Downy Fabric Softener as thick as paste?

[mattl]

Bought a bottle of Downy a few weeks ago and went to use it and it is like the old paste I used to use as a kid.  VERY thick, I've squeezed a bit into the dispenser but I really don't think it's going to dissolve.  It's not cold, been in the basement for weeks.  Any ideas what happened?

 

Going to call the company tomorrow, but was trying to do a number of loads of laundry tonight.  I guess some will do without.

 

[vintagekitchen]

Judging from past experience, I would guess that at some point in shipping to the store it froze and thawed back out. For a while when I was younger we had a wringer washer out back, with a shelf over it for detergent, bleach, softener, etc. In winter if we forgot and left the softener outside, it would freeze, and after it thawed, be extremely thick and pasty. Add a bit of boiling water and give it a good shake to mix, see if it's thinned properly, repeat if needed until it is liquid again. It will be fine and wont thicken again unless it freezes again.

 

[arbilab]

LFS doesn't have to freeze to change into a gel/glom. It can still be used, diluted and agitated, as it should be anyway. If used at all.

LFS is primarily a suspension of waterproof (hydrophobic) waxes wrapped in a clever marketing cache`.

Just because Proctology & Grumble sells stuff doesn't mean you have to buy it or that it's good for you.

 

[jeffg]

What arbilab said. Just getting cold enough will thicken the product, no freezing required.

Matt, just add some warm water in the bottle, enough to make it whatever consistency you want. Shake well and before each use. I think there's even a blurb about it on Downy's label.

 

[yogitunes]

give a call to P&G, never hurts....all they will tell you is what you already know, mix with some hot water and shake, still usable......

plus they will send you coupons for calling in......not a bad deal....

its usually recommended to dilute once you put it into the dispenser anyway......most times I save the old bottle, and mix 50/50 product and water, keeps me in track that I don't overuse it, its already prediluted so I don't have to add water.....and reduces the thickening that can happen from just sitting on the shelf.....

 

[launderess]

A few years ago had bottles of Downy "Free" that turned into a congealed mess. Contacted P&G and was told the product has a definite shelf life and after giving some information from the container was told the stuff had passed it's sell by date. P&G sent coupons for new bottles and was advised to throw the spoilt away. Furthermore was also advised is not wise to lay in a surplus supply of Downy if it cannot be used in under one year or so.

All P&G laundry products have sell by dates. The codes on bottles/boxes will provide the information as to when the stuff was made, from there you have to know the average life expectancy. Powders IMHO probably are more stable than liquids, with FS perhaps lower than detergents.

Then there is the consideration of how long the product has been sitting on store shelves. Good retailers and or those with high turnover should in theory always have "fresh" goods on shelves. But as anyone lucky enough to find "older" versions or discontinued products knows many places just shove things to the back.

When you see all those Tide and other P&G products at various online warehouses and such one is assuming no small amount is "old" stock that has been moved on. [this post was last edited: 12/31/2013-18:51]

 

[whirlcool]

Laundress, that's what happened to our Downy after about a year. It turned into a gloppy mess. It didn't want to dissolve in water either. We hardly ever use the stuff and its shelf life just ran out.

 

[mattl]

This was fresh from a very high volume store. It is a Downy Free. Plan on calling Thursday. After things quiet down around here.

I use very little in each load, maybe a table spoon, but I notice when I don't use it. Things are just a bit stiffer and coarser feeling.

 

[arbilab]

I mean really. Laundry product that is less shelf-stable than Twinkies?

 

[launderess]

Apparenlty Not Just Downy Can Go Off

Or has a definite sell by date.

Friend had some Vernel fabric softener by Henkel sent over and a few of the bottles were "off". She contacted the Henkel product customer service via telephone (Germany) and was told stuff is "Ungeöffnet mindestens 120 Tage haltbar" which loosely translated means good if unopened for 120 days after production.

Do not use FS often but do have various products in my stash (most purchased on clearance at a good price), and have found in general some do change if kept too long.

The Caldrea "White Clover" while not separating seems to loose a bit of fragrance. While the Ginger Palmetto seems fine (so far). Seventh Generation Lavender OTOH seems to turn a bit darker and yes also loose a bit of fragrance punch.

After our first mishap no longer purchase Downy even the free and clear version that gave problems before. Just do not use FS enough and or in amounts to use that stuff up quickly.

 

[NYCWriter]

Fabric "softener" ...

... is really just scented grease that coats everything with a thin layer.

You're better of just pouring a cup of vinegar into the rinse water. Best fabric softener ever!

 

[kb0nes]

I had a 20 year old bottle of Snuggle that basically separated and got all funky smelling. When I poured it out there was a thin liquid and something that resembled rice.

I've been using the Downy Free product for a while now. What I have used is very fluid and doesn't seem to resemble the gloppy/waxy softeners of years ago. Somehow I can't see it getting all thick. I have been meaning to try doing a dried residue test with it.

Matt, please follow up with word from P&G if you ever get anything helpful.

 

[mrboilwash]

Years ago I had a bottle of softener that turned into a thick texture like pudding by shaking the bottle too vigorously. I don`t shake anymore, just flip it over once before use, probably don`t even have to do that but want to make sure everything is mixed well.

One thing I don`t get out of my mind is I continiously read that fabric softener is the same as grease or wax.

OK, I see that it is kind of hydrophobic although there have been made huge improvements in terms of absorbancy of treated fabrics.
Then there is the grease like build up in the detergent drawer and the possibility of staining clothes with FS which indicate grease as well.

But every FS I know of lists cationic surfactants as softening agent. I mean it`s like comparing grease with soap, isn`t it ? Once the grease is saponified it`s a new compound with different properties.

 

[launderess]

Most Today's Modern Fabric Softners Are Built On Quats

Quaternary ammonium compounds such as: diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride, dialkyl Qimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, dihydrogenated palmoylethyl hydroxyethylmonium methosulfate and di-(palm carboxyethyl) hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methyl sulfate.

http://chemelco-int.com/detergents/fabric-softeners

Quaternary ammonium cation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jeb]

Fabric softner

Sometimes the "type " of water affects the softness of clothing. I have relatives that live in the same town but are on a different water system. I have used thier laundry equipment and they do not use softener of any kind but use the same detergent. The clothes came out softer than those done at home with softener. Jeb