am i wasting money ??

[arminnie]

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'm with you (but even older).

The only time I ever used fabric softener was a few times in the 70s when I had all of those horrible polyester clothes. I don't get cling from cotton.

 

[bnf2]

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

We use dryer balls when needed. We have all survived.

Ditto! (to the dryer balls)

Hmmmm.... many good reports on the dryer balls- I may have to give them a try. We do have hard water here and in the winter even our cottons get static-y... maybe dryer balls will do the trick.

 

[3boymthr]

To OP - you are not alone. I sometimes do the same and DH also complains, but then he complains when the towels are hard as a board if I don't use softener. I find that if I don't use the downy then my darks don't stay as dark because not all the soap washes out of the clothes - plus sometimes our water has a sulfur-y/dank smell so I need to use something in the dryer too.

I save money on my wash by using only cold water to wash the clothes and by soaking the white clothes before washing. There are a couple of extra benefits to cold water, colors stay brighter longer and there's less shrinkage too - actually I think I save more money by doing this - because lets face it heating all that water is expensive. Plus a large box of dryer sheets lasts a couple of months as does the downy so how much extra is it costing you per month - $8?

 

[wide awake]

I don't use either, and we live in an area w/ very hard water. I think it makes clothes feel greasy, and besides the scent is sooo strong !!! I'm very careful w/ my laundry, don't overdry, hang damp clothes to lessen wrinkles...I've never noticed any static cling on our clothes. I also get rid of clothes we no longer wear, so the only things in our closets are items that are worn on a regular basis.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

My Dh has allergies to dryer sheets and softeners. I use vinegar in my rinse and it seems as though my clothes are cleaner - less residue. I would think using both is overkill, but I haven't been able to use either for years so I wouldn't know.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I don't use either. I used them a bit because I thought O was "supposed to" when we were starting out. The marketing gurus make us think wee need the products. But I needed to stay on a strict budget and fabric softener was one of the things to go. Haven't ever missed them.

 

[albertamommyof4]

we use eco friendly liquid soap and you don't have to use any thing in the dryer and your clothes smell very nice

 

[mel63]

I use both - in the winter. We have TERRIBLE static. During the other 3 seasons, I usually don't use either. My husband uses dryer sheets if he does the laundry during the 3 seasons. Then both for winter.

If anyone has any ideas for controlling static in the winter, please share. I would love to stop pouring money down the laundry drain.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

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

Us too! We use liquid and a whole dryer sheet! Sometimes 2! For shame!

 

[PrincessMama605]

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

I am the same way- I have to have my Gain!
I just love the way it smells, I use the Gain fabric softener sheets too. I do use the liquid Snuggle Exhilarations in the green bottle too, I don't remember what the scent is called. It's very concentrated and I use about 1/2 the amount so a big bottle lasts quite a long time.

I feel like I scrimp and save in enough other areas to spend a little more to have great-smelling and soft laundry.

 

[KirstenB]

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! )

No laughing at you here. I just started using dryer sheets a year ago. I was so DONE with static all winter. I don't use them with towels, because I think it'd interfere with the absorbency. The dryer sheets really help knock down static. I don't know if fabric softerner does the same.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I don't think you're wasting much money.

Now let me ask you this: is DH doing the laundry or are you? If the answer is you, you should be allowed to do it the way you like.

DH and I keep our noses out of unshared household work and agree on shared work that who ever is doing a task gets to decide HOW they will do it THAT particular time. So if DH were doing the laundry, and felt the way your DH does (which, actually, he does) he wouldn't use either softner or sheets. If I were doing laundry, I would at least use softner. If DH never did laundry, he'd just have to live with my method.

On work either one or the other does, the one doing the work makes all the decisions. The one who doesn't contribute stays mum unless he/she wants to do the job him/herself.

It keeps marital peace for us.

 

[timzagain]

OP, thanks for starting this thread. I've often wondered if using both made sense. I think I'll stick to using dryer sheets only from now on! My family loves the scent!

 

[ntink]

Great discussion.

I use liquid softener and a dryer sheet for the bed sheets and just a dryer sheet for all other loads except towels.

 

[monkey68]

So is it the dryer that causes static? We don't have a dryer, the washing machine is in the boiler room in the basement, and then we just line dry our clothes, outside in the summer or inside in the boiler room if it's winter or raining. We don't use fabric softener, and never have problems with static.

The only time I've ever used a dryer was a couple times in college when I didn't have enough time to go home for a weekend and my underwear supply was running low.

 

[MomPOM]

Make your own laundry detergent and use a dryer sheet. You'll save a TON of money and it's so much better for the environment and your skin.

I make the best laundry detergent and let me tell you, my clothes have never been cleaner and smelled better. Not to mention it costs a lot less.

 

[Cindy B]

Never used fabric softener in the wash. Don't really use the dryer sheets either.

I use detergent and it all works fine.

So I guess you are being wasteful, and think of all that time as well.

 

[bnf2]

I make the best laundry detergent and let me tell you, my clothes have never been cleaner and smelled better. Not to mention it costs a lot less.

Care to share your recipe? I've seen several, but have never tried one myself. Since yours works so well maybe I should give a try!

 

[MoniqueU]

I must be really weird, I have never even used a dryer sheet!! My clothes are clean and find without them. I don't get the whole dryer sheet/fabric softner thing.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I use both and never realized i was wasting money. If i'm low on liquid softner i save it for the towels. If the load is big and for towels i like putting 2 sheets in too! I just think the clothes smell better