Some items should never be washed with fabric softener. In particular, these are towels. If you always add a capful of fabric conditioner during your weekly wash, experts say you could be ruining some of your clothes.
They are designed to make your clothes feel smoother, reduce static electricity, and make ironing easier. However, there are certain garments for which fabric conditioner should never be used, according to an article in the Daily Mail.
And, according to experts, this includes your towels, sports gear, and delicate wool items.
Jus Rai, senior scientific advisor at Which, explained that fabric softeners contain emulsifiers that coat the fabric with a thin layer that repels water and acts as a lubricant, making the fabric feel soft. They also contain cationic surfactants - positively charged substances that neutralize the static charge that washing can create. This is why regular use can lead to a buildup of these substances, which can negatively affect some fabrics.
While fabric softeners can make clothes feel softer and more pleasant to the touch, this effect is only temporary. This is because they do not change the fabric to make it softer; they simply apply a waxy coating that covers the fibers. This substance reduces friction between clothing and skin, making it feel smoother.
However, when clothing is repeatedly washed using fabric softeners, the waxy material can accumulate over time. When this happens, your clothes can become less soft and more uncomfortable, even stiff or crunchy, as the residue makes the fibers rigid.
The layers of coating also make it harder for detergents to penetrate deeply into the fabric during regular washing. As a result, it becomes more difficult to remove dirt and stains from clothes washed with fabric softeners.
However, the biggest issue most people face when using fabric softeners is that they reduce the effectiveness of fabrics in absorbing water and drying. The very residue that makes your clothes feel soft also clogs the fibers and prevents water from penetrating or evaporating.
This is why fabric softener should never be used on towels, as it will be much less effective for drying and not as easy to wash. The same goes for sportswear, which often uses technical fabrics specifically designed to wick sweat and moisture away from your body.
Even waterproof materials like Gore-Tex or Lycra swimsuits can lose their effectiveness when washed with fabric softener.
Similarly, natural fibers like wool can be damaged by the buildup of waxy residue and should never be washed with fabric softener.
