this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2025
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[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

All ot does is make the fabric soft? Are yall wearing potatoes sacks?

[–] CaptPretentious@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Having softener does not soften fabric. It's basically just liquid perfume for your clothes. It also shortens the lifespan of your clothes by destroying them.

[–] sovereign@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 1 day ago (2 children)

It does in fact soften fabric. I use it for blankets to keep them in that nice smooth state. Yes it increases ware but the enjoyment of the blankets is enhanced dramatically imo.

[–] ericatty@infosec.pub 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I have a bottle of lavender fabric softener I've had for probably 7 years. I use it on blankets and sometimes sheets because I like the smell of this one. Everything else I use is unscented.

I wash the blankets like once or twice a year unless a cat barfs on it. Then it gets washed again.

A couple times a year I have static problems. I have a box of dryer sheets that are also at least 7 years old. I reuse them too for multiple loads. Don't use them for months, get zapped multiple times, throw in dryer sheet, run on low/no heat for 10 minutes, less static electrocution and can fold laundry with less cursing.

Also if you want to wear something straight out of the dryer that is so full of static electricity it's sticking to you and turning you into a wizard, zapping everything you touch... a light mist of water helps. Not a drenching. It should dry fast. Also works on hair.

[–] sovereign@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 17 hours ago

Im a big fan of wool dryer balls. They seem to help a lot with static and making sure that large single items actually get dry.

[–] PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Dramatically lol ok buddy Do you sleep in burlap sacks?

[–] sovereign@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 17 hours ago

I have issues falling asleep and if something is distracting me I will not fall asleep that night if it hits me wrong.

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Lol but detergent can have scent.

Didn't know it wares clothes. Best avoid them. Value it adds seems counter intuitive unless it removes thrift store smell.

[–] VeryVito@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

If detergent doesn’t remove your “thrift store smell,” you may want to change thrift stores.

[–] PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee 2 points 1 day ago

We got hand me down clothes from some friends, and they used febreeze on everything. I aired it outside for a month and washed it 5 times with citrus degreaser - the scent never came out.

Nasty stuff

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 1 points 1 day ago

Im shopping at thrift stores....I don't have much options. I hate the smell it never fully goes anyway. Decaying fabric i think.

[–] CaptPretentious@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

It depends on the fabric. Like, it makes towels less absorbent, most sports wear hates it (tags generally say not to use fabric softener), it leaves a residue on stuff, blah blah blah.

For any smells, use vinegar. Using vinegar is just a good idea. Do a wash with regular soap, and then an extra rinse cycle (or full cycle, based on need) where it's just vinegar. You don't need a lot. Vinegar will help clear out smells, it'll help break down the buildup of soap and softener that's probably in the machine (which can add to the fun smells, and can mold).

My towels are so thirsty, I could throw one in the Atlantic ocean and it would just be a puddle afterwards, it's fantastic. Just a regular wash and then an extra rinse like I stated, and no dryer sheets in the drier, I use some wool balls I got. The main thing to not get shocked, is to not over dry in the drier.

[–] TrojanRoomCoffeePot@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I've never really used it, and TBH I'm not at all sure how it shortens the lifespan of the clothes. Was I mistaken in thinking it was just some kind of smelly lilac-scented laundry accessory that makes heavy cotton more cushy? I don't understand what it could do to damage the fabric.

[–] lud@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

At least some materials like those in some training clothes don't like softeners enough that the washing tag explicitly says that you shouldn't use it.

Interesting that, I've never owned many synthetics but will keep this in mind.