Fabric softener is part of most people’s laundry day routine. Whether you use liquid fabric softener in the washer or dryer sheets in the dryer, chances are you reach for a fabric conditioning product to use with your laundry detergent to reduce static, increase fluffiness, and impart an extra layer of freshness to clothing and household linens like sheets and blankets.
So what, exactly, does fabric softener do to your garments, and is it safe to use with everything? Expert Sammy Wang at Procter & Gamble—maker of Downy liquid fabric softener and Bounce dryer sheets—says there are some fabrics you should never wash with fabric softener. Here's everything you need to know before your next laundry day.
Why Use Fabric Softener?
“The key ingredient in fabric softener is cationic conditioner,” Wang says. “Cationic essentially means positively charged. This is important because fabric surfaces tend to be negatively charged, which is one of the reasons fabrics develop static cling and wrinkles.” Fabric softener counteracts those negative charges, neutralizing them.
Wang compares fabric softener to conditioner used on hair. “Fabric conditioner softens, smooths, and strengthens fabric fibers, especially those that are rough or prone to damage like cotton, linen, or other natural fibers. Think of it like a hair conditioner, but for fabrics,” Wang says.
Like conditioner for your hair, fabric softener helps to protect against wear and tear from exposure to the agitation, spinning, and heat of the laundry process. “Clothes can spin as fast as 50 miles per hour in your washing machine and be thrashed 3,000 times in every wash," she says. “Dryers can get hot enough to cook ribs! By smoothing fibers, fabric conditioner reduces the friction among fibers, preventing stretching, fading, fuzzing, and pilling.”
What Is Safe to Wash With Fabric Softener?
Fabric softener is ideal for use on fabrics that can benefit from extra softness, fluffiness, or freshness, such as pajamas and loungewear, blankets, or bedding. “It’s also beneficial for clothes that need extra protection during the wash and wear process, like fabrics that are prone to fuzzing, fading, or stretching out. For best results, always dose appropriately and be sure to follow your garment’s care label,” Wong says.
Fabrics and garments that benefit most from fabric softeners include:
- Cotton
- Cotton blends
- Linen
- Hemp
- Sweaters
- Denim
- Sweatshirts and sweatpants
- Blankets
- Bed linens like sheets and comforters
- Dark clothes prone to fading
- Business casual items that are prone to wrinkling, such as khakis, polos, and button-down shirts and blouses
Things You Should Never Wash With Fabric Softener
Some fabrics should not be washed with fabric softener to avoid compromising their feel or function. “There are some scenarios when fabric softener should not be used, like on children’s sleepwear or on garments made with fluffy fabrics such as fleece, velour, and chenille,” Wong says. "These precautions are typically printed on the bottle, so always read the product packaging for instructions."
It is also important to consult the fabric care instructions on the garment’s label for the manufacturer’s guidelines on the use of laundry products, including fabric softener.
In addition to fleece, velour, and chenille, it is best to avoid using fabric softener on towels and other items made from terry cloth. Fabric softener should also never be used on workout gear, including fabrics that stretch and sweat-wicking materials. The fabric softener leaves a coating on fibers that can build up over time, trapping odor-causing bacteria and diminishing the moisture-wicking properties of certain fabrics.
Fabrics and garments you should not wash with fabric softeners include:
- Sleepwear
- Fleece
- Velour
- Chenille
- Towels and terry cloth
- Sweat-wicking fabrics
- Workout-wear
Fortunately, the misuse of fabric softener does not cause permanent damage. “If you accidentally use fabric softener on a garment you didn’t intend to, don’t fret—a follow-up wash cycle with a quality detergent will remove the softener,” Wong says.
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