Fabric softeners (also known as fabric conditioners – there’s no difference!) such as Comfort Pure can be an important addition to almost every wash cycle, bringing back a freshness to your clothes that you never even knew existed! If you’re unsure about how to use fabric softener, or don’t know why you should be using fabric conditioner, here’s everything you need to know:
What is Fabric Conditioner and What Does Fabric Conditioner Do?
Fabric conditioner does exactly what the name suggests – it conditions and softens your clothing, making it less rough and scratchy against the skin. Plus you’ll often find fabric conditioner is fragranced to leave your clothes smelling fresh. Apart from these well-known properties, fabric conditioner also has other benefits:
It can help care for and protect your clothes. Over time clothing can experience a lot of wear and tear, and so a fabric conditioner will lightly condition each of the fibres, helping to smooth each one and keep your item looking as good as new for longer. This smoothing process also helps to reduce static clinginess on your clothing.
It’s a great time-saver! If you’ve normally got a pile of ironing as high as the ceiling, fabric conditioner is your new best friend. Clothes that have been washed with fabric conditioner generally come out of the washing machine less creased as the smoothness of the fibres allows for creases to drop more easily, making ironing a whole lot quicker for you!
When to Use Fabric Conditioner
Fabric conditioner is recommended for anyone who suffers with sensitive skin. If you or your family are prone to mild skin reactions, to weather-induced skin sensitivities, or have existing skin conditions like eczema that can be aggravated by rough, scratchy materials – fabric conditioners can reduce the risk of irritation, leaving you with happy, healthy skin.
A combination of Persil Non-Bio and Comfort Pure can be a secret weapon against sensitive skin, and both products are even approved by the British Skin Foundation.
Can Fabric Conditioner Be Used on All Laundry?
A question many people ask is should you use fabric softener on towels? Fabric conditioner is completely safe to use on all types of fabric, but there are some items that may perform their duties more effectively if washed without. As fabric conditioners leave a silky film on the surface of clothing, which gives it that smooth feel, they can affect a material’s ability to absorb.
Any item that is intended to absorb – such as hand and bath towels, tea towels, and microfiber cloths that are designed to absorb water, and quick-dry sports wear which absorbs sweat, should be treated with care. To keep towels soft and fluffy, yet still absorbent – wash alternately with and without fabric conditioner.
Always follow the directions on the care label of your towels or other fabric items, and always read the label on the fabric conditioner, too.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use Fabric Conditioner
Using fabric conditioner is so quick and easy, and in most cases you can simply add it to your washing machine and leave the machine to do all the hard work for you. Here’s how:
Check the care labels on your items to ensure they are machine-washable, if they’re hand wash only, jump to Step 5.
Measure out your fabric conditioner into a detergent dosing cup. When using Comfort Pure, aim for 35 ml of softener per 4-5 kg load, or 55 ml per 6-7 kg load, and always follow the instructions on the label.
Pop the softener into the detergent drawer before beginning your wash cycle, at the same time as you add your detergent. Look for a small compartment which may have a star or flower icon – this indicates where you should put the softener. The location may vary in different machines, so consult your manufacturer’s manual. Fabric softener always needs to be diluted, so never add this directly to the drum.
The washing machine will take over from here, releasing the fabric softener during the final rinse cycle. If you’re using an older washing machine or a machine at a laundrette, you may need to add the fabric softener manually just before the rinse cycle.
Fabric softener can also be used if you’re hand washing your clothes. Use 18 ml of Comfort Pure per 10 litre bucket. Add the softener to the clean rinsing bucket, swirl with your hand to mix, and rinse your clothing in the solution for soft, smooth results.
Always wash your hands after handling fabric softener to reduce the risk of irritation. While rare, those with very sensitive skin may notice a mild reaction if undiluted fabric conditioner is allowed to sit on the skin for long periods.
For more tips on dosing and laundry detergents, check out the Washing Tips & Tricks section.