A fabric softener (American English) or fabric conditioner (British English) is a conditioner that is applied to laundry after it has been washed in a washing machine. A similar, more dilute preparation meant to be applied to dry fabric is known as a wrinkle releaser. However, surely one of the best features of this fabric softener this refill softener can last up to 166 washes and uses 27% less plastic (compared to the equivalent of three bottles you’d need for that many washes) thanks to its large 100% recycled bottle. This product naturally softens all fabrics and adds a sweet-smelling freshness to your clothes. Made from plant-based and mineral ingredients (with no palm oil), this fabric softener cares for your skin, clothes and the environment. Flame-resistant clothing (such as children's sleepwear or baby clothes): Fabric softener reduces the flame-resistant coating on clothes, increasing flammability.

Give your nose the holiday smells it longs for with the Method Tropical Coconut Fabric Conditioner featuring a combination of exotic pineapple, coconut, red berries, cedarwood and vanilla. Available in two other scents, you'll have everyone asking you what products you're using! Not only will your clothes and fabrics smell beautiful, but they’ll also be softer, easier to iron, have fewer wrinkles and benefit from a decreased static cling. As with all Lenor fabric conditioning products, you can also expect fabric protection against stretching and colour fading. We also like their bottle is recyclable and that their ingredients are plant-based, making it kind to skin and the environment. This brand is one of the best eco-friendly alternatives for people who like strong-smelling fabric conditioners. ECOZONE liquid fabric softeners feature a variety of scents, varying from lavender, rose, lily, and jasmine-based scents. Cost per wash: 11p | Number of washes: 37 | Litres: 1L | Brand: Ecozone | Format: Liquid | Scent: Fresh | Skin type: Sensitive | Feature: Vegan-friendly, Approved by Allergy UK What we love Comfort is the OG when it comes to fabric conditioners, having been taking care of the nation's clothes and skin for 50 years. Developed using skincare research recognised by the British Skin Foundation, the five-litre hypoallergenic Pure Comfort Fabric Conditioner is ideal for families with sensitive skin.Preservatives like methylisothiazolinone, glutaral, and artificial colors like D&C violet 2, contained in many fabric softeners, can trigger allergies and are toxic to marine life. Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), in particular, can trigger asthma and cause eye and skin irritations. Research at the UIC School of Public Health recommends that we should not use products containing quats around children 1. Eco-friendly fabric softeners are better for your clothes and the planet Despite the promise of DIY fabric softener, making it is not a common practice. This may be because of the extra work required to produce it, or perhaps people are not aware that they can make it at home. The Daily Express recently did a story where laundry experts shared easy ways to do it. Dropps is partnering with Oceana, an international ocean conservation organization. Their goal is to prevent habitat destruction, overfishing, and threats to natural marine life. You could be a partner, too, while using this natural fabric softener.

The best fabric softener to buy is the Fairy Fabric Softener. Safe for the whole family, it’s hypoallergenic and has been dermatologically tested, which means it shouldn't irritate your skin. It also keeps your clothes feeling soft and smelling fresh for days. So there you have it. Although fabric softeners will not make your clothes cleaner (that’s what laundry detergents do), they will give you softer, fresher smelling, garments Ecozone's vegan-friendly and cruelty-free fabric conditioner is the perfect eco-friendly alternative, much like the best rotary washing lines and a set of clothes pegs are to tumble dryers. It is free from synthetic dyes, petrochemicals and tallow, which is rendered animal fat. Ecozone’s brand focuses on using only natural plant extract ingredients in their products, which means you can feel good about yourself whilst keeping the fibres of your clothes feeling smooth and soft. Eduard Smulders; Wolfgang Rybinski; Eric Sung; Wilfried Rähse; Josef Steber; Frederike Wiebel; Anette Nordskog (2007). "Laundry Detergents". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. pp.86–87. doi: 10.1002/14356007.a08_315.pub2.Just bought some Fairy gel. Used with Fairy fabric conditioner, and it smells amazing. The house smells so nice now.” (Recommended by Frozenintime) Fabric softener creates a chemical reaction in your washer or dryer—the ingredients in fabric softener contain positive charges, while the fabric of clothes and linens have negative charges. When the two mix, everything neutralizes, resulting in softer fabrics with less static. Take Our Word for It Everybody knows that the best laundry detergents, whether powder, liquid or pods, lift stains and kill bacteria. However, you might not know that every time you wash your clothes in your washing machine or tumble dryer, you could damage the fabric leading to faded colours, smelly odours and itchy, rough clothes. Hence why choosing the best fabric softener can be so important. It is one of those magical cleaning products that can prevent damage and transform sweaty, tired clothes into freshly smelling, soft and pristine garments that you’ll want to wear again and again. If you or anyone in your household has allergies or sensitive skin, pay close attention to the ingredients in your fabric softener. Look for ingredients like dyes and fragrances, which can irritate the skin. Strong scents can also be irritating to some people.

Method is, without a doubt, one of the frontrunners when it comes to popular eco-friendly products. Method’s fabric softener contains a naturally derived softening agent designed to reduce static. We use Ecozone Bio Laundry Liquid with their tallow-free fabric softener.” (Suggested by Mumsnet user SimonJT) Our verdict

If you have fragrance allergies, Public Goods is a really great choice. The dryer sheets have no fragrance at all; they just smell clean and fresh. The product is tested on humans and found to be hypoallergenic.