Dora Black / 11 July 2025 / Categories: Product and Brands, Non Branded Product, Useful Guides

Waitrose Essential Fabric Softener only on special occasions

I am with the growing number of people saying no to fabric softener except for woollens washed by hand

If you’ve been reading my snoops you probably already know just how bad fabric softener is; not only for your washing machine but for your clothes and linens as well. I NEVER put fabric softener in my washing machine

Fabric softener ruins machines with build up overtime, they create huge mold and mildew problems in your washing machine, and almost all the fabric softeners on the market are made with some type of synthetic wax, fat or animal fat plus chemicals that when they go back into the environment through the dirty water the environmental impact is terrible.

For textile lovers like me, fabric softeners will ruin your clothes with use over time. So if you like wearing and investing in good quality fabric don’t listen to those dreamy lenor or comfort commercials. Fabric softeners consist of many undeniably bad for the environment chemicals, stuff you wouldn’t want anywhere near your skin and are mostly fragrance based. Worried about odour on your clothes you cannot shift choose eco fabrics like Lyocell or Tencel made from Eucalytus trees known for their odour eating properties instead of more well known synthetics, long carbon chains that won’t bio degrade like viscose or polyester. Also baking soda in your wash has wonderful odour combatting properties.

In the South of England some people argue that limestone and high mineral content increases the need for fabric softener, hard water makes fabric stiffer after washing so they need to use fabric softener it the wash however there are plenty of alternatives available like popping a scoop of baking soda in with your laundry or a cap full of white vinegar. You’ll be amazed at the result. And if you live in the North where the water supply comes rivers and reservoirs fed by rain water with low mineral content so no excuses.

So after all of that you are wondering why I have a bottle of Waitrose essential fabric conditioner under my sink? Which honestly comes out very rarely. I had this one half used for over a year.

I use it for hand washing of woollens only as it does help them recover after bobbling into more like new condition.

I chose this one from Waitrose for several reasons, the main one this fabric conditioner avoids ingredients like petroleum products, optical brighteners, enzymes, and animal by-products, all of which are be harmful to the environment. Specifically, the absence of petroleum products and synthetic dyes significantly reduces the risk of pollution.

This conditioner is cruelty free avoiding testing on animals and the packaging is 100% recycled.

The Waitrose essential fabric conditioner is also concentrated which means needing to use less and the bottle lasts a lot longer over more washes.

It’s also biodegradable meaning the product breaks down naturally and safely in the environment, minimizing and limiting long-term pollution impact.

I bought a litre for less than two quid. They’ve upped the size now to a litre and a half for £2.95 (75 washes) so still a good deal compared to less environmentally friendly big brand options.

If you have to buy fabric softener I say get this one.