Do you use fabric conditioner when washing clothes?

Fire

I'm a bit puzzled by the world of clothes softeners and conditioners. Why are they so popular? Do you use them?

B3

Once in a blue moon. I would only use them if something was clingy or scratchy but I don't deliberately buy anything likely to cling or scratch so a bottle would last me well over a year.

edhelka

always

Almost always. I like the fragrance. I don't care much about the softening/conditioning effect.

Busy-Lizzie

sometimes

I always use them when washing jumpers, keeps them soft. I use them for towels when line drying, but not when tumble drying. I don't use them for sheets.

pansyface

sometimes

Yes, definitely when hand washing woollens. Without conditioner they feel rough and scritchy. Otherwise, it’s a bit pot luck. They do make the cats’ bedding smell fresher.😁

D0rdogne_Damsel

I like the fragrance too. Allegedly, if you use on towels it hinders their drying properties (although as Busy Lizzie suggests, line drying might alter that). 

BenCotto

not really

I use them at double B3’s rate - twice in a blue moon.

B3

"There are two different definitions for a Blue Moon. A seasonal Blue Moon is the third Full Moon of an astronomical season that has four Full Moons. A monthly Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a calendar month with two Full Moons. "
It would appear that blue moons happen more often than my fabric conditioning🤔

pansyface

sometimes

I believe, though I’m quite probably wrong, that the basic chemical component of fabric conditioner is the same as hair conditioner,  So I suppose the effect of untangling fibres is the same.

Dovefromabove

never

I used to use it. Then I acquired OH ... the smell of such stuff made his chest wheezy, so I stopped using it. We’ve not noticed any difference in the feel of clothes but the difference in his chest and the gunk the washing machine pipes is great. We use Calgon water softener in every wash and Ecover liquid and our clothes etc don’t seem to dry harsh. We try to wear mainly natural fibres. 

Hand knits and fine fabrics such as silk are hand washed in Stergene. 

raisingirl

never

They make me itch and they give OH a migraine, so I never use them. I can't say I find myself wishing I could - never found one that smells as nice as line dried washing. I can imagine they'd gum up the washing machine which would then need more strong chemicals to degunk it. I feel much the same way about them as I do about air fresheners and scented candles - stealthy chemical poisoning.