Types
Fabric softener comes in both liquid form and dryer sheets. Choose which type works best with your lifestyle.
How They Work
Fabric softeners condition much the same way as hair conditioners. Most fabric softeners consist of water mixed with animal-, plant- or mineral-based surfactants. The surfactants lie on the fabric's surface, making it feel softer. Fabric softener dryer sheets coat clothes in a waxy substance that also makes the clothes feel softer.
Benefits
Fabric softener softens clothes and adds a fragrance to them. Fabric softeners can also reduce static cling.
Disadvantages
Fabric softeners contain potentially hazardous chemicals, but manufacturers don't disclose those chemicals on labeling, according to a researcher at the University of Washington. In one test of a fabric softener sheet, the researcher found two hazardous chemicals that the federal government regulates.
Health Problems
Fabric softener scents can trigger asthmatic attacks or breathing problems in sensitive individuals, according to "Ecologist," an environmental publication. The common fabric softener ingredient ethanol is highly flammable and can cause skin and eye irritation.
The Drip Cap
- They come in tantalizing fragrances.
- Fabric softener dryer sheets coat clothes in a waxy substance that also makes the clothes feel softer.
- Fabric softeners contain potentially hazardous chemicals, but manufacturers don't disclose those chemicals on labeling, according to a researcher at the University of Washington.