this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2025
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[–] nitefox@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 days ago (4 children)

This thread is so wild I swear. A bottle of softener costs 2 bucks and last you for so many washes (up to 100?). A bar of soap cost one buck, then you have to factor in the time to prepare the softener, the other ingredients and whatnot.

Where is the saving?

[–] Matt3999@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The saving is due to not using a useless softener - the point of this this thread

[–] nitefox@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (5 children)

Why? It smells good. If you can’t afford a 2 buck softener at lease every 3 months (assuming a wash once a week) I’d say you have got much bigger problems

[–] bramkaandorp@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

Sure, but the point is that fabric softener is not necessary.

At the very least in the case of towels (any type), it is actually counter productive, because it makes the towels less absorbent.

On top of that, it means clothes absorb less sweat, which, at first glance, seems like a good thing, until you realise it means your sweat will now stick to your skin longer, because it can't evaporate from your shirt.

[–] JacksonLamb@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I find it hard to believe that a $2 "fabric softener" smells all that good? Pretty sure it smells like cheap chemical fragrances.

[–] PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee 2 points 2 days ago

Mmmm febreeze!

[–] lud@lemm.ee 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

What do you want your clothes to smell? What's the point?

IMO fabric softener is utterly pointless but my main problem with it is that it can degrade some clothes faster.

https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/laundry/why-fabric-softener-is-bad-for-your-laundry-a5931009251/

https://fabrictopics.com/does-fabric-softener-damage-clothes/

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Oh it smells good? Idc, if I cared enough to perfume my clothes I'd do it at point of use.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

It's not the softener itself. It's the softener plus a dozen other little luxuries that all add up.

[–] expr@programming.dev 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

https://www.target.com/p/downy-april-fresh-liquid-fabric-conditioner-140-fl-oz/-/A-82823990

Here's a typical fabric softener at Target. $13 before tax. Still not a lot, but it's not nearly as cheap as $2.

[–] nitefox@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago

Then the problem is with murica not with softener

[–] Droggelbecher@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Sometimes I'll be at the laundry detergent shelf at the shop and see a really low price, only to get disappointed by it being softener and not detergent. Shit be cheap, compared to detergent. Wouldn't even use softener if it were free though, so can't comment on how long it lasts.

[–] nitefox@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah same here

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 days ago

A bottle of softener costs 2 bucks and last you for so many washes (up to 100?).

What kind of fabric softener is that cheap for that much? My experience is that it's way more expensive than that.