Fabric softener
A rinse-cycle laundry product that coats fibres to make fabric feel softer, reduce static and add fragrance.
What it means
Fabric softener deposits a thin lubricating layer on the fibres. That layer softens the hand-feel and cuts static cling, but it also reduces absorbency and can build up over time, which is why it is unsuitable for some fabrics.
What to do
Add softener to the rinse compartment, not directly onto clothes, and skip it on towels, microfibre, activewear and anything water-repellent, where the coating ruins performance. Wool and many synthetics do better with a dedicated product or none at all.
How to use this term
Use this process term when a guide tells you to pretreat, soak, brighten, rinse or adapt a stain method.
- Read fabric softener with the other symbols on the same care label; the strictest symbol wins.
- Match the instruction to the garment's most fragile part, including trims, lining, prints and finishes.
- If the label, fabric behaviour and stain method disagree, test a hidden area or choose the lower-risk route.
Common mistake
Do not escalate a process before checking the care label and testing a hidden area first.
For the broader method, use the Stain-removal guides and then return to this term when the label changes the safe option.
Related terms
Sources
- ISO 3758:2012 Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols — International Organization for Standardization