It’s something most people use with every wash, but according to fashion experts, fabric softener can actually damage your clothes and ‘does more harm than good’.
While it’s almost impossible to do the laundry without some kind of washing powder, one expert is warning households to ditch fabric softener because it coats fabric in chemicals and does damage to your favourite clothes.
Roza Francken from fashion house Aurélien warns that fabric softeners should only be used “occasionally” but “very rarely in general”.
She said: “If you overuse fabric softener, your clothes might smell nice at first, but give it a day or two in the drawer, and they’ll start to smell sour. That’s because the product coats the fabric, trapping odours and preventing it from breathing properly.
“After a while, you’ll notice your clothes feel floppy, heavy or even greasy. That’s the build-up talking. Fabric softener doesn’t rinse out easily, and when you use it too often, it forms a film on your clothing fibres.”
This film, she explains, doesn’t just affect how the clothes feel, but it also makes them get dirtier faster and potentially makes them more flammable too.
She added: “It’s ironic, really. You’re trying to keep your laundry fresh, but by overdoing it with softener, you’re actually encouraging more grime to cling to the fibres. You’ll start seeing strange patches, dullness, or even notice that your clothes never feel truly clean anymore.
“Fabric softeners contain ingredients that reduce static electricity, but they can also make some materials more flammable.
“That’s why I would never recommend using it for anything outside of its intended use, like spraying your curtains or upholstery just to make them smell nice. People do that, but it’s a really bad idea.”
She also warns against using it on workout gear, adding: “Athletic clothes are usually made from technical fabrics that wick away sweat. Fabric softener ruins that ability, so instead of helping your skin breathe, it traps moisture and odours.”
Fortunately, if you’ve been overusing fabric softener, Roza says all is not lost. “Yes, your clothes can recover,” she reassures.
“It might take a few washes, but they’ll eventually feel and smell fresher again once the residue is gone.”
To help things along, she recommends a simple remedy: “Run your washing machine on a few cycles without any softener, and add a scoop of soda crystals.
“They work wonders at breaking down that build-up and deodorising your clothes naturally.”
