Do You Really Need to Use Fabric Softener?

As one of the leading producers of eco-friendly laundry detergents, Charlie’s Soap always has our customers’ best interests in mind. One of the most pervasive myths in the laundry industry today is that fabric softener is necessary for getting clothes clean and wearable. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

Laundry Myth: You Should Always Use Fabric Softener 

Whether it be something you learned when growing up or perhaps a habit you picked up in college, many people feel it is necessary to use fabric softener with every laundry load. 

Fabric softeners reportedly accomplish the following jobs:

• Reduce static cling in the dryer 
• Keep fabrics soft
• Lessens wrinkles in clothing 
• Makes clothes smell better 

Obviously, it sounds like liquid fabric softener plays an important role in keeping your laundry clean and fresh. However, there’s more to the story when it comes to the need to use fabric softener.  

How Most Laundry Detergents Work  

You might not realize it, but most laundry detergents are not formulated to fully rinse out of fabrics. In fact, most detergents leave a residue on clothing that just gives the appearance of cleanliness. While your clothes might look and smell clean, they are in fact just coated with laundry detergent residue that may cause skin irritation.

Chemicals and additives that the laundry products include: 

• Optical brighteners
• Bleach
• Preservatives
• Conditioners
• Essential oils
• Softening agents
• Fresh scent perfumes 

The more times you wash your clothing, the more residue build-up you get on the fabrics. This notion is only exacerbated with moisture-wicking athletic wear, workout clothes, and microfibers with high absorbency rates. 

The Truth Behind How Fabric Softener Works  

So what does fabric softener do? Fabric softener plays two primary roles to give the appearance of making your clothes cleaner. If you wash your clothes with traditional laundry detergents, they will leave chemical residues on your clothing and washer. Similarly, overly hard water leaves limescale on your clothing during the wash cycle, making the fabric feel both stiff and crusty. 

Whether it be residues from detergents or hard water, fabric softener mimics softness by making individual fibers in fabrics stand up. In turn, as individual fibers stand up, the garment is fluffed up and appears to become “softer.” However, your clothes and linens aren’t really getting very clean in these processes, they are just getting coated with more chemicals. 

What About Dryer Sheets?

From cotton to polyester, all modern fabrics are soft in their normal state. That being said, if your detergent washes out entirely and your water isn’t overly hard, your clothes should become naturally soft when they are adequately cleaned. 

Alternatives to Fabric Softener   

Luckily, there are several alternatives that can be utilized instead of liquid softeners. By switching your laundry methods, you will soon realize that you don‘t need fabric softener in the first place.

Charlie’s Soap Natural Laundry Detergent 

Because Charlie’s Soap Natural Laundry Detergent washes 100% out of your clothing, it never leaves any residue behind. With the natural cleaning power of Charlie’s Soap, surfactants and natural minerals work together to loosen tough stains. After our detergent is washed from the garment entirely in the rinse cycle, garments are free to be naturally soft with every load of laundry.

Charlie’s Soap Laundry Booster for Hard Water 

Charlie’s Soap Laundry Booster for Hard Water will give you all the help you need if hard water is leaving your clothes scratchy. This product boosts your laundry detergent’s cleaning ability by controlling hard water and removing the build-up it leaves behind on your clothes and in your washing machine.

Wool Dryer Balls 

Dryer balls also offer a great alternative to fabric softeners. Rather than using chemicals, drying balls use a simple bouncing motion in the dryer to soften clothes, reduce static electricity, and lessen drying time. Even better, because they are reusable, dryer balls are more affordable and better for the environment than fabric softeners. 

Talk to Charlie’s Soap Today! 

As one of the top natural detergent companies for people with sensitive skin, Charlie’s Soap feels compelled to debunk common laundry myths. Please contact us if you have additional questions about the natural cleaning power of our products.