Our clothes are one of the most important accessories that enable us to express ourselves in everyday life. It is possible to do extra care for them, both at the stage of cleaning and softening process of our luxurious and casual clothes. There are several advantages of fabric softener products that have become very popular recently. The main features of these products can be listed as follows:
- Fabric softener products care about the fabric of your clothes and prevent them from fading or weakening.
- Fabric softener products allow your products to smell perfumes perfectly between 24 hours and 2 weeks. In this way, you can always feel immaculate and truly well-groomed.
- Fabric softener products ensure that the bad smell that occurs in your products is removed from the fabric by 100 percent.
- Fabric softener products soften the fabric and make it more comfortable.
These products, which provide all of the above effects for a long time, are generally sold in liquid form. It is possible to say that these products were sold in 5 and 10-liter packages in the first processes of production. But over time, concentrated formulations have emerged that can contain high-density content in a much lesser product. Thanks to these formulas, it has become sufficient to use fabric softeners only about the size of a bottle cap. So even 2-liter bottles can last up to two months.
We all like to be cozy and warm, but our clothing isn’t always so lucky. Fabric softeners are a great way to keep our clothes feeling fresh and clean while also making them feel extra fluffy. The best fabric softener is one that can be used on both delicate fabrics as well as regular wear-and-tear materials. This blog post will help you find the best fabric softener for your needs!
#1 Best Overall: Downy Ultra Cool Cotton Liquid Fabric Softener
Downy fabric softener has a completely liquid structure. This softener, which is produced in order to prevent all situations such as stretching, fading, and fuzz, which the fabric experiences over time, contains a special formula. This product also has this protection factor. That is, it is also important that the softener protects your laundry against the machine, as washing your clothes with a washing machine has a powerful effect. Moreover, you can use the product seamlessly with HE washing machines.
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#2 Best Odor-Eliminating: Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener
Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener is a product that contributes to the perfect cleaning of your laundry by fighting bad odors. Thanks to the Snuggle fabric softener, you will be able to use the same clothes for a lot time without wearing. Also, you will able to save money. Because the concentrated formula allows you to get more effect with much less product. You can use both standard washing machines and high efficiency (HE) washing machines while using this product. A single bottle is big enough to do the laundry 150 times. So for those who are looking for a budget-friendly product, Snuggle is a good choice. You will love the Snuggly Softness feeling.
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#3 Best Softener Ball: Downy Fabric Softener Dispenser Ball
If you are looking for products like Dispenser Ball instead of ordinary fabric softener products, Downy may be a good alternative for you. Dispensers, which are thrown directly into the washing machine with practical use, are very suitable for people with a busy business life. During the rinse cycle, these dispensers work automatically and have a positive effect on your laundry. This product is not produced for HE washing machines. If you want to get the most efficiency out of the product, you should use it in traditional top-loading (non-HE) washing machines. The moisturizing and softening feature of the product is extremely high. You do not have to fill this product in the washing machine dispenser before washing. When you use this product, the fabric softener will automatically drain at the right time during the laundry process.
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#4 Best for Sensitive Skin: Downy Nature Blends Fabric Softener
For people who sometimes have sensitive skin, fabric softeners, it may be necessary to choose a cleaner product. This product is shown as a fabric softener for sensitive skin. Did you know that this product with the Honey Lavender fragrance has a USDA-certificate? According to the certificate result, 70 percent of the product content is bio-based content. All people who have HE and non-HE washing machines can easily use this softener for washing. There is also coconut oil in the product and this feature increases the permanence of the smell of the product. You can also check out the alternative that includes Rosewater and Aloe.
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#5 Best Dryer Sheet: Bounce Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets
Bounce dryer sheets are especially suitable for sensitive skin. Because of this product, instead of using a dense liquid content, you will use sheet softener produced with simpler technology. There are 240 sheets in a package. Individuals looking for fabric softener sheets help to clean lint and hair from fabrics and contribute to cleaning your clothes. This product is also often preferred because it prevents the colors of your laundries from fading and blending together. The fact that the product makes the clothes extremely soft takes the static in the clothes and increases comfort. This product is an extremely good option for wrinkles to disappear completely. The product has a very practical use.
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#6 Best Smelling: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Fabric Softener
Liquid Fabric Softener, which is launched by Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day brand and is absolutely paraben-free, is extremely healthy. The vegan formula of the product will make people who are environmentally friendly really happy. Static accumulates on the clothes as you use them. This softener is also very useful for purifying clothes from this static. The product is definitely not tested on animals and has a Leaping Bunny Certificate that proves it. In addition, the product does not contain things like phthalates, or animal-derived ingredients. The product can be easily used in all home-based washing machines and is in liquid form.
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#7 Best Dryer Ball: Friendsheep Wool Dryer Balls
There are excellent products from Friendsheep for those who want to prefer fun and effective options such as fabric softener ball instead of classical softener options. These products, which have an extra-large size and are packaged in six, can also allow your laundry to become more comfortable by being clothed. The product is particularly suitable for babies and highly allergic, sensitive skin. Those who are looking for an environmentally friendly softener without harsh chemicals can choose this product. When you use this product, your drying time will decrease by 20-40%. At the same time, this product offers excellent solutions for color fading in the laundry. In this context, it is possible to say that the product gives excellent results for dark, white, and colored laundry.
The 100% New Zealand Wool contained in the product does not cause your clothes to wear out and does not damage your washing machine.
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#8 Best Natural: Seventh Generation Fabric Softener
We have found a great option for those who are looking for Unscented fabric softener and want to protect their fabrics with 100% clean content. This product, which you can buy from Amazon.com, is produced for sensitive skins. The product is completely vegan, meaning It does not contain animal-derived ingredients. In addition, the product successfully removes static, which accumulates over time on your clothes. You can use the product in all HE (high efficiency) machines and get good results. There are no dyes & synthetic fragrances in the product. Therefore, the product is extremely healthy for both your skin and fabrics. Those who are in search of a nontoxic fabric softener can choose this product.
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#9 Best Concentrated: Amazon – Presto Fabric Softener
Presto, a corporate brand of Amazon, creates excellent results with its fabric softener with a concentrated formula. This product, which can be used up to 250 washings, is extremely large. The biggest difference of this product from others is that it provides a full year money back guarantee. If you feel unsatisfied with the product, you have the chance to return it for a full year. Moreover, this product has a special technology that will allow you to control the static that accumulates on your clothes. At the same time, this product is extremely suitable for reducing wrinkles in the fabric. A single product is the size of a full 100 fl oz bottle (250 loads). The product also has an extremely affordable price.
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#10 Best for Babies: Attitude Baby Fabric Softener
Babies’ skin is much more sensitive than ours. Therefore, hypoallergenic fabric softener options should be used for them and they should have extra clean content. This product, released by Attitude, contains only the safest and Purest Ingredients. This product, which provides a sweet smell permanently, does not contain carcinogenic ingredients such as paraben. You can do laundry 40 times with a single bottle. The product has 4 different fragrance options. One of the options does not contain any perfumes. Therefore, those who are looking for fragrance-free fabric softener options for their baby can choose this product. The product is also ECOLOGO certified and does not have environmentally hazardous methods or ingredients.
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What Type of Fabric Softener Should I Buy?
There are many different types of fabric softener on the market. These softener types can be both liquid and solid, as well as ball structures made from different handmade fabrics. Liquid softeners, in particular, are the most popular product types on the market. Therefore, you will be able to reach the most affordable softeners among the products in liquid form.
Liquid Fabric Softener
Products in the liquid structure are divided into two. The products in the first structure are classic liquid fabric softener products. In these products, you usually need to use one or two cap softeners for each wash. Such products are sold in larger bottles and are finished in a short time. However, although products with concentrated content are sold in smaller bottles, they can still be used for a short, long time. Thanks to the extra formula in these products, the smell effect continues for a long time.
While choosing among the liquid products, you can also pay attention to the types of fragrances, the ingredients of the products or whether the product is vegan. In addition, attention can be paid to details such as how the product performs on odor retention, whether it is hypoallergenic or not.
Dryer Sheets
This kind of softener products allow the products to dry in a much shorter time after the washing machine is finished. Because the laundry in the rinsing process
Excess moisture remaining on it is absorbed by these sheets. Another feature of these fabric softeners is to prevent the fabrics having different colors from giving color to each other. In this way, even if a dark colored or light colored fabric is added between your clothes, these fabrics do not color each other. In this way, your clothes remain as they were on the first day. In addition to this, these products also provide the collection of hair grains and hairs that accumulate on the laundry. In this way, detergents have an extra cleaning function.
Dryer Balls
This type of softener products generally have an aesthetic and slightly ethnic appearance. Dryer balls products are generally organic. These organic products are also considered eco-friendly. Such products are generally very clean. Therefore, you can use these dryer balls quite comfortably for the clothes of your babies or the individuals with extra sensitive skin. For example, the dryer balls product we have described in detail above has been produced by hand labor in Nepal. Therefore, the prices of such products may be slightly higher than others.
Dryer Cloths
These products, which are used to reduce the static that accumulates on the clothes and thus enable the clothes to be much more comfortable, are launched by many brands. These products will soften the clothes and protect the texture of the clothes will save you extra. People who are especially inexperienced in using a washing machine will not be concerned with filling dispensers or adjusting sizes. Instead, it is sufficient to simply throw a sheet into the washing machine with the laundry.
FAQs About Fabric Softeners
What is a Fabric Softener?
Fabric softener is a cleaning and care product that has a lot of positive effects on clothes and other fabrics used in the home. There are many types of these products such as ecological, clean content, sensitive and baby. Since these products will be in constant contact with the laundry, it is important to choose a clean content option.
In addition, these products have the following functions:
1. You can choose softeners to eliminate the abrasive effect of washing machine and cleaning detergents on the laundry.
2. Products generally have color cast properties. Softeners can also be used to prevent discoloring of fabrics.
3. These softeners can also be used to completely remove wrinkles or hairs on fabrics.
4. In addition, these products help fabric soften. In this way, fabrics become much more soft and comfortable after washing.
5. These products with excellent fragrances ensure that the fabrics continue to smell good for a very long time.
6. Some varieties of these products also have a positive effect on the washing machine. Products that prevent the detergent from clumping will also increase the cleaning performance of the washing machine in a short time.
What Does Fabric Softener Do?
Fabric softener products generally have fabric softening properties. Such products also increase the cleaning performance of detergents thanks to a special technology in them. If you use paper form softeners instead of liquid form, you will make an extra contribution to cleaning. Because such products provide much better cleaning of dust particles and hair particles in the fabrics. There are different versions of these products. For example, some of the fabric softeners are in ball form. Products in this form are extra clean. Moreover, such products can be much more protective for sensitive skin as they do not bring chemical contents directly into fabrics.
Fabric softener products make the fabrics look brighter. Moreover, since the colors of the fabrics will not fade immediately, you will be able to continue using the same clothes for a long time. Thanks to the advanced structures of these products, the roughness or static on the fabrics can be easily balanced.
How to Use Fabric Softener?
Under the above question, we introduced you 4 different fabric softeners. Of course, fabric softener products with different forms can be used in different ways. For example, if you want to use liquid fabric softeners, you have to fill the dispensers in the washing machine. When filling this dispenser, follow the directions on fabric softeners. For example, in concentrated liquid products, you may need to use one cover of products, while in non-concentrated liquid products, you may need to use two covers.
Fabric softener products, which are generally used as sheets, will be thrown directly into the washing machine chamber with your laundry. You may need to use one or two different sheets. To determine how many sheets you should use, check the proportion of the laundry you wash and check the information behind the product you have purchased.
How to Use Fabric Softener Without Dispenser?
If you want to use fabric softener but want to be able to operate your washing machine without wasting time with parts of it like dispensers or other small details about filling it up, what you need to do is really simple. If you prefer the ones with ready dispensers instead of the liquid ones among the fabric softeners or if you prefer the ball-shaped ones or you prefer the ones in sheet form, you can operate without having to deal with the dispenser setting.
When to Add Fabric Softener?
When using fabric softener products that have a liquid structure, you should fill this product in the dispenser section of your washing machine. You can also put the fabric softener while putting the detergent right before operating the washing machine. The same is true for products with a sheet or fabric softener ball. But their place is where clothes are.
Dryer Sheets vs Fabric Softener
These two different types of products actually make the laundry soft and smell good. But there are some changes between the two. Here are some of the main differences:
1. Dryer sheets are generally more suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.
2. Dryer sheets prevent the products of dark color and light color from mixing with each other. In this way, the colors of the products do not fade and the products are provided to have a longer life.
3. Dryer sheets can usually be used for much longer.
How to Use Downy Ball?
Downy Ball products are used by people who want to protect and soften their fabrics practically. These products are not filled into a special dispenser. Instead, it will be sufficient to drop this product with the laundry into the basic chamber. The system operates automatically when your washing machine reaches the basic washing phase. The softener in the dispenser automatically mixes between the laundry.
In this way, you do not need to think about how many products you should use. Besides that, you don’t have to fill the Downy Ball product completely. You can try small, medium, or large doses depending on the size of the laundry you will wash. You can open the product by pressing a button at the top of this product, fill the conditioner you have chosen, and then close the product and put it inside the machine in the same way.
CONCLUSION
It is extremely important to be able to use fabric softener products correctly and to choose the right fabric softener product for you. When comparing the products of different brands, it is important to consider the right factors. For example, some products negatively affect the quality of the fabric. You should not choose products that contain harsh chemicals that cause the fabric to wear out in a short time. For this, you should be careful not to contain paraben or other harsh chemicals in the softeners.
In addition to all these, you should prefer products with concentrated formula in order to use fabric softener products economically. If you do not want to prefer liquid products, you can choose fabric softener sheet products or softener balls.
We have told you 10 different products in detail above. You can buy one or more of these fabric softeners and increase the comfort rate of your laundry.
Disclaimer: Last update on 2023-04-01 / Affiliate links / Images / Prices from Amazon Product Advertising API
I use the Downy ultra liquid with the balls you add to the washer because my washer doesn’t have a dispenser. The balls only cost around $2 at Walmart and work great!
I like Downy Fabric Softener Dispenser Ball best