To Soften, or Not To Soften . . .

[frigilux]

I use a small amount of liquid fabric softener in every load. I use Mexican Downy on bedding. The scent is strong and lasts for days on end. Upside: Your bed smells freshly laundered every night. Downside: I can only find it in small bottles, and it isn't concentrated, so the recommended dosage is 2 capfuls. My recyclers must think I drink the stuff!

All other loads are treated to Quixtar's (nee: Amway) SA8 Original Scent fabric softener. It's ultra-concentrated, doesn't kill absorbency in bath towels, and it doesn't have a strong post-wash scent. Like all other SA8 laundry products, it's spendy, but excellent.

 

[maytagbear]

YES, YES, YES

I use fabric softener, and in every load except mattress pads, throw rugs, and kitchen towels/potholders.

Sometimes when I have doubts, I will use it after I poke the second rinse button, instead of in the first rinse, but not often.

I use Downy April Fresh, in the refill carton. A 40 load refill lasts about two months.

Fabric softener liquid makes me happy. Dryer sheets make me very sad. Especially when used in coin-laundry dryers.

It was a great day when I got my first washer with a fabric softener dispenser, my A208. I clean the dispenser of my LAT9806 whenever I think about it, which isn't often.

I tried Suavitel blue, but it was just too loudly scented. I wound up using it just on bathtowels, and not things I wore outside. Good softener, and well-priced, but just too loud.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[pturo]

I like fabric softner on T shirts and jeans and socks. I used to like it on towels,but per the post above, it does make them feel a little slimy. I actually like towels from the line, they look horrible, but they are extremely absorbent and exfollient. Fluffy puffy looks nice on the towel rack, but it feels better to have a clean "scratch" towel off the line.

 

[frigilux]

Philip---I've also come to enjoy the exfoliating/exhilerating feel of a line-dried bath towel. This was the first summer I've ever line-dried anything, and I was shocked at how stiff and scratchy towels could get. Now that they're going into the dryer again, I actually miss that sensation. But they do look better on the shelf, and I don't have to explain to guests "There's nothing wrong with the towels, they're just line-dried!"

 

[peterh770]

Snuggle Exhilarations is the way to go!

Wild Orchid & Vanilla Kiss -- hot pink bottle -- a little too loud for me.

Melon & Lotusflower Lift -- green bottle -- nice and subtle, very fresh.

White Lavendar & Sandalwood Twist -- purple bottle -- THE BEST! Super subtle.

Peach Blossom & Sunshine Swirl -- new, yet to be tried.

 

[spoodles]

I use softener in every wash except for towels. I love the stuff and usually tip way more than is needed into the drawer.

I went to New York a couple of weeks ago and brought back a couple of bottles of Snuggle Exhilarations - the pink one - I love it!!

 

[pturo]

New York State has perhaps the best and cleanest water in the whole country, so deleting fabric softner is an option. There are places in the country who cannot live without fabric softners, and those on wells and lakes even here need them. I just love having the option. We get our water from Skanateles Lake, which is the second cleanest lake in the world and is delivered to homes untreated. Manahattan, NY has geat water from the tap too, you can drink it, which seems ironic.