When Should You Use Fabric Softener?
When we do our laundry on our own, there are a few essentials that we must use in order to get the job done and get it done properly. Even as one of the largest commercial laundry service companies in NYC, Aplus Laundry Service uses the basic essentials of laundry. Of course there’s the detergent, whatever your preferred brand or type might be, some prefer to go with higher end detergents equipped with color-safe bleach, allowing them to wash their white clothing to perfection, while doing their colors at the same time – others may prefer to go with more environmentally safe alternatives.
Then there’s the appliances themselves, washer, dryer, whatever you preference for the brand and again, the type might be. A steady water supply, hopefully yours is working and you don’t have to call a plumber halfway through this article. I guess that’s pretty much it, for the basics at least. Then there’s a number of additives that people swear by = some people like to add a little white vinegar to their laundry, others will use clothing brighteners, stain fighters, and other specialized ingredients that allow them to simply take their laundry to the next level. And then there’s the one thing that far too many people use, fabric softener. While some people literally swear by it and wont do their laundry without having some fabric softeners, others, probably the majority of us, don’t really even know what it really does – besides the obvious, softening, fabrics. As a top commercial laundry service, the team at Aplus Laundry Service rarely has time for such additives like dryer sheets and fabric softeners, although some of our products do contain certain agents that work in a similar way. But what exactly is fabric softener, and when should it be used?
Fabric softeners and dryer sheets do serve a good purpose in some instances, they help to make our clothes and linens feel soft and fluffy, reducing static cling and making them smell great. You may be tempted to douse every load of laundry, or add a few extra sheets in the dryer, but before you do it is important to know when and how to use this product. The fact is that most supporters of fabric softener will literally use it on every wash, no matter what types of clothing or fabrics are being washed. However, this is very wrong, and its important hat you understand why. There are a number of different clothing and fabric items that should absolutely never come into contact with any type of fabric softener or dryer sheets whatsoever. Here is some important information that will explain what types of clothing that should have fabric softener added, and help you improve your laundry results.
· Workout Clothing
What makes something a piece of workout clothing, instead of just something your workout in, is the ability for it to wick away moisture from your body, and dry quickly in order to keep you cool during an intense, sweaty workout. Fabric softener creates an outer coating around clothing and when used on such materials, it will prevent them from breathing as needed and keep it from performing its job or removing sweat and moisture. This will cause bacterial buildup and foul odors to form, avoid fabric softeners please.
· Microfiber Linens and More
Microfiber is obviously made up of a series of tiny fibersattract and lock in dust, dirt, and moisture. While microfiber is relatively durable, it becomes pretty useless once the fibers absorb the waxy residue fabric softener and dryer sheets leave behind. You might want to use these products on your microfiber towels or floor mats, to keep them from building static cling in the dryer, as they often tend to do – but it is definitely best to avoid it. Instead, toss a ball of aluminum foil in the dryer with microfiber items to release the static charge.
· Swimwear
Swimwear is typically made of Polyurethane materials like Lycra, Spandex or Elastane, Polyester, Nylon or blended synthetic fibers. These materials arecreated with a specific design, so that these fabrics absorb very little water, and can therefore dry very quickly. Fabric softener residue attracts moisture and will keep your swimwear from drying, leading to a musty odor, and the possibility of mold growth. Instead, try to hand wash these items with gentle detergent, squeeze excess water out, then lay flat to dry.
For more all your commercial laundry service needs, contact APLUS LAUNDRY Service today.