am i wasting money ??

[jennilynn510]

this is an ongoing arguement between DH & i please help.
when doing the laundry i use both a liquid softner & then
when the clothes go in the dryer i use a dryer sheet as well
am i being wasteful...will one or the other do the trick ??

 

[delmar411]

I haven't used liquid fabric softener since 1998. We use dryer sheets only.

Yes you are wasting a lot of money.

 

[bnf2]

I'm not sure if it's wasting money or not, but I do both sometimes too- seems as if our clothes get too staticky (sp?) in the dryer if I don't add a sheet. I don't always use it in the washer, but always in the dryer.

Here's what I do though that might help out: I have 2 old washcloths that are my 'dryer sheets'. I keep some of the liquid fab. softener in a spray bottle and when I have a load to dry I just wet the washcloth (or just throw it in with the clothes that are washing) and then hit it with a couple sprays of the fab. softener and in the dryer it goes. I haven't bought dryer sheets in years!!

 

[mommyaof2]

I use Tide w/ a touch of Downy and then use a dryer sheet too! I only buy Tide when it is on sale, so I get it pretty reasonable and the fabric softner is in the detergent. Try this maybe.

 

[wall*e2008]

We only use the dryer balls and vinegar in the washer.

 

[la79al]

We are fabric softener free to save our cloth diapers. We use dryer balls when needed. We have all survived.

 

[jlima]

I have never used liquid softer, ever. I usually buy the Target brand of dryer sheets that are less than $2 a box.

 

[minnie1928]

We only use the dryer balls and vinegar in the washer.

Ditto! Much, much, much cheaper!

I also only run things in the dryer for abut 20 minutes and let things hang dry after that.

 

[jennb529]

To the OP, I do the same exact thing, but my husband actually requests it. He is some kind of fabric softner/dryer sheet smell freak! I guess it would just depend on how much you are really using whether it was a waste of money. A bottle of Downy and a box of dryer sheets last us a few months so I don't really think about the cost when it is time to buy more.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Even if not needed...I wouldn't say you are wasting alot of money.....I mean how much does a bottle of fabric sofetener cost and how many loads do you get per bottle? Personally I don't use fabric softener myself, but sometimes I do add two dryer sheets per load. Fleece and dry air this time of year really add up to bad static.

An easy compromise if you want to reduce usage or expense - try using half as much fabric softener and see if that still gets thing to your taste.


Another thing I learned, from having a bad dryer once - many items you can half dry then put on a hanger - by the next morning they are fully dry, wrinkle free, and you've reduced your electircity bill. Blankets can be spread out on a bed.

Another thing that saves money is to run the spin cycle of your washing machine twice. I don't do this all the time, but it makes a real difference for bulky items like pillows and sweaters. (sometimes even three times for pillows.)

 

[TnTWalter]

I stopped using dryer sheets and liquid softener when I did cloth diapers years ago and learned it made them less absorbant. Also with towels same theory.

I've never used either since and don't miss it. We do have soft water.

Trish

 

[RobinFabulous]

I do it too, and (gasp!) sometimes I even put TWO dryer sheets in! We have a lot of clothing and some things tend to stick around in the closets longer than others. I think it keeps the closets (linen and clothes) smelling fresh. I use Gain & the fabric softner scented like Gain. One of the kids teachers commented on how nice their clothes smell

 

[sumlthomp]

I use only liquid fabric softener - it does the trick and makes your clothes smell better than using the dryer sheet.

 

[Va-bear]

I stopped using dryer sheets and liquid softener when I did cloth diapers years ago and learned it made them less absorbant. Also with towels same theory.

I've never used either since and don't miss it. We do have soft water.

Trish

OK - no laughing - but..... I've never used either (guess cause my mom didnt) and I dont even know why people do? Is it strictly for the smell or does it REALLY make your clothes softer? A lot softer?? (OK, you can laugh now.....I really dont know though...) (And I'm in my mid-40's! )

 

[GoofyFairie]

I don't use any fabric softener in the wash and I only use half a dryer sheet in the dryer. Half a dryer sheet is enough to cut the static in our clothes. It helps if you don't over dry them too.

 

[Minnie_me]

I hadn't used liquid fabric softener in years, mostly due to my dd's skin issues. I've always used dryer sheets, and yet our clothes are still full of static.

So a few weeks ago, I decided to try again. The whole family noticed the difference! Even DH, who wouldn't notice if I shaved my head, told me that his clothes felt "nicer". Our sheets and towels are softer - - EVERYTHING feels nicer.

IMO, dryer sheets are not fabric softeners. They might help with static, but I think it's well worth the $$ spent to use liquid softener as well.

 

[pjlla]

I stopped using either years ago. I do own and use those dryer balls, but I'm not sure how much they help. I only use vinegar in my rinse cycle if I think I might have extra odors or residue to get rid of.

Keep these things in mind....

some people are allergic to those heavy perfumes in the fabric softener and dryer sheets... it may be bothering someone you sit next to.... especially if the smell is strong.

use of liquid softener does make towels and diapers much less absorbent.

over-use of liquid softener can be detrimental to your septic system.

even just $20 a year spent on things that aren't needed is still a waste of $20.

it is probably not a great idea for the environment to overuse things like this.


Anyhow..... I would definitely eliminate one of the two and see how you like it. If it still seems acceptable, reduce the remaining item by half and see how it is now. You may find that the clothes are acceptably soft and static free using 1/2 the amount of liquid softener and NO dryer sheet. Good luck............P

 

[bumbershoot]

OK - no laughing - but..... I've never used either (guess cause my mom didnt) and I dont even know why people do? Is it strictly for the smell or does it REALLY make your clothes softer? A lot softer?? (OK, you can laugh now.....I really dont know though...) (And I'm in my mid-40's! )

I have vague memories that the softener stuff makes things softer.

But as any of us who used cloth diapers can tell you, it DECREASES the absorbency of fabrics. So if you're using it on towels, you're decreasing the use of your towels, even though it feels nicer on your body.

I can barely walk down the laundry product aisle at the store, so I don't use fabric softeners in any way (I don't even use vinegar as I don't notice any difference), and I'm glad to not feel the need to use 'em. Plus, when I was living in SC there was an accident involving a truck hauling ingredients for the dryer sheets to the plant, and it came out in the coverage of it that it was some sort of rendered fat that they use...being vegetarian there was just no chance I was going to use that junk.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I think it depends on where you live.

If you live in a very dry climate, you could use both and still have static-y clothes.

I think even more of an issue though is the type of water you have. Where my parents live, they have very hard water. It's so hard that all their glasses in their kitchen have white build-up on them from being washed in the dishwasher. When I'm at their house and I do my laundry, I notice a difference if I do not use BOTH Downy AND Bounce sheets. They also have very dry air so clothes are static-y.

 

[quentina]

this is an ongoing arguement between DH & i please help.
when doing the laundry i use both a liquid softner & then
when the clothes go in the dryer i use a dryer sheet as well
am i being wasteful...will one or the other do the trick ??

We're wasting $$$ in our house also....but...our clothes sure smell and feel good!