Fabric Softener: What It Does, When to Use It, and When to Skip It

Q: Where do I put liquid fabric softener in the washer?

In the final rinse, usually through the marked dispenser. The American Cleaning Institute says to add it to the final rinse water and to use the machine’s fabric-softener cycle when there is one. Dilute it first if the label says to, and never pour it directly onto dry clothes.

More on detergents and softeners: Laundry detergents and softeners — How much to use, pods and powder, fabric softener, and what not to mix.

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Fabric softener is a rinse or dryer product that coats fibers so clothes feel smoother, pick up less static, and often carry a scent. The American Cleaning Institute describes liquid softener, dryer sheets, and in-dryer packets as the main forms, and says to add liquid softener in the final rinse — usually through the washer’s dispenser — following the product label. Some items should skip it, especially flame-resistant children’s sleepwear and anything the care label says not to soften.

Last updated: November 13, 2026.

This guide explains what fabric softener does, how the different types are used, when to leave it out, and what to use instead. It is not a substitute for the care label on a garment or the directions on the bottle or box. For the narrower question of whether softener can stand in for detergent, see can you use fabric softener as laundry detergent. Related dryer products are covered in dryer balls vs. dryer sheets and how dryer balls work.

What fabric softener does

ACI’s fabric-softener guide says these products, also called fabric conditioners or enhancers, make fabrics feel softer and fluffier, reduce static and wrinkles, and often add scent. It also says they can reduce friction, which may mean less pilling, fuzzing, stretching, and fading, and that they can make ironing easier and may reduce drying time. The comparison ACI uses is hair care: detergent cleans, and softener conditions.

The main working ingredients are usually cationic surfactants, often derived from fatty acids. ACI explains that these positively charged particles attach to negatively charged fibers and help reduce the stiffness and wrinkling that come from fibers bonding too tightly as they dry. The same guide notes that formulas may also include preservatives, fragrance, or emulsifiers, and that some use quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) or another softening agent.

That coating is also why softener is a poor match for some fabrics. A layer that makes a T-shirt feel smooth can get in the way of a towel that needs to soak up water, or a workout shirt that is made to pull sweat off the skin. Manufacturers do not all give the same advice on towels and athletic wear, which is covered below. On flame-resistant garments, the caution is clearer.

Types of fabric softener

Liquid fabric softener

Liquid softener is added to the final rinse, not to the main wash with the detergent. ACI says many washers have a dispenser that releases it at the right time, and that you should turn on the fabric-softener option if the machine has one. If the product label says to dilute the softener with water before adding it by hand, do that, so it does not spot the clothes. Whirlpool’s product help gives the same warning: do not pour softener directly onto dry clothes, measure carefully, and do not use more than the label calls for, because leftover product can build up.

Some products are sheets or dissolvable forms made to go in the washer rather than the dryer. ACI describes washer sheets that dissolve and disperse in the wash. Use those only as their label directs.

Dryer sheets

Dryer sheets go in the dryer with the load, not in the washer. ACI says the dryer’s heat and tumbling can create static, wrinkles, and lint, and that dryer sheets are made to be heat-activated so softening agents transfer onto the fabric as the load tumbles. Use one sheet, or the number on the box, and start a fresh sheet each load unless the package says otherwise. For safety, lint, and reuse questions, see are dryer sheets safe, do dryer sheets help with lint, and can you reuse dryer sheets. They may help a little with wrinkles; they are not a substitute for removing clothes promptly or for a proper wash. See do dryer sheets help with wrinkles.

In-dryer packets and other enhancers

ACI also describes packet-type in-dryer softeners that attach to a dryer-drum fin and release softening agents during the cycle. Follow that product’s directions for placement and how long one packet lasts.

Scent boosters, fabric rinses, wrinkle-release sprays, and static-guard sprays are related products, not the same as a rinse-cycle softener. ACI says scent-booster beads are added to the washer drum before the clothes so they dissolve and add fragrance. Fabric rinse is added in the rinse to help remove leftover detergent residue. Neither one replaces detergent. If you use scent beads, see whether scent beads are bad for washers.

When not to use fabric softener

Always read the garment’s care label. If it says “do not use fabric softener,” skip it. Arm & Hammer’s softener guide makes that the first rule, and it is the one that overrides a general article.

Flame-resistant clothing and children’s sleepwear

This is the case where softener is more than a performance issue. ACI says to be cautious on children’s sleepwear or any garment labeled flame-resistant, because softeners can reduce flame retardancy. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires certain children’s sleepwear to meet flammability standards, and care labels on that sleepwear can warn about laundry products that reduce flame resistance. Follow that label. If you are unsure, wash flame-resistant sleepwear without softener or dryer sheets.

Towels

Advice on towels is split, and both sides should be stated clearly. ACI says there is a concern that softeners, which tend to be hydrophobic (they repel water), could reduce absorbency, but that the short answer is no if you use the right amount. Whirlpool, by contrast, lists towels among the items to skip when you want maximum absorbency. Arm & Hammer says softener can make towels fluffier and add scent, but that the same coating can make them less absorbent, and that buildup over time can leave towels feeling stiff.

A practical approach is to follow the towel’s care label, use less than you might use on a load of shirts if you use softener at all, and skip it when you care more about drying-off performance than a softer feel. If towels already feel coated or less absorbent, stop adding softener and wash them a few times with detergent only. A washing-machine cleaner cycle can also help if the dispenser itself is gummy. See how to clean a washing machine.

Athletic wear, microfiber, and other performance fabrics

Whirlpool advises against fabric softener on moisture-wicking athletic wear, microfiber cleaning cloths, performance fabrics, swimwear, and cloth diapers. Arm & Hammer likewise says to skip moisture-wicking athleisure or sportswear, water- or insect-repellent finishes, microfiber cloths, and many swimsuits, bras, and spandex pieces, because a coating can interfere with wicking, water repellency, or how quickly a synthetic dries. ACI’s more recent guide is more permissive: it says modern softeners can be used on microfiber and athletic wear without affecting absorbency or wicking, if used properly.

When the garment label, the appliance maker, and a brand disagree, the garment label should win. If a running shirt or microfiber cloth says not to use softener, do not use it. If you want the fabric to keep wicking or to keep grabbing water, leaving softener out is the conservative choice. Wash those loads separately from a load you plan to soften.

Other items to treat carefully

Arm & Hammer also lists wool, cashmere, mohair, and down-filled items as poor matches for a coating, and notes that white fabrics can look dingy if softener residue builds up. ACI, on the other hand, says conditioner can be used on delicates such as wool and silk if the care label allows it. Again, the label is the deciding document. Do not pour liquid softener onto dry clothes, and do not combine several softening products in one load, which is a Whirlpool “don’t.”

Alternatives to fabric softener

If you want less static or fewer wrinkles without a rinse-cycle coating, you have options:

Wool or plastic dryer balls. They tumble with the load, can help separate clothes, and may shorten drying time a little. ACI says the wrinkle and drying benefits are typically modest, and that dryer balls do not condition fibers the way a softener does. They are still a useful choice on towels and athletic wear when you want to skip a coating. See dryer balls vs. dryer sheets and what a dryer ball is and how it works.
Removing clothes promptly. A permanent-press cycle and taking the load out as soon as it finishes prevent more wrinkles than an extra sheet will fix.
A fabric rinse, if residue is the problem. ACI describes fabric rinse as a rinse-cycle product meant to help remove leftover detergent, which can leave fabric feeling stiff or irritating. That is different from adding more softener on top of a heavy detergent dose. Use only as much detergent as the label calls for; see how many ounces of detergent to use per load.
Fragrance-free or “free and clear” softeners when you want the softening effect without added scent. ACI notes that dye- and fragrance-free formulas exist for people who want that option.

Vinegar is sometimes used in a rinse for odor or leftover soap, but it is not a fabric softener, and it must never be mixed with chlorine bleach. ACI discusses vinegar as an odor aid, not as a conditioner that coats fibers the way a commercial softener does.

Sensitive skin, storage, and your machines

ACI says fabric softeners are usually safe when used as directed, and that hypoallergenic or dye- and fragrance-free formulas are an option for sensitive skin. If a residue seems to irritate, it may be leftover detergent rather than the softener itself; a fabric rinse, a thorough extra rinse, or less detergent may help. If a product bothers you, stop using it and go back to detergent only.

Keep softeners closed, in their original containers, and out of the reach of children, the same way you store detergent. Gain’s product-expiration page, which we quote in more detail on whether laundry detergent expires, says most fabric softeners expire after two to three years if they are stored properly and unopened, and that an opened bottle is best used in six to 12 months.

Used as directed, ACI says softeners should not harm a washer or dryer, but too much product can leave buildup in a dispenser. Clean the fabric-softener compartment, and run a washer-cleaner cycle when the machine smells sour or the dispenser is sticky. Wipe the dryer drum now and then with a damp cloth if sheets have left a film.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I put liquid fabric softener in the washer?

In the final rinse, usually through the marked dispenser. ACI says to add it to the final rinse water and to use the machine’s fabric-softener cycle when there is one. Dilute it first if the label says to, and never pour it directly onto dry clothes.

Should I use fabric softener on towels?

Only if you care more about a softer feel than about maximum absorbency, and only if the care label allows it. ACI says the right amount should not ruin towel performance. Whirlpool says to skip softener when you want towels to absorb as much as possible. If your towels already feel coated, stop using it for a few washes.

Can I use fabric softener on athletic wear?

Check the garment label first. Whirlpool and Arm & Hammer advise skipping it on moisture-wicking and performance fabrics so the coating does not interfere with wicking. ACI says modern softeners can be used on athletic wear without that effect when they are used properly. If the label says not to use softener, or you want to protect wicking, leave it out and wash those items in their own load.

Are dryer sheets the same as liquid fabric softener?

They do a similar job — softening and reducing static — but they are used in the dryer, not the rinse. ACI describes them as heat-activated. Skip both on flame-resistant sleepwear and on any item whose label says not to use softener. Dryer balls are an alternative when you want less static without a sheet.

Can fabric softener be used as laundry detergent?

No. Softener conditions fibers; it does not do the cleaning work of detergent. Use detergent in the wash and, if you choose to, softener in the rinse or a sheet in the dryer. The details are on can you use fabric softener as laundry detergent.

Sources

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