Although a fabric softener will undoubtedly provide you with smooth, soft and unwrinkled clothes, they do have certain considerable drawbacks. So, while we all want our towels and clothes to feel smooth and smell good, do we really want to take the risk that invariably comes attached with it? This article will help you make a more informed decision by providing you with facts, as well as, clearing misconceptions regarding fabric softeners.
They do not lessen the life of your clothes!
Contrary to popular belief, the use of fabric softeners does not significantly reduce the life of your clothes and nor does it wear them down. Of course there are exceptions to this and certain brands of fabric softeners do contain excessive chemicals which could potentially harm the fabric of your clothes.
They should not be used on microfiber towels!
Fabric towels are known to cause considerable damage to the fragile microfibers on your towel and thus ruin it. In the worst possible scenario, they may reduce your super soft and absorbent towels to plain old rags! Hence fabric softeners are clearly not cut out for microfiber towels as their delicacy can be damaged severely by the chemicals in fabric softeners.
Not to be used on sportswear, spandex or nylon garments!
Fabric softeners often reduce the ability of certain garments, in particular swim suits, athletic gear and undergarments, to manage moisture effectively and breathe. The waxy softening agents present in the fabric softeners prevent such materials from keeping you cool and dry and cause general wear and tear, giving the clothing a worn out look.
They can cause body aches!
Although there is no concrete evidence of this, fabric softeners do appear to cause exacerbate. An increasing number of people are putting down their body aches to fabric softeners even though this is not scientifically proven, yet. Such is the nature of fabric softeners that they end up clogging pores and thus may cause aches. However this usually occurs where individuals are highly sensitive and are prone to allergies.
Fabric softeners may stain your clothes!
In most cases this may not be true. Carelessness however can lead to ugly stains all over your clothes. This generally occurs when fabric softeners are poured directly on your clothes. They can also cause discoloration especially when it is used on certain fabrics, fabric blends or oily spots. A stain caused by fabric softeners is usually a dull shade of grey and is greasy but can be easily removed.
Fresher and softer
Some fabric softeners are said to be more sensitive in the sense that they contain less chemicals and are therefore more environmentally friendly. They are also less likely to cause irritations and at the same time provide the freshness and softness that you are looking for!
In a nutshell, fabric softeners do have distinct disadvantages but these can be overruled by your desire for soft and clean clothes and sheets. It is possible to enjoy the feeling of your clothes looking and smelling better and minimize the chance of allergies by using softeners that contain less harmful chemicals. Ultimately the decision of whether to use them or not will boil down to whether you want to take that comparatively small risk in return for smooth clothes.