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Carighan ,
@Carighan@lemmy.world avatar

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.

Dirk ,
@Dirk@lemmy.ml avatar

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.

goingzerowaste.com/…/fabric-softener-why-you-shou…

heigre ,

Not to talk about the environmental impact which is also discussed in the link above.

lemann ,

I stopped using fabric softener on my clothes a while back because it’s kinda ruined all my old stuff.

That also explains some of my clothing that I’ve been simply unable to get odors out of… no matter how hot they’re washed. I thought my washing machine was broken lol

Carighan ,
@Carighan@lemmy.world avatar

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.

Nefara ,

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.

huginn ,

My towels aren’t scratchy. If your towels are scratchy you’re using too much detergent.

Or you’re hanging drying your towels and then never fluffing them.

squiblet ,
@squiblet@kbin.social avatar

Natural is typically used to mean something that occurs in nature or results from mild refinement vs. purely synthetic and novel molecules. I don't think most anyone would call cotton a 'chemical' and being that specific is really a form of pedantry more than a useful label.

p000l ,

Most of my home wear clothes are years old with a couple of holes in them but they are very cosy.

Tibert ,

Because you don’t wash them in a good way lol

Or because you have the worst clothes ever.

When you wash clothes look for the instructions at which temperature you need to wash them. If you can put them in a drier…

Dont let clothes dry in a dryer machine, only let them a bit, then let them dry on a drying rack or whatever it’s called. Careful with clothes which aren’t rated to go into the drier, use low temperature, and never let them a long time if you put them in a dryer machine.

If they seem chemical, or have a bad smell, check if the washing machine washes well, or use another program to wash them more, or a short program to wash them again, only with water.

Maybe try another detergent, or put less of it.

Also, if as other comments said, if you use a softener, try without.

Carighan ,
@Carighan@lemmy.world avatar

If they seem chemical, or have a bad smell, check if the washing machine washes well, or use another program to wash them more, or a short program to wash them again, only with water.

And importantly, clean your washing machine. The residue from the detergent and the grime will slowly build up, so it’s important to at least every few months run a cleaning cycle (95°C or whatever the self-cleaning cycle of your machine is) with an actual machine cleaner and no clothes.
Before that cycle, manually clean some parts like the detergent fill-in area and the door. Some of the remaining dirt will be washed off by the cleaning cycle then.

zeppo ,
@zeppo@lemmy.world avatar

What kind of detergent do you use, and do you use fabric softener? Personally I can’t stand the smell of mainstream scented detergents - they got worse and worse for me over time until I was wondering “why would I want my clothes to smell like synthetic grapes and weird cotton candy crap?”. At this point it irritates my nose and sustained exposure makes my lips swell slightly and my eyes turn red (I must be allergic to the fragrances somehow).

I am fine with unscented All or Tide, but mainly use unscented ‘natural’ detergents like Seventh Generation or ECOS. Dryer sheets and fabric softener I avoid entirely, even unscented ones. Fabric softener to me makes my clothes feel like they’re coated in weird oil (makes sense, that’s what it is I guess). I use these wool spheres the size of billiard balls for anti-static and that works great.

canthidium ,
@canthidium@lemmy.world avatar

Started using the wool balls about a year or so ago and it’s a complete game changer. The only thing I don’t like about them is they get caught in some clothes sometimes and I find them when folding in my bedroom and I forget to bring them back ha.

squiblet ,
@squiblet@kbin.social avatar

Ha, yep - I've gone from 9 to 4-5 and find them in my sleeves when I'm folding clothes. I think the missing ones are trapped in my gf's clothes, which she just sort of stacks up rather than folding...

canthidium ,
@canthidium@lemmy.world avatar

I’m bad about that too. I usually just empty the dryer into a basket and take it to my closet and fold/hang there. And I’ve got a bad habit of just leaving the whole basket and living out of it for the next week or so. Oh and I find bedding just eats the balls. I’ll go to put the blanket on the bed and do the flick in the air thing and a ball just comes flying out.

Very_Bad_Janet ,

Wool dryer balls was going to be my suggestion also (unless the OP doesn't have a dryer). Everything comes out of the dryer soft and fluffy because of the dryer balls. I haven't used fabric softener in years.

OP, if you line dry, I would switch to a powder detergent (rinses away cleaner than liquid) and use half the recommended amount. I'd also add extra rinses. Your problem.might be too much detergent residue on your clothing.

squiblet ,
@squiblet@kbin.social avatar

I've noticed a lot of people don't actually measure liquid detergent, too... just kind of pour some in. I bet that tends to use way more than is called for. We started using the detergent sheets (the ones that just dissolve, however those work) which helps with easy portioning.

Mouselemming ,

We have a couple tennis ball sized wool balls that I used for awhile, but the kitten decided they were for her to wrestle with and roll around the house. Now I would have to wash them separately before I threw them in with my towels and undies.

canthidium ,
@canthidium@lemmy.world avatar

Oh my pups would love to get their paws on my wool balls. They have so many sqeaky balls and bones and other toys, but they always want more.

Mouselemming ,

“I could eat a sheep!” That what my cat is saying

nutbutter ,

It’s the reverse for me. New clothes feel uncomfortable, sometimes. Then, the more I wear it, they keep getting comfortable.

Maybe, look up tye ingredients of your detergent? Also, consider using treated-soft water for washing clothes. Hard water (water with minerals) can damage the fabric.

Littleborat ,

Should be like that, they may look worse but feel more comfortable with washes.

blackbrook ,

Natural fibers trend to get softer and thus more comfortable. I’m not sure this is true of synthetics. What kind of materials are your clothes, OP?

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