Becareful When Stocking Large Supplies of Fabric Softener
P&G versions at least have a finite shelf life, and will break down into a mass of thick goo. Found this out the hard way when used coupons to snap up several bottles of Downy "Free" for nearly nothing.
As one does not use FS that often, and even then only a *VERY* small amount, the first bottle turned into a gooey mess still more than 3/4 full. Thought at first it was because of "cold", but no amount of heating or diluting with boiling water would make the stuff totally dissolve. When one contacted P&G's Downy consumer line, the service person asked for the numbers printed on top of the bottle cap. From these numbers she was able to determine the date of manufacture and that the product was now "old" and no longer usable. Apparently Downy liquid products have a shelf life of about two years (more or less), then they must be chucked away.
To their credit P&G did send me a coupon for another bottle of Downy (they no longer give out coupons for *any* P&G product to replace something. You get what had given poor service, Tide for Tide, Downy for Downy, etc), so now am back to square one. If one takes another bottle of Downy, have to use it up quite quickly, otherwise.....
Strange thing, soy based fabric softeners seem not to go "off", or a least separate or break down as above. Purchased a case of Seventh Generation Lavender and Mint FS(divine fragrance, light and not very over powering at all), and still am on the first bottle, more then two years later and it is still fresh. As are the others in the case.
If one wants a really great FS, try Ecover's.
L.
And there definitely isn't one close to me!!! It would AMAZING to find something like that! HOWEVER, how well does it soften? Is it up to par with modern Downy? 
