Another laundry Q for the All F&C users.

Peri

That was the majority big brand fave so that's what I have started with. I feel good about the ingredients, but was disappointed this weekend by the results with my bath towels. They feel much rougher than they do with Woolite. I guess maybe Woolite has some fabric softener ingredients or something.

I don't want to use a fabric softener though...my DH doesn't have any real allergies like mine but is pretty sensitive, plus with my issues we'd be better off steering clear.

Any suggestions? I was surprised with this since the All was so popular. Is no one else getting this roughness? I used hot water and 2 rinse cycles.

10 years ago

Off Topic

8 replies

Latest reply was from Marilyn

Nebraskim

Veteran

We use the Free and Clear with no softeners and I guess we are just used to the feeling of the towels. I hate towels that have been "softened" as I think the fabric softener severely reduces the towels' absorption and they feel sort of slimey to me. It could be that the mineral content of your water makes the items rough. Maybe try an additive like Calgon to the washer?

10 years ago

Meredith

Veteran

I use the all or tide F&C/uncented. I've never used dryer sheets, so can't speak to the softness with or without. I do have friends who use dryer balls from Norwex and are happy with them as a replacement for fabric softeners. Other companies make them as well.

https://m.bedbathandbeyond.com.....oCn-Pw_wcB

10 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I use dryer sheets, but have left them out accidentally and although the towels were not as soft, I still found them reasonably soft. Ditto if I air dry them. But my towels are mostly the thicker, plush type, not the thinner, loopier type (does that make any sense?).

10 years ago

Anonymous

I add some baking soda to the machine whenever I wash towels. It helps soften them without adding fragrance, and it's cheap. I hate dryer sheets!

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Do you machine dry? And if so, do you have an automatic-sensor setting? I have found line drying and machine drying to bone dry makes for stiff rough fabric.

10 years ago

Anonymous

I never use fabric softener on my towels or sheets. I use the hottest water for the wash, but be careful not to over dry or they will feel stiffer. Did you try to run a cycle without any detergent at all, just to determine if they towels still have any leftover detergent residue?

10 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

My husband wants no kind of scented laundry products and even claims that "unscented" is a scent. But what can you do. We also use the All product. I read a while back that fabric softener sheets are not actually fabric softener. They are for static cling and providing some scent, did you want it. I switched back to liquid softener in the machine. I use the Downy unscented and put a small amount in the dispenser and dilute that with a cap of water, in the interest of it spreading out better. Haven't had any complaints from him. Some people like vinegar in the rinse instead. Possibly to aid in getting soap out. Don't know how it works as a softener since hubby loathes the smell of vinegar.

10 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle for all my laundry. I never use liquid fabric softener. Vinegar softens, reduces lint, controls static, removes soap residue (which results in softness), sets colour and keeps colours and whites bright, removes odours....the list goes on.

Liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets should never be used with towels. It leaves a residue which reduces absorbancy.

10 years ago

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