Best Fabric Softeners in 2019

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Best fabric softeners 2019

Fabric softeners work by depositing chemicals onto fabrics to make them feel softer and reduce static cling. The very first fabric softeners were made in the early 1900s and consisted of water, soap and oil.

From early formulations to modern ones, advances in organic chemistry have supercharged the potency of new formulations. Today's best products soften fabrics to a greater degree, with additional benefits. 

Keep reading to gain full insight into the best fabric softeners on the market: 

Today, these are (by our estimation) the most effective fabric softener products on the market:

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Unfortunately, choosing the right fabric softener and conditioner for your clothes can be tricky. Because of that, this guide probes deeper to truly break down the best fabric softeners for all situations in your home. This covers all garments, bed sheets, curtains, and towels.

Benefits gained by using fabric softeners

Instead of only using detergent, liquid fabric softeners are added to a washing machine during a rinse cycle. Alternatively, fabric softener sheets can be added to the dryer. Both methods yield many benefits, as summarized below:

  • Softness of the fabric: rinsing your clothes with a fabric softener will give them a greater level of softness that will feel extremely comfortable against the skin
  • Fragrance: in recent years, many fabric softener companies have expanded beyond the ‘freshly washed’ scent to capture a greater variety of fragrance experiences. Popular fabric softener fragrances in recent times include jasmine, lemongrass, vanilla and sweet blossoms.
  • Reduce friction between fibers: by reducing friction during wash or drying cycles, fabric softeners keep fibers from tangling. This reduces wear and tear, keeping your clothes looking like new for much longer.
  • Odor and bacteria control: consider towels, which are used daily and often left to dry in humid conditions. Fabric softeners will help prevent the spread of bacteria on towels while keeping them smelling fresh for longer.
  • Anti-wrinkle and anti-static: fabric softeners prevent static cling and other annoyances like wrinkles or creases in freshly pressed clothing.
  • Makes color lasts: fabric softeners also maintain color, keeping clothes looking new and bright.
  • Fast drying: fabric softeners reduce the amount of water in a load laundry after spinning. This makes drying much faster.

Differences between liquid and dryer sheet fabric softeners

Some fabric softeners and conditioners come in liquid form. However, many people prefer using dryer sheets to keep their clothes and other garments fresh. Below are the essential differences between the two:

  • Liquid fabric softener and conditioner: this type of fabric softener gets added to the washing machine during the rinse cycle. It tends to be more expensive for load than dryer sheets, but more effective at softening clothes and eliminating odors. Be careful not to spill directly on light colored clothes, because direct application can cause stains.
  • Dryer sheet fabric softener and conditioner: this type of fabric softener works in the dryer. Simply by simply adding the sheet into the dryer with a single load of laundry, your clothes will come out static-free and smelling fresh. Dryer sheets work best with towels and microfibers, since liquid liquid fabric softeners will soften too much, making them less absorbent.

Best Fabric Softener Reviews

Here are the best fabrics softeners available in 2019:

  1. Snuggle Plus Super Fresh Fabric Softener with Odor Eliminating Technology, 95 Ounce
  2. Ultra Downy April Fresh Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner 103 Fl oz
  3. Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softener, 240 Count
  4. Ultra Downy Infusions Honey Flower Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner 41 FL Oz
  5. Ultra Downy Infusions Lavender Serenity Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner 103 FL Oz

Below we review each product in detail:

Ultra Downy Infusions Lavender Serenity Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner 103 FL Oz

#5th Rated
Downy Ultra Infusions Liquid Fabric Conditioner, Lavender Serenity Scent

Ultra Downy Infusions Lavender Serenity Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner contains a highly concentrated mixture of floral and fruity scents that not only give your clothes that sweet freshness. It contains renewing scent pearls that can reactivate your clothes’ scent with one touch. It can reduce wrinkles on clothes as well as protect them from stretching, fading, and creasing.

Key features and specifications

  • Product dimensions: 10.9 x 7.2 x 5.2 inches
  • Content: 103 Fl. oz
  • With touch-activated scent
  • Floral fragrance with a hint of fruit
  • Contains renewing scent pearls

Pros

  • Provides 3x the softness compared to detergent alone
  • Protects fabrics from stretching, fading, and creasing
  • Reduces wrinkles on fabrics and removes static cling
  • Gives your clothes freshness that will last up to 6 weeks

Cons

  • Consistency is more viscous than competing brands
  • The floral and fruity aroma might not be suitable for everyone

Why You Should Buy This Product?
Enjoy the calmness that the Ultra Downy Infusions Lavender Serenity Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner inspires! It contains scent-renewing pearl essences that reactivate the mixture of floral and fruity scents on your clothes by simply rubbing on them. It also has an anti-wrinkle technology that keeps your clothes from creasing, fading and stretching. It also removes lint, static clings, and pet hair from the fabric.

Ultra Downy Infusions Honey Flower Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner 41 FL Oz

#4th Rated
Ultra Downy Infusions Honey Flower Liquid Fabric Conditioner

Ultra Downy Infusions Honey Flower Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner contains a highly concentrated mixture of fragrance that balances the sweetness of a honey and a floral bouquet. It contains renewing scent pearls that can reactivate its scent with one touch. It can reduce wrinkles on clothes as well as protects your clothes from stretching, fading, and getting fuzzy.

Key features and specifications

  • Product dimensions: 10.9 x 5.3 x 3.1 inches
  • Content: 41 Fl. oz
  • With touch-activated scent
  • Sweet and floral fragrance
  • With renewing scent pearls

Pros

  • Provides 3x softness
  • Protects fabrics from stretching, fading, and frizzing
  • Reduces wrinkles and static cling on fabrics
  • Gives your clothes 6-weeks of freshness
  • Cons

  • More expensive than regular Downy Fabric Softener
  • Consistency is very viscous
  • The floral scent may not be agreeable to everyone
  • Why You Should Buy This Product?
    Revitalize your clothes with the amazing effects of Ultra Downy Infusions Honey Flower Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner! It comes with the anti-wrinkle technology that protects your clothes from fading, stretching, and frizzing. Enjoy the freshness of your clothes for the whole day with its scent renewing pearl essences that can reactivate the freshness by simply rubbing your clothes!

    Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softener, 240 Count

    #3rd Rated
    Bounce Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets, Outdoor Fresh, 240 pack

    Bounce Outdoor Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softener is best for your clothes on every occasion. Just toss one sheet of Bounce Outdoor Dryer Sheet to a regular load of laundry in your dryer to experience its effectiveness in freshening up your clothes, as well as removing lint, hair, and static cling.

    Key features and specifications

  • Product dimensions: 7.1 x 4.9 x 4.3 inches
  • Item weight: 9.4 ounces (1.6 lbs shipping weight)
  • Made with biodegradable materials; the box is made from recycled paper as well
  • Pros

  • Effectively removes static cling, lint, and pet hair
  • Softens fabric noticeably
  • Contains biodegradable softeners that work best at ensuring the longevity of your clothes
  • Cons

  • Direct application on a child's skin may be harmful
  • Reduces flame resistance. Not recommended for use on children’s clothing that is labeled flame resistant
  • Works more effectively as a scent booster than as a softener 
  • Why You Should Buy This Product?
    Give your clothes one fresh toss in the dryer with Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheet and Fabric Softener! Get rid of clings, lint, and hair. Experience a long-lasting freshness day in and day out. Give your clothes the wrinkle-free freshness with Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheet and Fabric Softener!

    Ultra Downy April Fresh Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner 103 Fl oz

    #2nd Rated
    Downy Ultra Liquid Fabric Conditioner, April Fresh Scent

    Ultra Downy April Fresh Liquid Fabric Softener and Conditioner is safe for machine wash. Its ingredients include biodegradable fabric softening agents that are safe for you and your family’s clothes. It has a more concentrated content compared to the old Downy April Fresh, giving you 3x more long-lasting freshness.

    Key features and specifications

  • Contents: 103 Fl. oz
  • Shipping weight: 29.4 pounds
  • Has 3 times the softening vs detergent alone
  • Eliminates static cling and helps fabrics to last longer
  • Contains renewing scent pearls, which renews freshness over time
  • Pros

  • Keeps clothes soft and fresh with less static cling
  • Protects clothes against color fade and stretching
  • Buying online is much cheaper than buying at a supermarket
  • Cons

  • People with sensitive skin might suffer allergic reactions to this product
  • The fragrance may not suit all tastes
  • Many counterfeit products are sold, especially in local shops
  • Why You Should Buy This Product?
    Ultra Downy April Fresh Fabric Conditioner is what your clothes need to become softer and fresher! It is more concentrated than the ordinary non-concentrated Downy April Fresh, making your clothes 3x more fresh and soft. Give yourself and your family the new improved Downy April Fresh Fabric Conditioner for a fresher feeling all day!

    Snuggle Plus Super Fresh Fabric Softener with Odor Eliminating Technology, 95 oz

    #1st Rated
    Snuggle Plus Super Fresh Liquid Fabric Softener with Odor Eliminating Technology

    Don’t just wash your clothes with soap. Rinse them with Snuggle Plus Super Fresh Fabric Softener to eliminate tough odor and to make your clothes fresh, soft and smooth. This 95-ounce bottle can freshen up clothes up to a maximum of 90 loads. The content is not too viscous or too light in consistency, which makes this fabric softener just the right agent to give your clothes the fresh scent and softness they deserve.

    Key features and specifications

  • Product dimensions: 8.2 x 4.4 x 11 inches
  • Shipping weight: 6.2 lbs
  • One bottle is good for 90 loads of laundry
  • Contains a mild fresh floral scent
  • Pros

  • Effectively softens and freshens clothes
  • Effectively removes smoke and pet odors
  • The fresh scenet lasts for a long time
  • Cons

  • Some people may be allergic to this product. Do a test load first to test your family's skin sensitivity to this product
  • It's a hot-selling product that is hard to find in many stores
  • Why You Should Buy This Product?
    Snuggle Plus Super Fresh Fabric Softener gives you the freshness that you need. Because of its odor-eliminating technology, you are assured that your clothes won’t smell stinky after just one wash. Aside from that, a 95-ounce bottle can be used for a maximum of 90 loads of laundry. It has the consistency that doesn’t stain or damage fabrics. Having this in your laundry can make your clothes smelling fresh all the time!

    Fabric softener shopping advice

    To make sure you end up with the perfect fabric softener for your needs, this article looks at other uses for fabric softeners, plus some home remedies that you can use when you run out of the good stuff.

    Other uses for fabric softeners

    But did you know that fabric softeners and conditioners aren’t just for clothes? There are other practical uses for them as well. The following are some household chores that can be done easily by using fabric softeners and conditioners. Check this out!

    • Eliminating static clings on carpets – By diluting 1 cup of fabric softener with 2.5 liters of water, you can create a carpet spray that you can use to clean your carpet. Spray just enough on the carpet and leave it overnight to get the best results.
    • Cleaning glass panes – Remove dust from window panels, shower doors, glass tables, and other hard surfaces with a mixture of fabric softener and water. You can expect a shiny and fresh finish!
    • Remove hairspray residue from surfaces – Use a fabric softener to remove hairspray on walls, counter-tops, vanity and other areas where residues were left behind. The same product can be used to polish the surface with a dry cloth.
    • Remove grime fast – Instead of scrubbing your pans and casseroles, simply soak them with water mixed with fabric conditioner to wipe residue easily. Wash with soap to totally remove stains and food odor.
    • Clean paint brushes – Soak your paintbrushes on a can full of the water mixed with fabric softener to remove paint residue. After soaking, rinse them with water and store the brushes to dry as usual.
    • Remove water stains – Use an undiluted liquid fabric softener to remove water stains. Soak the stains with the pure content for 10 minutes and simply wipe away the stain with a damp cloth.
    • Remove old wallpaper – One amazing use of fabric softeners is to remove old wallpaper. By simply spraying a mixture of fabric softener and water on the wallpaper and allowing it to soak, brushing off wallpaper will be easier and faster.

    Making a fabric softener and conditioner as one of your household essentials is very cost effective as this helps you save hundreds of bucks from buying totally different cleaning agents. It not only keeps your clothes soft and fresh-smelling, it will also help you keep your house clean.

    Fabric softener alternatives

    • Homemade solutions: mix six parts vinegar with one part baking soda. Add a half cup during your laundry rinse cycle to completely eliminate static electricity generation
    • Hang dry fabrics: hang drying fabrics means they don't rub together and therefore do not generate static electricity
    • Add vinegar to your dryer: spray a clean cloth with vinegar and throw it in the dryer to keep static to a minimum
    • Wash synthetic separately: synthetics like nylon and polyester generate static cling when mixed with with natural plant-based fabrics like cotton and linen. Thus you can wash synthetic fabrics separately and hang-dry instead of putting them in the dryer with other clothes

    Benefits of using commercial fabric softeners

    Unlike home remedies, the 5 best anti static sprays reviewed in this guide are all premium grade sprays that treat static electricity with precision and reliability. For example, all reviewed sprays when applied to carpet will offer protection from static buildup for months per application. In addition, static buildup attracts dirt and dust - by keeping your carpets free of static, you also prevent rapid soiling.

    Thus, while home remedies work well in a pinch, only the best anti static spray products can ensure precise protection for long periods of time.

    Conclusion: buy now!

    Now you know about the best fabric softeners on the market, and also the prices. To protect your clothes and keep them smelling fresh, any one of these products will serve you well. 

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