The best fabric softeners
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
- High-quality fabric softeners leave your clothes soft, free of wrinkles, and they have a pleasant scent.
- Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets are our top pick because they are inexpensive, fight static, and produce a classic fresh scent that has become synonymous with laundry day.
I like my clothes to be static-free, comfortable, and relatively fresh-smelling, so I turn to fabric softener every time I do my laundry. From the liquid stuff you add to your washing machine's dispenser to all-natural dryer balls that fluff up your clothes while removing static cling, there are lots of ways to keep your laundry soft and fresh.
What type of fabric softener should I buy?
Liquid fabric softener: Liquid is your most expensive option per load, but it is also the most effective at eliminating odors and softening clothes. Though it may seem counter-intuitive since it is added in the washing machine, liquid reduces the amount of static in your clothing. Liquid fabric softeners also have a surprising array of alternative uses, including removing hard-water stains, keeping paintbrushes pliable, and getting rid of the static shock produced by your carpeting.
Dryer sheets: The best dryer sheets are much more affordable than liquid, fight static cling, and leave your clothes soft and smelling nice. And, if you clean your clothes at a laundromat, it's much easier to transport a few sheets in your back pocket or purse than to lug around balls or liquid.
Dryer balls: These are your eco-friendliest option. They are typically made of wool or heat-resistant BPA-free plastic — some people even argue that standard tennis balls work as dryer balls. Though they are good for the environment, inexpensive, help clothes dry faster, and are effective at fighting static, dryer balls tend to leave clothes scratchier than liquids and sheets. And, they do not eliminate odors.
Our guide features softeners that help fight static, leave clothes with a fresh smell, and make your fabrics feel comfortable.
Here are our picks for the best fabric softeners:
- Best overall: Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets
- Best dryer balls: Friendsheep Organic Eco Wool Dryer Balls
- Best liquid fabric softener: Downy Infusions Liquid Fabric Conditioner
- Best eco-friendly liquid fabric softener: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Fabric Softener
- Best odor-eliminating fabric softener: Snuggle Plus Super Fresh Liquid Fabric Softener
Prices and links are current as of 5/15/20. We trimmed the length of this article to make it easier to read, bringing you the most useful information quickly. We also added a selection of related buying guides.
The best overall
Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets are an affordable way to get rid of static, avoid scratchy fabrics, and enjoy fresh-smelling clothes.
Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets are what I use when doing laundry. I have a high-efficiency dryer and only use half a sheet per load along with two dryer balls (when they aren't lost in previous loads of laundry). What I like about Bounce is that I never have to deal with static, it effectively gets rid of the many stinky odors in my athletic gear and my sons' clothes, and the sheets just produce a wholesome scent.
It softens cotton clothing well, reduces cling and static, and provides the fresh laundry smell that you might expect from clothes drying on a line outside.
Pros: Effectively softens fabrics, affordable, pleasant scent
Cons: Not hypoallergenic
Check price at Amazon Check price at CVSThe best dryer balls
If you are looking for an environmentally-friendly fabric softener that you can reuse over-and-over again, consider the Friendsheep Organic Eco Wool Dryer Balls.
The Friendsheep Organic Eco Wool Dryer Balls are unique because they can be reused for more than 1,000 dryer loads. That works out to less than 2.4 cents per load over the course of the balls' life, which makes this product the least expensive on our list.
The balls of 100% pure New Zealand wool are needle felted by Nepalese women in underprivileged communities working under ethical conditions. They are hypoallergenic, and Friendsheep claims they can reduce drying times by up to 40%. The balls come with an organic gift bag and guide featuring eco-friendly tips.
Though these dryer balls won't add any scent to your clothes, that's good news for those with sensitive skin. In fact, there are no chemical additives of any kind ensuring you won't have an adverse reaction to your clean laundry.
Pros: Eco-friendly, reusable, shortens the drying process, no added chemicals
Cons: Isn't effective for all fabrics, unscented
Check price at AmazonThe best liquid fabric softener
Downy Infusions Liquid Fabric Conditioner adds a long-lasting pleasant scent to your clothes while protecting against fading and preventing wrinkles.
Downy Infusions Liquid Fabric Conditioner is more expensive than our previous two picks, but the price is reasonable for liquid fabric softeners. The floral lavender and vanilla bean scent is long-lasting.
Downy Infusions protects fabrics from fuzz, fading, wrinkles, and stretching, and it's compatible with most of today's high-efficiency washing machines. The liquid doesn't leave any residue, but be careful to add it to the dedicated fabric softener dispenser in your machine or at the proper time in your wash cycle. If applied directly to clothing, it could stain.
Pros: Pleasant scent, doesn't leave a residue, protects against stretching and fading
Cons: Can stain if applied directly to clothes
Check price at AmazonThe best eco-friendly liquid fabric softener
About 99% of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Fabric Softener is made from naturally derived ingredients, including softening agents from plant sources.
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Fabric Softener gets its softening powers from cotton extract and other plant sources, and essential oils give it a garden-fresh fragrance. This product is safe to use in high-efficiency washing machines for reducing static cling, simplifying or even removing the need for ironing, and adding a fresh, lavender scent to your clothes.
One 32-ounce bottle is enough for 32 loads. This formula is a bit thicker than other fabric softeners on the market, and as a result, you may find that it doesn't dispense as easily. If you're finding leftover fabric softener still clinging to your dispenser after your wash load, try diluting it with a bit of water to get it to flow a bit more easily.
Pros: Only a little liquid is needed for each load, excellent softening abilities, made from plant sources
Cons: May need to dilute it to ensure it dispenses properly
Check price at Amazon Check price at Bed Bath & BeyondThe best odor-eliminating fabric softener
The Snuggle Plus Super Fresh Liquid Fabric Softener is terrific for people who typically have trouble removing odors from their clothes and other fabrics.
Per load, the Snuggle Plus Super Fresh Liquid Fabric Softener is significantly more expensive than any of the other options on our list. But, it's specifically designed to fight tough odors from pets, perspiration, accidents, and more. If your clothes consistently hold onto odors even after multiple washes, you might want to invest in something heavy-duty like Snuggle Plus.
As with the other products on our list, the Snuggle liquid leaves your clothes soft and with less static and wrinkles. It is also good for use in standard and high-efficiency washers.
Because it's formulated to knock out odors, it is a bit harsher on the skin than other fabric softeners and could cause a reaction in people with sensitive skin. We'd recommend only using this product on clothes with tough lingering odors. Once you extinguish the stink, switch back to a gentler fabric softener until it's time to break out the big guns again.
Pros: Excellent at removing odors, produces a fresh but not floral scent
Cons: Could cause reactions on sensitive skin
Check price at WalmartCheck out our other laundry buying guides
The best laundry detergent
A good laundry detergent removes dirt, oil, and sweat from your clothing, leaves behind a fresh scent, doesn't fade or alter fabric color, doesn't break you out in an itchy rash, and doesn't empty your wallet. These are our top picks for the best laundry detergent.
The best laundry baskets
Choosing a satisfactory laundry basket or hamper isn't rocket science; it's mostly a matter of preference, along with a hefty dollop of utility and logistics. If you do laundry in your own home, it's easier to worry about appearance. If you tote a heavy load of dirty clothing to a laundromat, you'll want to prioritize portability. Either way, these are the best laundry baskets and hampers.
The best drying racks for clothes
Air drying your laundry is the best way to ensure it doesn't shrink, fade, or get misshapen in the dryer. But so many drying racks are rickety, made of poor quality materials, unable to hold more than a few items of clothing — or all of the above. These are the best drying racks that will make it much easier to hang your clothes to dry.
James Brains Senior Reporter, Business Insider Reviews James is a Senior Reporter for Business Insider Reviews, specializing in sleep, HVAC, and kitchen appliances. He has tested more than 90 mattresses from startups like Casper and legacy brands like Tempur-Pedic, using his background in experimental psychology to develop objective tests and evaluate comfort, support, motion transfer, and more. He authors our guide to the best mattresses. In addition to being Business Insider Reviews' mattress expert, James has extensively covered air fryers, bidets, air conditioners, air purifiers, and anything you put on your mattress, including weighted blankets and pillows.He's a multifaceted writer who has covered everything from health and fitness to consumer technology. His mission is to help people get the most value for their money by guiding them in making informed buying decisions.James lives in Lansing, Michigan, with his wife, two kids, and a kitty. When James isn't testing products and writing for Business Insider, he runs a popular local Facebook group, Lansing Foodies; hosts a local news segment called Foodie Friday; and puts on the Olive Burger Festival.Contact info: jbrains@businessinsider.comLearn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test kitchen products. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnmKS6pnvBnqqtZZaWr7O1wmaqqJ6kmrumvg%3D%3D