner it depends on preservatives or in other words biocides to keep those products from going off.
Since those preservatives can be quite toxic and sensitizing to the skin the amounts that can be used are limited.
Just think of how similar cosmetic products are in their chemistry compared to household chemicals like detergents or FS.
The law is at least in the EU that cosmetic products must have a shelf life of at least 2,5 years unopened after manufacturing or come with a best before date.
Not sure about household chemicals as they usually won`t get undiluted onto the skin which in turn might allow for larger amounts of preservatives but the trend is that best before dates seem to appear more often recently. Seen it even on dispersion paint for walls.
While we all experienced things that seemed to keep forever I just wouldn`t take the risk.

 

[launderess]

Thing is one uses FS so sparingly that one bottle lasts literally a year or longer.

Always use small dosages, and not always for every load either. So again a bottle often just sits and sits....

Many years ago bought two bottles of Downy "free and gentle" FS on sale. By time half used first bottle it turned into a gloopy mess. Rang up P&G, explained situation and CSR couldn't have been more nice. After reading codes on both bottles was advised both were "old" product and should be binned. For my troubles P&G was sending coupons for not just two new free bottles of FS, but a few for detergent of choice as well.

CSR went on about never using "old" FS that had gone off.

On another note, those inclined to purchase things online where things are offered by third party sellers, make sure you're getting fresh stock.

 

[turquoisedude]

How interesting.... I thought I'd just bought a bad batch of softener but likewise, I had stocked up when I saw my preferred brand actually on the store shelves back in the early days of the pandemic and I'm now noticing that the older softener looks like curdled milk.   Lesson learned.... hoarding is bad.  Unless we're talking about mixers, dishwashers, vintage car parts, hi-fi consoles.... LOL 

 

[gizmo]

I used to buy Abode fabric softener (and detergent) from a store in Warrnambool that had it available in bulk - bring your own containers, fill them and pay only for the product, not packaging. They stopped selling the fabric softener in bulk - they said it curdled in the drum (25 litres) and they had to throw it out. So back to buying it in bottles, though that is also in short supply - apparently Abode are having trouble sourcing one ingredient, and they won't substitute, if they can't make their recipe, they don't make the product. This is because they specialize in products for people with allergies and sensitivities, and don't want to risk someone having a reaction if the formula changes.

So I've made a new discovery - Earthwise plant-powered fabric softener, a similar product as far as I can tell, doesn't make me itch, doesn't stink, does the job. It's made in New Zealand.

https://earthwise.co.nz/fabric-softener-papaya-aloe-vera/

 

[mark_wpduet]

You are so right. A small bottle can last more than a year for those of us who use it sparingly and not for every load. I bought this bottle at dollar tree I think and I absolutely regret the purchase...but I don't want to waste it so I've been slowly going through it. I've had this for maybe a year and a half now and still not halfway through it. The smell is so strong but luckily using only a little and when the clothes come out of the dryer the smell is really faint and not bad at all. I don't ever remember having a bottle of fabric softener go bad.. I think my last bottle before this had to be at least 3 years old before I finally used it up.