Fabric Conditioner : Classic or Dud?

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I never use it. Partly because I am tight, partly because my mum rarely used it, and partly because I was once told it is made from animal fat.

My clothes always feel OK to me, though I guess a big fat fluffier towel would be nice once in a while.

I presume it doesn't prolong the lenght of one's clothes, as my clothes last forever as long as I don't fall over or tumble dry them.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I used to be all 'pah, fabric conditioner is for sissies and is a load of hassle and extra expense for no result' but now I am a convert. It makes clothes smell nice, it makes them dry quicker and it makes them softer. You only need to use a wee bit so it's good value for money.

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

i can't tell the difference between using one and not, besides the smell. the dryer sheets came in handy in college when you would stuff some into a papertowel roll and blow your weed smoke through them. Smelled like fresh laundry, but who had a dryer in their dorm room?

― Chris V (Chris V), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I was convinced this was going to be a C-Man thread. Not sure why.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

It is good, but it stops towels from working as efficiently.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I knew that barrier of animal fat would present a problem!

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, when i go back to my mum's and use the towels there (where fabric softener is used), they don't seem to dry anywhere near as effectively as at my house (where none is used)..

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I used to have this debate with Pete and I can only assume men get some kind of masochistic pleasure out of scratching their shivering naked damp bodies to bits with unconditioned towels. I use conditioner and by some miracle I manage to dry myself pretty well (at least I haven't got mildew, maybe I am failing some man-standard dryness test).

― Emma, Friday, 9 January 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

but meg is in charge of purchasing washing products in our house, so if she was bothered i'm sure she'd get some innit.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Well perhaps not a gender divide so much a a personality one - there are those to whom 'drying effectively' means a rub down with a frozen hedgehog and there are those who prefer to stand by the radiator swaddled in fragrant pastel-coloured cotton.

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

If you buy a decent quality towel rather then some £1.99 job off the market, fluffiness sans-conditioner can be yours.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I've heard that fabric softener buggers up the drying properties of towels, so I've avoided it during my towel washes. But it does leave them a bit harsh for the first couple of towellings.

I'm reading Llosa's "Death in the Andes" on the train each morning and in Peru it seems they have a mythical beast that abducts people, attaches them to a hook above a fire and collects their fat as it drips out. This was the immediate image that came to mind when I read N.'s comment above. I bet it would leave your smalls fluffier than ever!

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Bold tablets make the washing smell lovely.

― leigh (leigh), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Instead of drying myself with a towel I cover myself in cornstarch when I get out of the shower. I'm referred to as 'Saucy' around the office.

― lawrence kansas (lawrence kansas), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I must buy some talc. I'd forgotten how much I like it.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I've heard that fabric softener buggers up the drying properties of towels

It is good, but it stops towels from working as efficiently.

DO YOU PEOPLE NOT KNOW HOW TO WORK A TOWEL WTF IS GOING ON HERE?!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I take great offence at the implication that I get my towels off the market. Maybe the hard London water is affecting the fluffiness rating?

― Emma, Friday, 9 January 2004 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The water round here is very soft and my washing is usually ok without fabric conditioner so there may be something in your theory.

― leigh (leigh), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I retract the insinuation that Emma gets her towels off the market.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Ally, you accidentally posted as "Matt DC" just there.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

oh no, did I misuse 'implication'? I will be sure to beat myself with non conditioned towels when I get home.

― Emma, Friday, 9 January 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

You are paranoid.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

it must be chemicals in the Comfort addling my brain

― Emma, Friday, 9 January 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

mmmm chemicals

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

One of the things Bart and Milhouse do when they play hooky from school is they go to the laundromat and dry a bunch of clothes WITH FABRIC SOFTENER. They giggle evilly.

I've never used the liquid stuff that you put in with the wash, I always use the dryer sheets. If it's so great I don't see why liquid detergent doesn't just include it already, like Pert Plus or something.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, you'll be after BOLD 3. The amazing three in one washing powder containing 1) Washing Powder 2) Fabric Softener and 3) er...

― Ricardo (RickyT), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:08 (twenty-two years ago)

BLUE STUFF!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

The stuff they do tampon tests with, then.

We have a combined washer dryer => dryer sheets R not plausible!

― Sarah (starry), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Anyway it doesn't work as well if you mix it in the same drawer cos the washing powder washes the conditioner out. The conditioner is added after the rinse cycle in UK machines. Maybe that's why our machines are so slow.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Just keep telling yourself that Ricky.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it might be time for a Daz doorstep challenge only with the actual machines rather than the powder. Where's Shane Ritchie when you need him?

― Ricardo (RickyT), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

He's off galavanting with that thar Kat Slater in Eastenders.

― Pete (Pete), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

It is good, but it stops towels from working as efficiently.

this is totally untrue in my experience. i only use downy, though. perhaps other, lesser fabric softeners are to blame?

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 9 January 2004 18:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Even if it hinders absorbancy and prevents fabric from breathing correctly, liquid fabric softener is the stuff of gods and I thank the inventor of the Downy Ball every day of my life. But I am a little insane about laundry because there is nothing more heavenly than clean smelling clothes.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 9 January 2004 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

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