UK Comfort fabric softener going thick and gluggy...

[mattywashboy]

Hi guys,

I don't know if this has been discussed before. I've just arrived in the UK for a vacation. Looking through my grandmas cupboard I found she had two bottles of comfort pure fabric softener, both of which had practically solidified in the bottle. My gran has been in hospital for a few weeks so I don't know if that's why but I found it amazing how it had 'turned' so quickly. My uncle said he had only bought those bottles for her last month and she uses it in every wash. Her fabric softener dispenser was well and truly clogged with hardened fabric softener and powder where she's 'missed wi' powder'. Anyone else noticed this with comfort fabric softener?

P.s I'm in Sheffield for this weekend all on my own so if anyone wants to catch up then drops an email

Matt x

 

[launderess]

P&G Fabrics Softners Have A Very Definite Shelf Life

Have stopped stockpiling when on sale for that reason. Once had bottles of Downy turn into a syrupy thick mess and contacted P&G about the matter. After giving the customer service woman the code numbers from the bottle she was able to tell when it was made. Was then advised that all P&G fabric softeners have a "good by date" afterwards they can start to go off. Still they were nice about things and sent me coupons for free bottles to replace the two that went bad.

You *might* try diluting product in a container of hot water and mixing well before adding to the wash, but I'd sooner just chuck the stuff in the bin. Try contacting the customer service number listed on bottle, maybe they will arrange some sort of compensation.

 

[aegokocarat]

Launderess, Comfort is a Unileaver brand. I have noticed that it is a little thick but not by much, my mother continually uses comfort pure and the conditioner compartment in the miele is a bit gludged up but in my machines when Ive used comfort Ive never had this problem which is odd.
Tom

 

[liberatordeluxe]

I wonder if the same thing would happen with liquid detergents?

 

[superelectronic]

Some friends of mine don't use conditioner, but when they moved into their previous house about 3 years ago they seemingly inherited a bottle of Comfort Blue Skies. The bottle has a puncture in it and the product is as solid as candle wax. Quite why they took it with them to their new house is a mystery...I'd warrant it's unusable!

 

[liberatordeluxe]

I have tried that Blue Skies long before I knew conditioners contained animal fate, bloody stuff stinks and gave me a migraine. Should be used in warfare lol

 

[kenmoreguy89]

I never seen that with the Coccolino the  italian  US "Snuggle" which is  the  british Comfort (which BTW I think it's the exact formula sold through all the  "Europe", different than the american "Snuggle", infact both Comfort and Coccolino comes in the  same bottle same variations etc....)
But I know it can happen after awhile for about every softener.....I never experienced that personally but seen other's bottles and  also softener compartment in machine drawers clogged for this reasons, this last case used to happen mostly when people would fill the dispenser ready for the next load days later...so it leads me to think it's because it is left in open air..
For this also:
I believe this thickening is cause of bottles left opened or caps not fully tight...but just unsure about this, it's  nothing unusual anyway, look like softening action is not affected for it also...what you could do is add some water and shake it to make it liquid again, I think that might work...
Anyway it's a common thing to happen, maybe storage temperatures have a thing to do also...

 

[mattywashboy]

I saw the same thing when travelling around the US. Using laundromats I stocked up on some single use packets of downy fabric softener. When I opened them they were discoloured and had a bad odour, not disgusting but a very 'off' odour. Lenor doesn't seem to suffer this fate as I have one in my cupboard in Australia and it has been around for a year at least, I only use it once in a while. That's still as new

Matt x

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Indeed what I found about vending size downy was totally different...they were way more liquid than the one in the bottle, even though had a great softening action and scent..... looks like the ones you found were gone bad.
Anyway...if others had this experience with the vending size ones, what I'd guess  right now is that vending packets are more inclined to temperature changes...or perhaps is simply a matter of  "aging"...but I found several bottles of softeners forgot down in the Granma's garage, probably  dating mid 90s, they were about perfect...
Yes actually this thing brought up my curiosity of the why now as we analyze it better...it would be nice to hear scientific/chemical reasons....

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Good by date...

Yes...that ìs true also, some softners do have an indication "best used by"....but it does not seem common for everyone and for what I know, Lenor never mentioned it even though being a P&G softener....
I could see some  bottles left in shops shelves for long without suffering this though, especially  small/fmiliar grocery stores where people would go just to buy some cuts of prosciutto, gastronomy or a pack of milk in hurry... these bottles would  rest in the shelves for very long ( I could see and purchase bottles with Older logos with product  still perfect, old more than one year) this because they would be purchased in these places  just in case of "imminent need" otherwise people would serve themselves at bigger distribuition that of course has competitive prices than the small grocery,  small grocery which is surely better about quality in gastronomy, cold meats and this  kind of  genuine stuff, but that cannot compete with bigger distribuition prices about cleaning products...

 

[launderess]

Have An Older "April Fresh" Scent Bottle Of Downy

While the scent has gone off slightly the liquid still looks and pours as it did from day one, IMHO.

Many fabric softeners will go off and turn into a curdled mess. Once purchased a bottle of Ecover that did the same thing, and yes was told by their customer service about sell by dates and so forth.

 

[launderess]

Launderess, Comfort is a Unileaver brand

OIC. Never mind then, and carry on!

 

[liamy1]

shelf life

found this whilst searching the net

Saving Money Mommy's Tuesday Tip- Shelf Life for Laundry Products

Saving Money Mommy

savingmoneymommy.blogspot.co.uk

 

[rolls_rapide]

I had a bottle of Comfort once which went very gloopy in the bottle. It appeared to be because the kitchen sink cupboard was very cold over the winter months. I am sure that one of the bottles of fabric conditioner said to protect it from frost, possible Ecover.

I have also experienced P&G's Fairy Liquid, and Unilever's Domestos bleach becoming virtual gels in winter.

 

[liamy1]

Expiry date on softener

Haha, look, what I have found on a brand new bottle of Comfort purchased today. I think Unilever have been watching this thread