Fabric Softener

A fabric softener is a liquid composition added to washing machines during the rinse cycle to make clothes feel better to the touch.

These products work by depositing lubricating chemicals on the fabric that make it feel softer, reduce static cling, and impart a fresh fragrance.

The first fabric softeners were developed by the textile industry during the early twentieth century. At that time the process that was used to dye cotton fibers left them feeling harsh.

In the early 1900s, preparations known as cotton softeners were developed to improve the feel of these fibers after dyeing.

A typical cotton softener consisted of seven parts water, three parts soap, and one part olive, corn, or tallow oil. With advances in organic chemistry, new compounds were created that could soften fabric more effectively.

These improved formulations soon found their way into the commercial market.

By the 1960s several major marketers, including Procter and Gamble, had begun selling liquid fabric softener compositions for home use.

The popularity of these products dramatically increased over the next decade as manufacturers developed new formulations that provided improved softness and more appealing fragrances.

Despite their growing popularity, fabric softeners suffered from one major disadvantage: the softener chemicals are not compatible with detergents and therefore they can not be added to the washer until all the detergent has been removed in the rinse cycle.

Initially, this restriction required the consumer to make an extra trip to the washing machine if they wanted to soften their clothes.http://www.knittingfabric.cc/