The ultimate purpose of fabric softeners is to make your clothes feel softer. They contain a mix of chemicals that cover your clothes with some lubricant. Softer clothes make for comfier clothes. However, fabric softeners aren’t perfect.
There are trade-offs involved in making your clothes comfier. Some of these trade-offs may just make you tolerate your non-softened clothes.
The Pros
The main benefit of fabric softeners is they make your clothes softer and, consequently, comfier. They do this by making your clothes less abrasive and coarse. No one wants to wear a shirt that constantly itches around their torso and arms. If your wardrobe consists of rough clothes that you need to wear for long durations, a fabric softener will help.
Additionally, there are other cleaning benefits to using fabric softeners. Firstly, they’ll make your clothes smell great. Fabric softeners tend to be scented, so when you spread them over your clothes, the scent sticks.
Secondly, they make your clothes look new for longer periods of time. Constantly wearing the same shirt and tracks may wear them down. Fabric softeners can delay that wear-and-tear.
Lastly, they help improve the condition of some materials. Wool, for example, is preserved well with softener.
The Cons
The main disadvantage, or rather harm, with using fabric softeners is its effects on your and the environment’s health. Since softeners are a mix of chemicals, some of these are harmless, others are pretty harmful.
Take methylisothiazolinone for example. It’s a preservative that’s linked to rashes and skin reactions.
Other than this, softeners also contain Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (or Quats). These are used to make your clothes softer, but are also linked to causing lung irritation and asthma attacks.
Moreover, the chemical mixes that comprise fabric softeners are air pollutants and can damage the environment.
Lastly, the above-mentioned benefit of scented clothes comes with a catch. The fragrances used in fabric softeners are also dangerous, and can cause reproductive harm or trigger allergies.
The Result
While everyone loves comfortable clothing, the toxic effects of fabric softeners to you and the environment aren’t worth it. You’ll be harming yourself and others if you continue using them. If comfortable clothing is what you want, there are alternatives to fabric softeners. You can find clothes that you consider comfortable. Alternatively, you can send your clothes out to an experienced launderer.
If the latter option appeals to you, get in touch with NY Organic Dry Cleaners. We’re stationed in Queens, NY, and we offer a bevy of laundry and dry-cleaning services. You can rest easy knowing that all our services are eco-friendly and pose no risk to you or the environment.
Contact us now and we’ll preserve, if not downright improve, the comfort of your clothes in a safe manner!
