The 10 Best Liquid Fabric Softeners
This wiki has been updated 27 times since it was first published in May of 2018. If you're tired of scratchy clothes that are stuck together when you pull them out of the dryer, then it's time to consider adding a liquid fabric softener to your laundry. Simply pour a capful of one of these selections into the designated area of your washing machine or a dispensing ball, and you'll soon have garments that smell fantastic, feel even better, and aren't plagued by static cling. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Mrs. Meyers Clean Day
2. Snuggle Plus Super Fresh
3. Seventh Generation Natural
Editor's Notes
October 01, 2019:
Joining the list in today's update is Vaska Exceptional, Seventh Generation Natural, and Mrs. Meyers Clean Day. We brought these selections on board to replace items that had become unavailable (IE Snuggle Exhilarations and Ever Natural Organic Control) as well as to add a few more natural formulas to the list to cater to those who want to start edging chemicals out of their daily lives. When used in conjunction with a plant-derived laundry detergent you'll find they work just as well as name brands do. That being said, we still wanted to include tried-and-true choices from the likes of Gain, All, Downy, and Snuggle.
We favored items that are safe for HE washers, as well as front and top-loading units. We also prioritized effective formulas with lovely, long-lasting scents that come packaged in sturdy, easy-pour bottles. Many of the choices on this list are concentrated, so you won't need much more than a capful per load.
Of course, added fragrances and dyes can be a nightmare for users with sensitive skin, which is why you'll find Downy Free & Gentle and All Free Clear on this list. If you're not completely intolerant of dyes and scents, but still need something hypoallergenic, look to Seventh Generation Natural and other gentle solutions.
Special Honors
The Good Home Co. Laundry Fragrance If a lovely, lingering scent is your main priority when you use fabric softener, then this offering from The Good Home Co. will serve you well. Formulated over 20 years ago, this tried-and-true solution comes in fragrances like beach days, lavender, and pure grass. It's free of parabens, phosphates, sulfates, and phthalates, is never tested on animals, and is 100 percent vegan. goodhomestore.com
The Laundress Classic Conditioner This plant-derived conditioner from The Laundress decreases drying time, fluffs and softens fabrics, eases ironing, eliminates wrinkles, and reduces static cling. It's highly concentrated and is scented with a classic clean laundry fragrance. It's made in the United States, and is nontoxic, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic, as well as free of petroleum, phosphates, phthalates, and artificial color. thelaundress.com
4. Downy April Fresh
5. Downy Free & Gentle
6. All Free Clear
7. Downy Infusions Lavender Serenity
8. Vaska Exceptional
9. Purex Sweet Lavender
10. Gain Original
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.