Here we go again...

[awooff]

Softner/water quality

Fabric softner is made from petroleum byproducts (cheap and plentiful for manufacturers to keep your money) and does not biodegrade easily.

Another issue not pointed out is water quality plays huge with detergent usage. Excess detergent/calcium makes stiff garments.

Mechanically softned water - 2 tablespoons of detergent is plenty and negates a need for FS because less detergent is used.

Detergents work better in soft water therby keeping stinky clothes at bay w/o perfums masking bacteria/odors.

Many people "think" they have soft water naturally from public water supplies which is a clueless statement.

Harder water will need the works to mask odors.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

water quality

I've used fabric softener in various water qualities, and I've yet to have an issue. I remember when my GE would slow down during spin due to suds lock, it would disipate and speed back up when it dispensed. You could clearly smell the softener all over the house. It was a pleasant smell.

 

[DADoES]

 
Jerome, where do you find a reference, preferably from a testing laboratory, that fabric softener physically damages fabric?  The waxes and lubricants can interfere with moisture absorption which makes bath towels and dish towels and such items less effective for their intended purpose but that doesn't involve physical damage.  It also interferes with flame-retardent items such as kids' pajamas and shouldn't be used on those types of clothing.

Softener kills suds via the waxes and oils in it that counteract the surfactants in the detergent, which is also the source of scrud (waxy sludge build-up) in washers.  That's why softener shouldn't be added until the final rinse when residual detergent hopefully is minimal.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

firsthand experience

I've had firsthand experience.

 

[mrboilwash]

According to "Stiftung Warentest" most fabric softeners had a negative impact on colors and fibers compared to textiles not treated with FS.

Still does not keep me from using the stuff at least in small doses.

From my personal observation FS has a tendency to precipitate or coagulate in the rinse water which in turn might lead to a build up in the washer but only if clothes are not 100% clean.
The smallest trace amounts of residual body oils in clothes + FS = trouble!
But even then as long as you use enough detergent and hot enough water in the next wash again there shouldn`t be much of a problem.

https://www.test.de/Weichspueler-im-Test-5519844-0/

 

[ea56]

Oy Vey!

Some people are masters at beating a dead horse! For cryin’ out loud if you like liquid fabric softener, USE IT, no ones stopping you!

And if you don’t like it, then DON’T USE it!

Different strokes for different folks.

Trust our own experience and let the endless debate go. No matter what side you’re on in this argument you will NEVER change the minds of your opposition.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

Eddie

 

[mrboilwash]

No Eddie, I think AW would be a very sad and quiet place if we weren`t allowed to have the same discussions again and again.
If I find the subject of a thread not interesting enough for me then I don`t follow it, but I think there is no such thing as a dead horse if at least two members still are having fun in a thread.
It may be their party then, not mine but I`d respect it.
And I believe if we had another top vs frontloader, hot or cold water, Democrats vs Republicans or whatever thread the outcome wouldn`t be the same either as always someone new shows up or someone old changed their opinion.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

fabric softener killing everything

So if fabric softener kills everything, then why are they still selling it? If this guy had any common sense, he'd know that it's not the softener that's the problem, it's how it's being used. I use it all the time in the Speed Queens at my apartment always using heavy soil and everything is nice and softened. And yes, I use it in my towels and I still get dried off at the end of the day. I agree with Adam.
Derrickwith2rs, let's not be stupid! So get real! Fabric softener is safe when used as directed! I'm done![this post was last edited: 10/19/2023-22:03]

 

[gelaundry4ever]

snuggle blue sparkle

I'm currently using Snuggle blue sparkle which does smells luxurious, and it kills suds during final rinse. I also use the intense fresh discs. I first started using Snuggle in 2008, but Wisk was out back then.

 

[bpetersxx]

I thin mine out for the FL lasts longer

 

[gelaundry4ever]

1 oz. of HE detergent

An ounce of HE detergent is not enough for huge or dirty loads. What happens if you do use that much only to discover that stains didn't come out right the first time? I'm sorry, but using a tiny amount of soap for the toughest loads doesn't cut it with me. I find pods easier to handle. I use 3 pods for heavily soiled or super sized loads.
P.S. I'm having zero issues with softener use and the Speed Queen Commercials still look and feel brand new. And yes, I want the proper dilution.

 

[bpetersxx]

That is why i measure carefully now to see if was not dosing correctly

I rotate detergent for my washes