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If you want a fabric softener that delivers, then Aussies recommend ALDI. Best rated for softness of clothes and value for money, it's the clear winner in this category.
Fabric softener is a conditioner used to soften the fabric and decrease friction when washing clothes. By applying a thin, waxy coating to your laundry, it helps to keep clothes in their original shape and limits colour fading. It also helps reduce fuzz and pilling.
Generally, fabric softeners are made of oil or silicon-based compounds that coat the fabric, making it feel softer. Some brands may use animal fat by-products.
While fabric softener softens clothes, laundry detergent does the heavy duty work, helping to clean clothes of dirt, sweat, food particles, hair and more.
If the cons of using fabric softener outweigh the positives for you, read on to find out what alternatives you could try instead.
If you decide to use fabric softener, look for brands with a good water absorbency score or else your towels might not be as effective.
If you or anyone in your household has sensitive skin, look for brands that are hypoallergenic or low-irritant to avoid irritating eczema, rashes or allergies.
If you have children, ensure that you don't use fabric softener on your kids' sleepwear to avoid reducing its fire resistance. You don't want to lose sleep worrying about flammable sleepwear. Check the labels of fabric softeners and you will probably find a warning not to use them with children's sleepwear. If possible, look for one that doesn't reduce clothes' fire-resistance.
For those who would rather go without fabric softener, here are several low-cost alternatives you could try instead:
Pros:
How to use it: Add half a cup or one cup during the rinse cycle. For a pleasant scent, you can add essential oils to the vinegar.
Note: Do not mix vinegar with bleach, ammonia products or other household chemicals. Also, you shouldn't use vinegar certain fabrics such as silk and acetate.
Pros:
How to use it: If you use liquid detergent, add a quarter to half cup of baking soda when you load your clothing into the washer. If you use powder, add the baking soda while the washing machine is rinsing your clothing.
Pros:
Cons:
How to use it: Add dryer sheets to the dryer with your wet laundry.
Pros:
How to use it: Add dryer balls directly into the dryer
Total Score | Overall rating | Value for Money | Packaging | Scent | Softness of clothes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other | 8.26 | 4.50 | 4.30 | 4.40 | 4.40 | 4.45 |
ALDI | 8.25 | 4.48 | 4.74 | 4.28 | 4.22 | 4.46 |
Earth Choice | 8.06 | 4.36 | 4.52 | 4.34 | 4.30 | 4.34 |
Huggies | 8.05 | 4.43 | 4.12 | 4.36 | 4.29 | 4.21 |
Comfort | 7.96 | 4.30 | 4.10 | 4.28 | 4.30 | 4.30 |
Fluffy | 7.88 | 4.28 | 4.06 | 4.28 | 4.26 | 4.28 |
Coles | 7.74 | 4.22 | 4.22 | 4.06 | 4.06 | 4.08 |
Woolworths | 7.71 | 4.23 | 4.20 | 4.09 | 4.27 | 3.91 |
Cuddly | 7.70 | 4.20 | 3.88 | 4.02 | 4.18 | 4.16 |
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