I don't overall prefer liquid and usually use unscented dryer sheets b/c I don't want a strong scent on my laundry but I too buy the green burst Snuggle to use on our bedding. I can't stand the overpowering scent of Downy or most other fabric softeners, but you're right, the green Snuggle is light.

Downy liquid does come in an unscented version and I have used it in the past, but I do like a little scent on sheets and blankets so just sticking with the dryer sheets for other stuff makes things simpler. I don't use anything at all on towels either.

Thanks for the tip.

I use Vernel FS for the same reason. I tried Downey unscented, but I prefer Vernel Blue Sky's light fragrance.

Restoration Hardware makes fabric softener in light clean scents - lavender, melon, cucumber. They are very pricey and I did not like the job they did, but you may have a different experience with them.

I used to cut scented Downy liquid with unscented Downy liquid to tone down the intense smell.

About half-and-half worked with the blue (original) Downy.

The more heavily scented stuff -- like the bottle with the orange cap -- needs to be cut more heavily, like 1/4 of the orange liquid and 3/4 of the unscented, for my tastes.

You could experiment.

I've also found that Final Touch has a rather heavy scent straight from the bottle but the odor is only faint once the clothes are dry.

I'm sticking with the unscented stuff for now.

Dryer sheets just don't seem to do much of anything for my laundered items, I feel like I might have just as well not used anything. Maybe I like things more "softened" than most? I wear a lot of natural materials, mainly cotton garments; cotton ramie, denims, linen, flax, and the like, and I want the fabrics of them to be "relaxed" enough to drape well on me.

I keep a supply of dryer sheets on hand for if I ever run out of liquid and don't want to make store run. But they're kind of worthless, in my opinion. But that's just me. I *have* used the unscented dryer sheets and saturated them with a scent for fresh linens that's very light, very subtle, or some fresh, natural scent (like a scent that one would actually encounter in nature) toilet water that doesn't smell like it was concocted in a laboratory.

But smell is not at all important to me in my textiles, or I mean to say, I prefer *no* smell.

I don't care for Downy fab softener at all - all of theirs irritates my allergies & sinuses and gives me the gags. If I take a whiff of some to see what it smells like I can taste it on my tongue and the roof of my mouth for a long while afterward. Also, Downey is always so expensive and never seems to go on the good sales like some of the other brands do (most of which I wouldn't even consider buying anyway, because of their nasty odors).

I was quite pleasantly surprised when I opened the green bottle of Snuggle at the grocery store & sniffed. I had a nice-sized mfr. coupon, it was on sale, and the store doubles the coupons (only up to 50 cents) so I got it rather cheaply and I love it. The closest I can compare it to is when you cut open a fresh, ripe honeydew melon that has just come in from a sunny garden.

I've read the articles and information that has been posted on the health and environmental "dangers" from the perfumes in scented softner/detergent, so for quite awhile now I've been using commercial and homemade unscented detergents, and use white vinegar in the rinse. This after years and years of liquid softener and scented products.

Over the holidays our daughter/family were here for a week and I couldn't believe how overpowering the Downy smell was on their clothes, and how I found it an objectionable smell even to the point of giving me a headache. It was too much of a "good" thing.

I use a clothes line as much as possible for drying, but when I do use the dryer, the vinegar rinse and dryer balls do a great job on softening the clothes. Only rarely will I toss in an uncented dryer sheet when I know the load has clothes that I know will produce a lot of static.

I think "soft" is a relative term. In my opinion, clothes that are rinsed in liquid fabric softener are too soft and limp and lack body and feel as though they are coated with something. But I have gotten used to clothes hung on the line, which are "stiff" in comparison, but soften up when worn. I remember my BIL asking my sister what was wrong with the clothes because they were so limp. She had changed fabric softeners.

I also think people get so accustomed to the scent - they don't really smell it like they did when they first purchased it. Much as people who work in a shop that sells scented candles don't smell them like shoppers do. But for those of us who have been avoiding perfumed products, a trip down the laundry products isle is done quickly because the scents are so over-powering.

-Grainlady

I've had the similar experiences as Grainlady. I don't use scented laundry products because my husband is allergic to fragrances in laundry products - they make him itch.

It doesn't matter whether the scent is light or pleasing, if there is any scent, it causes itching. I use distilled vinegar in the rinse, no dryer balls, and I'm perfectly happy with how soft our clothing is. IÂve become accustomed to scent-free clothing and prefer it.

I've had the same experience of being overpowered by the scent of laundry products on other people's clothing. If I acquire a previously laundered garment, it takes many washings (at least 6, sometimes 12 or more) to remove the scent.

Safety note: Liquid fabric softener increases the flammability of clothing and should never be used on the clothing of children and babies. It can negate the flame retardant properties of childrenÂs sleepwear. Apparently "fuzzy" fabrics in particular (fleece, velour, terry cloth) can become 6 to 7 times more flammable. Liquid fabric softener is usually made from highly processed beef tallow (referred to on ingredient lists as "softening agent"), so you are indeed coating the clothing fibers with a very thin layer of oil.

(IÂve tried to find the original Consumer Reports article, but no luck.)

CMC

Here is a link that might be useful: Canadian Coroner says FS may have contributed to a death

This reminds me of a day at the mall recently with my daughter. A couple walked passed us and, in unison, we both said "they smell like fabric softener". I only use liquid or sheets for dark clothes and cannot handle the perfumed. I stayed with a dear freind a while ago and everything had the smell of such. Didn't say anything to her, but I couldn't wait to go home.

Even the spray in cars when cleaned smell badly to me. Jeesh, this subject could include all kinds of products....litter box sand, air sprays, baskets of perfumed petals, burning oils, etc. They all seem to be a cover up rather than useful.

Interesting on the safety note CMC.

I avoided the dryer sheets and the liquids for years until I recently came across Downy Free & Sensitive liquid fabric softener. It has no scent that I can detect, plus it's ultra-concentrated so you only need a little bit.

Do you really need fabric softeners? what do they do? I don't mean that to sound judgemental. It is a real question. tache

Posted by tache (My Page) on Sat, Jan 13, 07 at 15:25

Do you really need fabric softeners? what do they do? I don't mean that to sound judgemental. It is a real question. tache

Yes, I do. They soften fabrics (not trying to be a smart aleck). Today's modern fabrics incorporate so much fossil fuel material that we're virtually wearing plastic. Sleeping on plastic, sitting on plastic. It's so hard to find everything one wants to wear and have as fabrics in the household without some degree of polyester in it.

I am very anti-poylester and laboratory-based fabrics but it's sure hard to avoid those altogther.

And if one uses a lot of natural-fibered textiles that contain no "plastic", then they almost always requiring meticulous ironing. If one wishes to avoid wrinkles. And above plastic fabrics I abhor wrinkles in clothing even more, whether from needing a good ironing or fitting so poorly from being of cheesy fabric and cut that the fabric pulls & strains in ugly wrinkle patterns.

Fabric softener "relaxes" fabrics that should be soft and drape to some degree. Unlike toweling, you don't need to worry much about whether an application of fabric softener will prohibit all the moisture-wicking properties that good toweling should have.

I use all-cotton bedding exclusively (and now use only whites and no patterns) and the sensation of getting into bed between fresh, all-cotton, softened sheets feels incredibly indulgent and wonderful. If you're into that sort of thing :-)

Almost all of my sheet sets that I've bought in the last decade are white sets that I acquired at estate sales, almost always in their original packaging. I really don't care for any sheeting materials that have appeared since Penney's was making their 100% cotton percale.

And the best of all is vintage muslin - now that is the ultimate! Tightly woven, soft all on its own, feels like heaven. Very hard to find any more.

I iron my pillowcases so them having fabric softener makes this an easy job.

Florabelle1

Downy's dye and scent-free product also does not give your clothes that awful waxy feeling and reduced towel absorbency. Clothes washed with the "free" version of Downy are just soft without any residue or other side effects of the scented products.

I suggest folks try the unscented Downy and, if they like a bit of scent, to add some essential oils such as orange or lavender.

I read (somewhere) that just because something says it is "unscented" does not mean that it does not have a masking scent added. It is a semantics thing in advertising. Often times a product will smell horrible unless something is added to mask the smell.

It will not be something flowery or such, just a scent added to neutralize the smell. As a previous poster said, fabric softener is made from old beef tallow. Something is added to mask the stench even in the "unscented" versions of the product.

A lot of lipsticks are also made from tallow and a masking scent is added to make them more appealing. Did you ever notice how awful an old lipstick smells?

That's true. Most "unscented" products use a masking fragrance. If you have skin or allergy problems it is important to purchase items that are "fragrance free" not "unscented". Fragrance free means the item must be free of all perfumes, including masking fragrances. I am highly sensitive to fragrances and have been using Downy Free & Sensitive since the first time I saw it on the shelf. It does state on the label that it is free of all dyes and fragrances. It does not smell pretty in the bottle, but leaves no smell of any kind on fabric. I can get it at my local Meijer at a very reasonable price. It does not cost more than any other scent of Downy. I just wish that stores would put the fragrance free items away from the scented ones. When I bring home my laundry products, I actually have to wash off the bottles to get rid of the lingering smells from the scented versions sitting next to them. It is a little scarry how much perfume they put in cleaning items. On laundry day in my neighborhood, I cannot even walk down the block because the smell from people's drier vents make my allergies flare up! I is hard to take a walk when you can't see where you are going because your eyes are swollen shut.

At home I am always the designated laundry person. Being the eldest (and teenage) daughter, I still find it to be the most enjoyable chore around the house. I've never heard of using vinegar to soften cltohes, but I dont like the smell at all so I guess it doesn't matter. During the cold months I just use the dryer, and use dryer sheets (but I rip them in half, I see no reason to use a full sheet). During the summer though, I hang everything in need of drying outside on the line. I've noticed everything becomes SO stiff and scratchy, especially towels. We looked around a little at the store today for some liquid softener, but I wanted the unscented kind because I love the way the laundry smells after being hung up outside in the fresh air. I couldn't find an unscented fabric softener, I thought maybe something more natural might be better? The scents I did test out were revolting and overwhelming. I guess what I mean is, are there any other fabric softeners anyone knows of that are liquid and unscented, at a reasonable price? I read some of these comments already, and the information about the Snuggle brand with the green cap was helpful. Thank you, also, to whoever it was that had the tips about fabric softeners making things more flammable. I didn't know that.