by When washing clothes, there are two kinds of people: those who use fabric softeners and those who don’t. If you don’t use fabric softener but are thinking of starting, you may have some questions about when to use it and what it actually does.
When to add fabric softener to your wash ultimately depends on the type of washing machine you have. If there is an automatic fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine, you can add it before you start loading. If an automatic distributor is not available, fabric softener should be added during rinsing.
Is it really important to add fabric softener? If so, why is this important? What are the benefits of using fabric softener on clothing? In this article, we answer all these questions and more. Hope you can learn more about the correct way to use fabric softener.
Table of Contents
What Does a Fabric Softener Do？
Before answering the question of when you should add fabric softener, we need to first know a basic question- what is it?
Fabric softener works because it contains ingredients that help to lubricate individual clothing fibers. When the fabric softener is released as your clothes are washing, the lubricants coat the fibers and help to soften them. Because the fibers are now coated, they produce less static as they rub together in the washer and dryer.
Besides softening your clothing and leaving it smelling fresh. the main purpose of fabric softener is to strengthen the fabric of your clothing which makes your clothes easier to iron. Fabric softeners can be purchased in either liquid or powder form.
Place Where Do You Put Fabric Softener In The Washing Machine?
The location of your dispenser and how you put the fabric softener into it depends on your particular washing machine.
Front Loader
There is a drawer that the fabric softener goes into in Front loader washing machines. Make sure to pull the drawer out as far as it will go then add fabric softener to the drawer,
Pay attention not to fill the drawer past the maximum fill line. If you do, the fabric softener can either spill out of the drawer or be released too early, potentially staining your clothes. After you’ve put the fabric softener in the drawer, close it carefully. The fabric softener will be dispensed automatically during the appropriate cycle.
Top Loader
You can find the dispenser in top-loading washing machines at the top of the agitator in the middle of the drum. You can just pour the recommended amount of fabric softener into the dispenser when you use the dispenser.
When Should You Add Fabric Softener?
The proper time to add fabric softener depends on the age and type of washing machine that you have.
There are two types of washing machines. Most of today’s washing machines are equipped with a fabric softener dispenser, you don’t have to worry about when the appropriate time to add fabric softener is. All you need to do is pour the recommended amount of fabric softener into the dispenser. The washing machine knows when to release the fabric softener and will do so at the appropriate time.
But some older models don’t have a fabric softener dispenser, you will need to pay attention to what cycle the washing machine is at and add the fabric softener yourself at the appropriate time. The appropriate time for you to add it is during the rinse cycle to ensure the fabric softener is effective.
Time To Add Fabric Softener To Front Loader
As long as your front loader washing machine has an automatic fabric softener dispenser, you can add the fabric softener before you start the load. The fabric softener will be released at the right time automatically.
If your washing machine doesn’t have an automatic dispenser, you should add a fabric softener in the front loader during the rinse cycle. Just make sure you don’t pour directly onto clothes to avoid stains.
Time to Put Fabric Softener In Top Loader
You don’t have to for the rinse cycle if you have an automatic top loading washing machine with a timed-release fabric softener dispenser. Just add the softener into the dispenser plus water, and the dispenser will release the fabric softener at the right time. For those with older models, you will wait until the rinse cycle fills up with water and then add fabric softener to achieve maximum softness.
Adding a fabric softener to a top-loading washing machine is very similar to adding it to a front loader. It also depends on if you have an automatic dispenser or not. You don’t have to for the rinse cycle if you have an automatic top loading washing machine with a timed-release fabric softener dispenser. Just add the softener into the dispenser plus water, and the dispenser will release the fabric softener at the right time. If you don’t have a dispenser, you will have to pay attention to what point the washing machine is at in the cycle. As with front loaders, the start of the rinse cycle is usually the best time to add the fabric softener.
Situations You Should Not Use Fabric Softener?
Actually, not every time you should use Fabric Softener. There are certain fabrics that you should not use fabric softeners due to different unique characteristics. If you are not sure whether or not fabric softener can be used on a specific fabric, check the care label. Here are a few items that you generally shouldn’t use fabric softener with.
Athletic Wear
Many types of athletic wear are made of fabrics that have moisture-wicking abilities. Moisture-wicking will help keep you cool by moving sweat away from the body. However, fabric could hinder the fabric’s ability to properly move moisture since it adds a lubricating coat to the individual fibers that make up the cloth.
Microfiber
Same as athletic wear, microfiber fabric is designed to absorb moisture, it is a very soft fabric. Microfiber also does a great job at trapping dust due to the amount of static electricity in the fibers. When fabric softener coats the microfibers, it reduces the amount of static electricity that they produce
Towels
It is recommended that you don’t use fabric softener every time you wash towels. Instead, use it during one load and skip it during the next load. Your towels will still remain soft and fluffy.
Flame Resistant Fabric
Using fabric softeners on flame-resistant clothing can actually make them less flame resistant. Fabric softener is made of chemicals, some of which could potentially be flammable. Even if the chemicals aren’t flammable, the fabric softener will still coat the fibers, meaning that the flame-resistant properties could be ineffective.
Water Repellent Fabric
Just as fabric softener can affect a piece of clothing’s ability to absorb water, it can also affect its ability to repel water. Similar to flame-resistant fabrics, the effectiveness of water-repellent fabric can be decreased as well. It all goes back to the main purpose of fabric softener, which is to coat the individual fibers.
Conclusion
We hope this article answered your questions about when and how to use fabric softener. Remember that if you have an automatic dispenser, you can pour the fabric softener into the dispenser before the wash cycle. Otherwise, you should wait until the rinse cycle in order for the fabric softener to be effective.
