Fabric Conditioner

[nickuk]

Some prefer not to use it at all, others use vinegar. SOme say it gunks up the machine, others can't stand the scent. Some use a double dose and bask in the scent, others use just enough to get buy. Some will not permit it anywhere near towels while others will use use a dryer sheet on towels, but then again there are some folk who say that dryer sheets affect the sensors on dryers. Some say it's OK to use Unilever FS (Comfort, Snuggle etc) on towels, as the type of surfactants in that product affect absorbency less.

There's no doubt that when it comes to fabric conditioner, we all have our beliefs and our ways! And I think that all of the scenarios above are perfectly valid.

I have been considering what is the best fabric conditioner to use for my family laundry.

I have used Comfort, Tesco, Lidl (Doussy), Surcare, Ecover and Lenor / Fairy so any comments I make here are based on my experience with those brands.

I have come to the conclusion that P/G liquid fabric conditioners are best for us. In my experience, they are the only ones which totally eliminate static in the dryer. They leave no splodges on dark items. On most loads, I will hang up some items to dry and tumble the rest. Therefore I want everything to be conditioned, so it is a process which is better in a `real life' situation to happen in the washer not the dryer. I also find P/G softeners to be the best at making clothes `soft', and the concentrate is very dispenser friendly.

I can't assert which of the 99 flavours I've settled on, to be frank I'm not mad on any of them. I prefer the Comfort scents, and simply adore Lidl's white Doussy (definitley Henkel, same as French white `Minidou', have this in stock, and would guess same as German white `Vernel)

As for Lenor, I have given the blue, yellow and green Lenor a recent whirl, found the scents too strong. The purple and white ones are possibilities. `Barefoot in the Grass' is a strong contender. However, most likely the winners for me as far as daily use goes will be one of the Fairy variants.

So that's me right now, what's everyone else up to?

Cheers

Nick

 

[ronhic]

Well as some of you may have gathered, I don't use conditioner. Don't have a bottle in the house and can honestly say that I have only bought it once or twice and that was 15 years ago....

If the towels out of the dryer are 'hard', next time I wash them I will put a 1-2 tablespoon of white vinegar in the dispenser...but that is not often.

That is the only time I use anything....

 

[MrX]

Ecover !

While I'm not a huge fan of Ecover's detergents, their fabric softener's amazing. I just love how it smells and softens.

1) It smells great
2) It doesn't seem to 'gunk up' the dispenser at all.
3) It softens perfectly and doesn't seem to mess up towels absorbency.

With regard to dryer static, I haven't found it a problem in my Electrolux Inspire dryer, nor in a Miele dryer that I used for years. I think it comes down to the fact that the machines have stainless steel drums. I assume the static has a path to ground via the drum surface.

Other softeners I like:

Comfort Pure, very mild and effective.
Fairy (P&G), again very mild, but I think it makes things a bit too 'chemically'.

On the cheap side of the 'pure' products.

Tesco - not great, seems to smell disgusting in the dispenser drawer i.e. leaves a residue that smells like pee!

Aldi Ancosoft concentrated softener (pure/white) - excellent product, no gunk, mild pleasant scent, soft clothes and very good value! (made by Luhns in Germany)

Lidl - agree with the above, it's a great product too.

I'm not a fan of the strongly scented softeners, but if I do use them Comfort is my choice. I find Lenor makes me feel a bit itchy.

 

[MrX]

Details on all of Aldi's detergents / softeners

Here's a link to the full range of Aldi softeners, detergents etc and also their full ingredient list.

http://www.luhns.de/products/

 

[mattywashboy]

I like to use a fabric softener for pretty much everything if i can. I do love the scent and the softness and find linen and clothing washed without fabric softener feels quite rough without it. Maybe this is due to the Australian sun and its harsh temperature. Towels without fabric softener dried in aussie sun are hopelessly stiff and rough.
I do not use dryer sheets as we very very rarely use a dryer so i cannot pass comment nor judgment on them. Australia only has one brand on the market from Fluffy and is called Field Flowers.
Currently i am using Lenor which i bought from the british import shop. Its the Blue one and i love the scent, lingers around a long time it seems which i enjoy. I have had compliments from work mates about how 'fragrant' my work shirts smell lol.
Normally though we tend to use Fluffy or Cuddly fabric softners, my mum prefers Lavender scents, i prefer one called Sunshine Fresh or Summer Breeze, both nice softners but don't seem to hang around long lol.
I am very tempted to use vinegar in my wash at least once but have not got round to it, i will at some point.

Well thats my fabric softener lifestyle lol, i tend not to overdose as it is a waste and never use too little, just exactly what the bottle says.

The picture below is of a classic softener bottle, about 15 years old. My grandmother bought it many years ago and just simply kept buying refills, i wonder how many more years it has left lol.

Matt

 

[nickuk]

Matty that's a very cute bottle of FS. For some reason I always remember an episode of `Neighbours' when a character said how nice the washing smelled in the Robinson household. I think the name of the woman responding was Helen Daniels, anyway she replied `ah, that'll be the fabric softener, it's a family favourite'! I never knew which one she was talking about, but they usually had all the laundry products on show in those little utility areas off the kitchen, so it was probably paid for advertising!

MrX, thanks for your reply. Static isn't a huge problem for me - I'm really nitpicking here. I just get the odd little crackle with any FS apart from P/G. I agree that Fairy FS isn't the best of scents. I'll definitely give the Ecover another go. Do I assume this is your fave? Which detergents does it compliment nicely?

Your description of Tesco Pure is similar to Mrs NickUK's reaction it. It's odd with Tesco FS. The bottles have changed, the country of production has changed (McBride to Persan) yet the scents are identical? Don't know how they managed that.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Hi Nick - family favourit in this house is blue Lenor but we only use a quarter of a cap if that and still get fresh smelling clothes, whilst beautifully soft, without fabrics losing body. I've developed an aversion to anything with a strong smell and I've found that by using a quarter dose of softener, things are still soft, fresh, and make the house smell nice when you use the clothes horse!

I haven't liked Comfort for a while now, only one I did like was lily & riceflower but they've discontinued that. Ecover is a good softener - I use their entire range of cleaning products aside laundry products at uni, their washing up liquid is outstanding as is their softener and multi surface cleaner.

Bought a 47p bottle of 20 wash cheap softener from Netto today - on the recommendation on the better half. Smells nice, very very watery but seems to smell nice, though doing first load in it as we speak so it's a question of waiting and seeing!

BTW I gave up with the whole not using softener on towels when I moved to uni - as I wash my normal whites with my white towels and sheets, and with the doses I use, absorbency isn't affected at all when it comes to the towels.

BTW - sent you an email, not sure if you've seen it yet,

Jon

 

[nickuk]

Hi Jon

Nice to hear from you and no - once again I didn't get your email! Hope all is well with you at uni. You're not too far from me now - mb we could meet up for a few drinks or something?

It's a shame they discontinued your fave pank comfort. Oddly, I felt that when they did that the purple one totally changed scent and became `the new pink' even while retaining the same name (which escapes me). Have not sniffed for a year, so may have been a freak mix up, but certainly I have a bottle of purple Comfort which smells of Lily and Riceflower.

So it's blue Lenor for you then - I'll replace my 2 year old bottle for some fresh and try it, perhaps mine's gone funny and from the sounds of it I certainly used too much. Never mind fresh smelling house - Sophie nearly left home ;-)

Take care

Nick

 

[lavamat_jon]

Hi Nick, was just emailing to say I've sourced some Dixan from Netto... bought 5 boxes and seeming as I drive down the M11 most weekends was wondering if you would like me to swing by with a box .

Yeah - I miss pink Comfort the most it really was a nice laundry smell, however I have to say that this 47p fabric conditioner from Netto is absolutely fantastic! Got a load of towels clean and dry, and I've never had softer towels! Very watery consistency, was dubious when I first tried it but subtle scent and as I said great softening ability.

If you have my number (I think I emailed you it) send us a text, if so I might just keep a box of Dixan in the back of my car just in case . To me the consistency is similar to that of Le Chat, however I only used 80ml on a load of whites including heavily stained socks and dishclothes, and everything is nice, clean, and white, socks have a little bit of faded dirt on the bottom which perhaps 100ml of powder will sort next time, and one of the dishclothes is still manky but I don't think it can ever be turned white again after cleaning our university cooker LOL. But it is definitely a better performer than Persil or Ariel, without the heavy scents left behind!

But yes - drop us a text/line, will be nice to catch up

Jon

 

[aquarius1984]

Well I dont know really what to contribute here as Im using a few kinds at the moment and all are proving positive in performance.

Static control is a biggie for me but not for Tumble drying issues. I hate work trousers that dont have any FS in or I end up with both legs stuck together with the amount of miles I walk at work each day.
The joys of having my office right on the other side of the store to my department not mention the stairs required to access said office.
Yet im still overweight, how does it happen?

Found everything I use alleviates any problems.

Add FS to towels when the mood takes me, I hate soft towels - Paul likes soft towels so been doing it mainly for him lately but stii drying them on the radiator so not as soft as they could be.
Absorbency still not as good as no FS.

No favourite scent lately just mix and match as the mood takes me.
and yes I still double dose, although dont do it anymore just to smell nice and avoid use of scents/aftershaves. Have enough of those now Im of the age where its all I get at Christmas or birthdays.
Still at least everyone buys me decent scents, even got into enjoying wearing the designer ones I didnt think I would.

BTW, dunno what it is about Bodyshops White Musk for Men but it so smells of clean laundry - very similar to American April Downy.

Heres what is currenty next to the washer....

 

[electron800]

hehe co-op bluebell mist

That takes me back, my mum always used that in our Indesit, usually with Sainsbury's Novon in the refill bag .

Have to say as far as softness and lasting fragrance goes Lenor and Fairy can't be beaten from my experience. I usually have blue Lenor concentrate when the bank balance allows . I find less than the full dose dosen't soften as well but any more makes no difference, so I use 35ml.

Currently I've got Asda blue softner. It's really good for the money and just as good as, say, comfort at softening. Smells really nice too. Not quite as good as Lenor for softness or lasting fragrace but it's certainly good enough. I use it on everything, including towels, as personally I can't tell any difference in absorbancy. Also I rarely tumble dry so clothes tend to be quite stiff and rough without softner.

Matt

 

[brisnat81]

Not a drop of FS here, I used to use Huggie, which is an Australian brand by an independant manufacturer, but found when we replaced our 25yo towels that the new ones are just naturally soft. I used Huggie because it has an indescribable scent, a little chemically but just pleasant.

I line dry everything, rarely have a problem with Static and just find that its one less chemical that I'm adding to my Laundry.

Funnily enough, my new Thorlo running socks reccomend Fabric Softener to Lubricate the cushioning fabric fibres to reduce wear. Its the first time I ever seen FS reccomended for that reason.

 

[favorit]

Thorlo socks

I still haven't found anything better than them, either for running, skiing or hicking. Even Patagonia socks aren't so good.
They're footwear ... yet they prevent feet-wear *LOL*

 

[launderess]

That Is What "Fabic Conditioner"

And softeners do.

The oils and such lubricate textile fibers, which is why items tend to wrinkle less out of the wash.

Same as one's hair really. Think of how different things feel when hair is properly shampooed and perhaps conditoned. One has fuffy, soft and bouncing hair.

L.

 

[toggleswitch2]

For the frugal...........

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/742733/make_cheap_fabric_softener_sheets_from.html?cat=7

 

[chestermikeuk]

Softeners

Hi Nick, using Comfort Pure and Ecover at the moment, also am using up the Lenor Black & purple ranges....cant stand the smell from the bottle but a couple of drops does the trick with occassional load,

Are you finding the softener aroma stays longer with the vented dryer??

Bring back Comfort turquoise from the 70`s I say!!!

 

[dyson2drums]

i use comfort in every wash, i use the coincentrated one as you ut in a little but get gr8 results!

I personally like the comfort sunshinne, it's the best scent as u open the washer (dyson) and it smells fresh and once they stayed in over night by accident and still were fresh as if they just finished, that was due to comfort sunshine. Onve that happened and i was using the blue comfort easy iron with the big dosing cup and the clothes had to be rinsed again but weren't as bad as lenor as i've seen that at my neighbours house!

Now i've got gran and cosins to use comfort sunshine because of their experiences at my house!

 

[westtexman]

I am currently using the Snuggle Creme Sweet Almond Essence scent. I like it - it's a good winter scent, but I will be ready for a change when the bottle is used up. I also have a bottle of Blue Sparkle Ultra Snuggle and I'm still trying to figure out why I actually bought it. I didn't like Ultra Snuggle the first time it came out, and I certainly don't like it this time around either!

One of my two all-time favorite scents is the original (non-concentrated) blue Snuggle. I should have bought a large bottle a couple of months ago at Sam's. I guess I just always assumed it would be around, but it now seems to have disappeared. My other favorite scent was the original Final Touch from the 1980's (the very dark blue liquid). I can get Final Touch here now, but the formula is not the same as the original.

I have almost vowed to not by any more detergent or fabric softener until I have significantly reduced my stash. I still have a bottle of the Downy (I think it's the wrinkle releaser version) that I need to use. I also have some Method that's pretty old, and will probably just chuck that as it's turning. I still have a couple of bottles of Suavitel that I need to use. My least favorite at the moment is a full bottle of Downy April Fresh. I'm just not a fan of that, but will need to use it before I buy anything else.

I am one of those who believes that P&G fabric softeners reduce absorbency and leave a greasy residue, hence my inclination toward Snuggle. I must admit, however, that I really, really like Downy Free. In fact, that will probably become a staple again in my house once the others are finished. It leaves clothes soft and fresh but does not leave a heavy residue like it's contemporaries. If you use it with a good quality European detergent that has a nice smell (like German Persil), then you have very fresh-smelling laundry when it's all done!

 

[nickuk]

Hi folks

Mike - yes, the vented dryer certainly leaves things fresher than the condensor in my opinion. It seems to run a lot cooler, could that be why? Comfort Pure is one of my faves too - used it for years - but I just cannot forgive Comfort for the continual splodges it leaves on black clothes, mainly my wife's maternity gear made of odd stretchy fibres. However to be fair, when the items dry the splodges disappear so maybe I should just GET OVER IT!

Dyson 2 Drums, totally agree - love Comfort scents and the sunshine one is absolutely lovely, if on the strong side for my taste. Just need to get over the issues above.....

Just for info, from what I understand Comfort Pure is the UK number seller. Surpised me, I knew that Comfort was the number one brand but I thought that blue would be the winner. Find it odd that dilute and concentrate blue have different scents. I think I read somewhere on here that it's the same with US snuggle.