Fabric softener – throw it away

Some use it because it smells good, others because it makes clothes soft. The significance of its use is more debated.

According to SIFO Consumer Research Institute Scientific Assistant Lisbeth Løbak Berg, it is not necessary to use it.

Fabric softener, or fabric softener as it’s also called, lubricates the fibers in your clothes, the same way softener cares for your hair. According to manufacturers, this should protect clothing from wear and tear and make it better retain its color and shape. There are still some clothes that should not be rinsed with fabric softener.

Same effect

Fabric softeners consist of surfactants, which are imitations of soap, certain chemicals, and fragrances. Surfactants are the synthetic version of detergent.

– Removing suds is useful. However, you can get the same effect by using vinegar or baking soda, which are also environmentally friendly. People like clothes for smelling good, being softer, and then having a function for the person wearing it, but it’s not a necessity.

DinSide has previously written about using vinegar in the washing machine, but one thing should be taken care of.

– Acids can damage the rubber seals of the washing machine, so vinegar should be used in diluted form, not all the time, says Sifo chief researcher Kirsti Laitala. previously said.

Berg receives support from test engineer Rich Handel at the US Consumer Report.

– Never use fabric softener, it’s a waste of money, he says in a video that went viral Tik Tok.

“Not only does it irritate sensitive skin, it can leave a layer of residue on your clothes and reduce the absorbency of towels,” Handel continues.

Fabric softener or fabric softener

Surfactants rinse the soap out of the sink itself.

According to Berg, it’s the priority chemicals in an agent that determine whether a fabric softener is focused on softening, deodorizing, or cleaning soap from the sink.

– The function of fabric softener is to rinse off soap, but not everyone emphasizes this when they buy it. Others buy it just because the clothes smell good afterwards, Berg says.

Berg thinks this is something you don’t need to use. She asserts that the surfactants in fabric softener are often of the less biodegradable variety and therefore also harmful to nature.

She also adds that if you use fabric softener on your towels, they will get softer, while reducing their absorbency.

chemical conditioner

Fabric softener had a very specific function when it was invented, Berg explains.

– It settles a little on the canvas, it is called a coating. The fact that it stays on the material makes it less stable. Synthetic textiles became more prevalent after World War II. That’s when we as a society started using chemical soaps.

According to Berg, it was not body-hugging garments, which were then made of synthetic material when fabric softener was invented, but garments such as jackets and pants.

– Today, more than 60 percent of clothing is synthetic and many of them are tight-fitting. After all, it is a substance in itself that is not very good at preventing unpleasant odors. When you use fabric softener on them, the smell will also intensify.

Never wool

There are also some clothes that you should not use. More specifically training clothes and fleece.

Wool is a protein fiber that is sensitive to changing pH values, especially at basic values ​​that are felt the most. If you are going to use something other than fabric softener. Can you use conditioner!

Warning