Fabric Conditioners -- Regular Or Concentrate ??

[hoover3060]

Hi people

Just wanted to see opinions on this subject.

I am just going to say that for use in old front loaders the concentrate seems the right choice because the conditioner department is small in the older machines that you can get the required amount of concentrate in it.The only problem though is because comfort concentrate is very thick sometimes it dosent all go up the "Thingy" (If you understand what I mean..lol).You cant seem to get enough regular in it though. For modern machines the conditioner department is much bigger so regular is ok because the required amount fits in fine.

Mark

 

[hoover3060]

Wanted to post the thread as I have never seen any comments re concentrate/regular and wanted to know what people thought.

Mark

 

[hoover3060]

Sorry meant to say im meaning in front loaders with regards to the conditioner department.

Ive made a bit of a mess with this thread...sorry guys

Mark

 

[hoover3060]

Oh what am I like.....Ive realised I did put front loaders...ahhhhhh...Im so sorry......I shall go and sit in the corner of the class and will only write again when It makes sense and I can read and take in what ive written before I post it!!!

Mark

 

[hoover3060]

Just been informed (Thanks Jon) that the word I couldnt remember was Siphon and it should be put in the place of "Thingy".

Mark

 

[launderess]

Actually prefer neither as both gunk up the fabric softener dispenser, siphon and all. On rare occasions I do use the stuff, prefer either Doux French lavender, or Ecover. Both of which I put into one of the main compartments as the washer is filling for the final rinse, to avoid having to clean up the rinse dispenser later.

If one has ever peeped into the FS dispenser of laundromat washers, it is easy to see how the stuff gunks up the compartment and can lead to nasty mould growth (all that fat/tallow/oil/wax makes great mould food).

Downy had a great FS awhile back called "Downy Advanced" which was purely surfactants. Would make an interesting foam stream down the window of the washer during spins, but sadly it was discontiuned. Scent was rather strong for my tastes, but it did a good job.

L.

 

[lavamat_jon]

I have to say I'm not really fussed, though I have noticed that Comfort Concentrates really are a bugger to rinse down the dispenser. My mum uses Comfort dilutes mainly because she can buy them in bulk from the local cash and carry, however personally I've found my current favourite to be Ecover softener, it is quite concentrated however it is quite liquid so rinses down the dispenser well very much like Lenor concentrates.

I have found that concentrates seem to lose their smell more quickly than dilute softeners.

Jon

 

[pekedogs]

I have been experimenting lately with fabric softener in my Frigidaire FL. It seems that if I dilute the softener (Suavitel floral) with an equal amount of water, I get the same results and the dispenser drawer siphons clean.

 

[gadgetgary]

Buy the CHEEP store-brand stuff!!!

The store brand works in the FL to keep down the suds and does not 'gum' up the fabric softener dispenser. I will never use anything like Downy again(nor do I use those dreadful 'dryer' sheets!)

 

[aquarius1984]

im not to fussed either way but on a price and ecological view i prefer concentrate. Comfort conc does 22 loads to a bottle whereas 2l of regular does 18 for 20p more. Also i feel better knowing more washes are being got by consumers with less transportation ecological impact. With that i mean we are carting less stuff around in trucks that do more. However sometimes i am prone to add a double dosage which i cant do with regular unless i happen to pass the machine while its filling up on last rinse! Also im quite particular about a clean machine and weekly the drawer and cavity get cleaned out. Drawer goes in the dishwasher for ultimate clean. However i wont do this when i get my miele. Something i hopefully aim to see about when i move out this week.

 

[toggleswitch]

I had occasion this weekend to clean a WP top-loader (for an elderly person that can no longer do it herself) that had had excessive use of conventional(waxy) fabric softeners. There was mold in the dispenser, the agitator, the tub-ring and the clothes-guard (a la GE style~ a mesh at top of inner tub to keep th eclothign from flying out during spin.

I must reiterate what Launderess and GadgetGary have posted, waxy fsofteners= bad.

THE SAME RESUT CAN BE HAD BY USING HALF TO 3/4 of YOUR USUAL DETERGENT CHARGE (amount), and by ELIMINATING THE OFFENDING SOFTENER(S).Apparently, modern synthetic dtergents are TOO effective and remove the natural oils of natural fibers (cotton, wool, etc.) The waxy stuff is an attempt to re-add the oils. Ditto Shampoo and conditioner. Less of one eliminates the need for the other, IMHO.

The supermarket-brand stuff (as I have found it) comes in pink and yellow/lemon flavors. Watery, no wax, inexpensive, supresses suds. Seems not to build-up. It shoudl be noted that carpet machine suds-supressors are silicone-based, which as Launderess has mentioned in other posts is an oil.

A good rule-of-thumb is to quit using all softeners for a month or two every half-year to allow your clothes and machine to become really clean and get rid of build-up.

Please be reminded that washer fabric softeners are a major no-no if you have a septic tank, rather than a sewer connection.

I will get our of the pulpit now. *GRIN*

 

[lavamat_jon]

I've actually found that the dilute comforts seem to have more softening power than the concentrated versions; in that I only have to use half a cap of dilute Comfort (which is half the recommended dose) whereas with concentrate Comforts I have to use the full cap otherwise it just doesn't soften as well; so, especially when buying in bulk 5l bottles, at least for us the dilute Comforts work out to be more cost effective for us.

Jon

 

[aquarius1984]

some good points here. I used to buy regular 5l comforts from work at cost price £3.90 off our local chemical guy but as always i just filled the machine up to max. Softener is something i never experiment dosage with except for using extra and i wish i could use supermarket brands but in the uk they seem to act like a placebo. Most mc bride supermarket types just leave that weak "just washed" scent but nothing discernable. I dont think they soften to comfort lenor standards on any loads ive done for mum. However i use softener as i like to smell clean and im not too worried about softness. But seeing as im depleting mums persil and comfort stocks before i move out il try the half regular dose. Life would be a misery without softener IMO lol Nick

 

[cehalstead]

cheap fabric softener

Last fall, I found six one gallons jugs of Purex Sta-Puf. Of course, I bought all of it. I only use softener in the cold months when I have cotton/polyester sweatshirts to wash, and use minimal amounts even then. Never use it in cotton.....yech!! But I must say that most of my clothes are line dried (either outside or on basement lines), so the static is not a problem. The Sta-Puf has a "vintage" smell, but I can't quite identify it. I am thinking NuSoft, but not sure if my nose remembers correctly.

 

[pulsatron]

Fabric softener aarrgghh!!!!!

To tell you the truth I can't stand the stuff I think it is a waste of time and money and I really just do not believe it does any good anyway,I never noticed any real difference when we used to use it and when we stopped.
Cheers folks.
Steve.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

The need for fabric softner depends on your water.

All blue fabric softner should be watered down when using the washer's softner dispenser.

As with detergent, the manufacturer advises you to use way too much.

I use a Maytag A606 top loader. For most loads, I use about 1/4 capfull of store-brand 'blue' fabric softner, and top the dispenser off with warm water. If I run out and don't use it, the clothes feel drier and scratchy.

Towels get none. If they begin to feel scratchy, they get about 1/8 capful, but just once in a while.

Ken

 

[westytoploader]

Regular fabric softener (blue Downy, original scent) for me! I also am using green tea scented Mexican Snuggle, as well as yellow Morning Sun Suavitel. Due to the moderately hard water, I absolutely have to use liquid fabric softener in every load I wash, otherwise the clothes feel "dry", and seem more prone to wrinkling as well. I made the mistake of forgetting to add it in a few loads I washed last weekend, and when I pulled the load out of the dryer it was extremely scratchy. Luckily it wasn't a big load and I will go through it in no time.

--Austin

 

[aquarius1984]

6 litres of comfort for £3!

calling all uk comfort fans! My local asda (guessing all stores will have) is selling 3l bottle comfort all basic varietys on offer 2 for £3 thats cheaper than any cash and carry i have ever seen. Nick

 

[hoover3060]

Hey Aquarius/Nick

I was in asda last night and of course had to spend a while in the detergent isle. I couldnt believe the bargain when I saw the offer and I got all excited!..lol But alas I wasent allowed to purchase it. Im having to make do with...wait for it.....Aldis!!!!! And some co op own make stuff. BRING BACK MY COMFORT PLEASE!!!!!!

Mark

 

[lavamat_jon]

Nick-

That's the same offer mum bought some Comfort on a couple months ago - I think it's one of those "long running" offers Asda have, as I remember also buying 2 3l bottles of Comfort under the same offer at the beginning of this year! Unfortunately we don't go to Asda that much (too crowded staff are rude etc) even though it's our local supermarket a 5 minute walk away; we tend to go to Tesco and while they have a nice range of foods and that they don't seem too interested on the detergent side and hardly ever have stuff on offer - although we did buy a box of those 30 wash Ariel tablets they had a couple months ago.

Jon

 

[aquarius1984]

i know, shame really tesco dont spoil on the powder sides and i do sympathise with you all. However yes we do have an excellent food range. Something i made sure of when i gave up catering. I Dont want to be selling nasty additive fat salt sugar laden rubbish like norrisons tend to do with their pie shop and frozen ready meal image. It seems harsh but one thing that i feel so strongly about is that supermarkets generally dont care about child nutrition and it really does make me feel sad children these days hardly eat vegetables which i love all varietys of and was brought up with at least 3 veg on my plate, they only eat junk and whilst i really do undertand ready meals are vital to a busy parent some ingredients are unneccessary. although i do eat some junky foods (i like a decent pizza and good beef burger) occasionally as a rare treat when im in the mood. Tesco are breaking the ice into real food for everybody at real prices which i love.

 

[aquarius1984]

back to comfort

hoover 3060 and Jon yes its a great offer and i intend on stocking up on 20 quids worth of the blue. Its the first time asda here have had that offer. I usually pop in for a nosey weekly on my way home from work and never seen that. My great nan used to use ancosoft in her rainwave which she really loved. The blue one. As for coop my mum never shopped there but years ago when my nan got the rainwave the first softener she used in her 1st automatic was Coop luxury Rose softener. It smelt like a W. . . . .s hand bag! I remember that first wash with my nans 1st auto. She did a load of light colour nylon trousers tabards and blouses on non colour fast cottons no5 with Ariel automatic and the coop softener. 2 weeks later and until she passed away she used surf lemon and blue ancosoft lol Nick

 

[toggleswitch]

TRANSLATION for our non-Brit friends.

Quid => bucks. Sustitute for Pounds Sterling as

"20 bucks worth" is a substitute for "20 dollars worth".

When visiting London some years back, I thought I had mastered the money there, when this expression cameup! I was stumped! The new 10p coin was being issued at the time and two versions of those was a killer to me too! LOL.

 

[sudsmaster]

Um, I don't think cotton fabric has any natural oils. Softener and sizing is added to the fabric in the manufacturing process, and this is lost when the product is laundered. And of course various synthetics don't have any natural oils.

Wool of course has natural oils, but it should not be washed with a harsh detergent anyway.

Regarding concentrated vs. dilute fabric softeners. You don't need as much with a front loader because the rinse volume is about 1/4 of that of a traditional top loader. The compartment is sized for regular (dilute) fabric softener. So I will take an empty fabric softener bottle, and dilute some new concentrate 1:1 into that bottle, and use that to fill the front loader compartment. This results in minimal gunking. This also allows me to buy larger (cheaper) sizes of concentrate, put that in storage, and then use a smaller, easier to manage bottle in the laundry room.

 

[seamusuk]

At the moment...

Im on 99p green Pear and Grinko Comfort 750ml concentrate diluted into a 2l bottle for easier measuring and less gunking!.
Works out cheaper than regular as well

Seamus