If you are wondering whether to use fabric softener in your laundry, the answer is yes – unless you have performance fabrics, like athletic shorts or sports tops with wicking properties, or other fabrics that are infused with SPF coatings. You can’t use it on cloth diapers either, as it can impact the wicking ability too, if you know what I mean.
Typically, you want to stay away from using them on such clothing because the oils in fabric softeners can deteriorate the wicking or sun protection performance of the fabric. However, there are two new products on the market that you can use to provide fabulous fragrance, and won’t harm your performance-based items.
As a marathon runner, I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to finally see these products. As a Mom with tons of stinky laundry (my husband still insists on wearing cotton t-shirts to work out in, I have my son’s soiled cloth diapers and my dogs’ pee pads too), I weep with gratitude.
The first is by Downy called UnStopables. It is an in-wash scent booster that you can use on active wear. They are little microbeads that you put directly in the wash and you can control how much you want or how little to control the fragrance power. Here is a video I took when it launched a few months ago. It does contain dyes so I use it only for our adult items.
The second is by Purex. It’s called Purex Crystals. They are 92% natural and freshens your clothes for weeks and not days. Same as Downy UnStopables, they go in the wash, you can control the amount and since it is free of oils, you can safely be used on active wear. I feel comfortable using it on my son’s clothes and sheets from time to time.
But both products deliver and are worry-free. It is also easy to remember to add to the wash, compared to dryer sheets, which I always seem to forget. So while I wish I could make your laundry piles disappear (though there are some cool apps for that, at least it smells nice as you spend time folding it all. And since your laundry stays smelling nicer, longer – well, maybe you can miss a load or two. They won’t notice!
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Disclosure: I received a free Jockey sports bra and a container of Purex Crystals as part of the Purex Insiders Blogger Campaign. However, the thoughts and opinion are my own.
