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why do clothes get more uncomfortable after every wash (lemmy.ml)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

44 comments fedilink hide all child comments

they feel so 'chemical-y' and their texture goes from soft to uncomfy idfk?

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago (7 children)

they feel so ‘chemical-y’ and their texture goes from soft to uncomfy idfk?

This feels like what you're noticing is actually the removal of the "chemicals" (technically, the fibres are a chemical, too, even cotton - everything is chemical in nature, btw, there is no "natural"). There's an oil on/in the fabric when you buy it to make it softer and to protect it during transport and storage, and over a few washing cycles this gets removed.

To re-apply this effect, use fabric softeners. That's exactly what they exist to do.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (5 children)

does fabric softener ruin clothes?

Yes! Fabric softener creates a waxy coating that can actually ruin your clothes over time.

This is because fabric softener essentially applies a thin, waxy coating to your laundry which must be water-resistant to survive the washing process. This waterproof coating initially makes your clothes softer but lessens their ability to absorb water and detergent over time.

This means your clothes won’t hold up as well in the wash and will likely begin locking in bad odors. These odors defeat the purpose of doing laundry.

Fabric softener can even ruin your cloth dish towels and stop them from absorbing water. That’s because fabric softener will build up on them over time, and since fabric softener is water proof, this interrupts how much liquid they can absorb.

https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/fabric-softener-why-you-shouldnt-use-it/

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Yeah well, of course. That's also why towels absorb water so much worse when they're new and soft - they still have the oils on them. As they get dry and scratchy with repeated washings they no longer feel nice, but they're much more efficient at drying yourself off with.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Softness isn't just based on the oils a fabric does or doesn't have, but also on the length and flexibility of the fibers the threads of the cloth are made of. If you splurge on quality towels, like supima cotton for instance, no matter how many times you wash your towels (without softener) they will remain soft and still absorbent.

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