243:
231:
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167:, where the droplets of the hydrophobic phase are substantially smaller. Microemulsions provide the advantage of increased ability of smaller particles to penetrate into the fibers. Manufacturers often use a mixture of cationic and non-ionic surfactants as an emulsifier. Another approach is a polymeric network, an emulsion polymer.
95:
Fabric softeners impart anti-static properties to fabrics, and thus prevent the build-up of electrostatic charges on synthetic fibers, which in turn eliminates fabric cling during handling and wearing, crackling noises, and dust attraction. Also, fabric softeners make fabrics easier to iron and help
64:
Washing machines put great mechanical stress on textiles, particularly natural fibers such as cotton and wool. The fibers at the fabric's surface are squashed and frayed, and this condition hardens into place when drying the laundry in open air, giving the textiles a harsh feel. Using a
198:
in detergents because they combine with them to form a solid precipitate. This requires that the softener be added in the rinse cycle. Fabric softener reduces the absorbency of textiles, which adversely affects the function of towels and
307:
in detergents because they combine with them to form a solid precipitate. This requires that they be added in the rinse cycle. Anionic softeners can combine with anionic surfactants directly. Other anionic softeners can be based on
96:
reduce wrinkles in garments. In addition, they reduce drying times so that energy is saved when softened laundry is tumble-dried. Additionally, they can also impart a pleasant fragrance to the laundry.
80:
Fabric softeners coat the surface of a fabric with chemical compounds that are electrically charged, causing threads to "stand up" from the surface and thereby imparting a softer and fluffier texture.
340:, due to the fat-based nature of most softeners. Some deaths have been attributed to this phenomenon, and fabric softener makers recommend not using them on clothes labeled as flame-resistant.
72:
As of 2009, nearly 80% of US households had a mechanical clothes dryer. As such, fabric softeners are primarily used there to impart anti-static properties and/or a fragrance to laundry.
57:
before drying begins. Liquid fabric softeners may be added manually during the rinse cycle, automatically if the machine has a dispenser designed for this purpose, through use of a
148:, work by lubricating the fibers. Manufacturers use derivatives with amine- or amide-containing functional groups as well. These groups improve the softener's binding to fabrics.
46:
A fabric softener reduces the harsh feel of items that were dried in open air, adds a fragrance to the laundry, and/or imparts anti-static properties to textiles. In contrast to
194:
type as the main active ingredient. Cationic surfactants adhere well to natural fibers (wool, cotton), but less so to synthetic fibers. Cationic softeners are incompatible with
221:
Conventional softeners, which contain 4–6% active material, have been partially replaced in many countries by softener concentrates having some 12–30% active material.
242:
53:
Fabric softeners are either in the form of a liquid that is typically added during the washing machine rinse cycle, or as a dryer sheet which is added to a
510:
477:
393:
676:
84:
softeners bind by electrostatic attraction to the negatively charged groups on the surface of the fibers and neutralize their charge. The long
475:
Eduard
Smulders; Wolfgang Rybinski; Eric Sung; Wilfried Rähse; Josef Steber; Frederike Wiebel; Anette Nordskog (2007). "Laundry Detergents".
997:
740:
230:
1111:
303:. These are often used together with the conventional cationic softeners. Cationic softeners are incompatible with anionic
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351:
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results in a softening effect, but it is less than what can be achieved through the use of a fabric softener.
992:
582:
966:
733:
170:
In addition to fabric softening chemicals, fabric softeners may include acids or bases to maintain optimal
1195:
540:
61:, or poured onto a piece of laundry to be dried (such as a wash cloth) which is then put into the dryer.
578:"Dryer Sheets — The science that gives clothing a soft feel and fresh scent as it prevents static cling"
1200:
215:
133:
726:
28:
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Formerly, the active material of most softeners in Europe, the United States, and Japan, was
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8:
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128:-based fibers (i.e., cotton), others have higher affinity to hydrophobic materials like
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175:
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Eduard
Smulders; Eric Sung (2012). "Laundry Detergents, 2. Ingredients and Products".
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591:
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to reduce the risk of skin irritation. Fabric softener overuse may make clothes more
137:
124:
oil. Softening compounds differ in affinity to various fabrics. Some work better on
47:
39:. A similar, more dilute preparation meant to be applied to dry fabric is known as a
1125:
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50:, fabric softeners may be regarded as a kind of after-treatment laundry aid.
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313:
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phosphate esters, have softening, anti-static, and surfactant properties.
163:. The emulsions are usually opaque, milky fluids. However, there are also
151:
As softeners are often hydrophobic, they commonly occur in the form of an
1046:
871:
830:
352:"Millennials Are Fine Without Fabric Softener; P&G Looks to Fix That"
677:"Liquid fabric softener may make clothes more flammable: Quebec coroner"
1154:
1062:
925:
881:
304:
160:
428:"Dynamics of fabric and dryer sheet motion in domestic clothes dryers"
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Jones, C. R.; Corona, A.; Amador, C.; Fryer, P. J. (2022-07-15).
333:
214:, such tallow-derived compounds were replaced by the more labile
32:
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chains then line up towards the outside of the fiber, imparting
1164:
1082:
1072:
772:
635:"Fabric softener and anti-static compositions – Patent 4118327"
121:
1026:
976:
292:
129:
547:. Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles. pp. 109–148.
156:
109:
718:
511:"ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Dryers"
329:
324:
As with soaps and detergents, fabric softeners may cause
390:
171:
104:
Early cotton softeners were typically based on a water
425:
328:. Manufacturers produce some fabric softeners without
236:Diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride (DEEDMAC)
210:(DSDMAC) or related quat salts. Due to their poor
1187:
178:, emulsion stabilizers, fragrances, and colors.
155:. In the early formulations, manufacturers used
538:
478:Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry
394:Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry
734:
225:Cationic surfactants used as fabric softeners
998:Laundry and Dry Cleaning International Union
181:
282:
741:
727:
443:
608:
696:
481:. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. pp. 86–87.
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386:
384:
382:
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186:Rinse-cycle softeners usually contain
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722:
520:. United States Government. p. 3
343:
1112:Kimball Laundry Co. v. United States
575:
539:Kumar, Asim; Choudhury, Roy (2017).
699:"Cleaning Flame-Retardant Clothing"
637:. Freepatentsonline.com. 1977-03-28
377:
350:Terlep, Sharon (16 December 2016).
99:
13:
553:10.1016/B978-0-08-100646-7.00006-0
468:
275:Distearyldimethylammonium chloride
208:distearyldimethylammonium chloride
14:
1212:
1150:Baths and wash houses in Britain
1011:Worshipful Company of Launderers
1003:Laundry Workers Industrial Union
267:
253:
241:
229:
690:
669:
545:Principles of Textile Finishing
312:clays. Some compounds, such as
174:for absorption, silicone-based
648:
627:
609:Morrison, Chris (2009-11-30).
602:
569:
532:
503:
419:
291:can be, for example, salts of
35:after it has been washed in a
1:
993:Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance
583:Chemical and Engineering News
487:10.1002/14356007.a08_315.pub2
445:10.1080/07373937.2021.1918706
370:
7:
748:
576:Wang, Linda (14 Apr 2008).
565:– via Science Direct.
248:TEAQ (triethanolamine quat)
10:
1217:
144:-based compounds, such as
134:polyethylene terephthalate
1142:
1096:
1055:
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949:
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182:Cationic fabric softeners
403:10.1002/14356007.o15_013
319:
283:Anionic fabric softeners
218:in the 1980s and 1990s.
611:"How Dryer Sheets Work"
397:. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH.
261:HEQ (Hamburg esterquat)
27:(British English) is a
759:List of laundry topics
697:Heloise (2001-11-28).
287:Anionic softeners and
23:(American English) or
1170:Self-service laundry
1007:Project Laundry List
656:"Contact dermatitis"
188:cationic surfactants
146:polydimethylsiloxane
1105:Barbier v. Connolly
356:Wall Street Journal
326:irritant dermatitis
196:anionic surfactants
192:quaternary ammonium
176:anti-foaming agents
76:Mechanism of action
31:that is applied to
1196:Laundry substances
1133:Yick Wo v. Hopkins
1037:Industrial laundry
806:Combo washer dryer
344:Additional reading
48:laundry detergents
25:fabric conditioner
1201:Cleaning products
1183:
1182:
783:Laundry detergent
703:Good Housekeeping
438:(10): 2087–2104.
432:Drying Technology
289:antistatic agents
138:polyacrylonitrile
16:Chemical compound
1208:
1126:Pearson v. Chung
1119:Muller v. Oregon
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295:and diesters of
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212:biodegradability
201:microfiber cloth
100:Fabric softeners
41:wrinkle releaser
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541:"6 - Softening"
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297:phosphoric acid
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59:dispensing ball
37:washing machine
21:fabric softener
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615:HowStuffWorks
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1160:Laundry room
1131:
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1117:
1110:
1103:
1078:Laundry ball
1032:Housekeeping
862:Clothes line
821:Wet cleaning
811:Dry cleaning
777:
706:. Retrieved
702:
692:
681:. Retrieved
671:
660:. Retrieved
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639:. Retrieved
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359:. Retrieved
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67:tumble dryer
63:
55:tumble dryer
52:
45:
40:
24:
20:
18:
1056:Accessories
1047:Washerwoman
872:Hills Hoist
831:Wash copper
524:15 December
518:Energy Star
361:17 December
314:ethoxylated
305:surfactants
216:ester-quats
161:emulsifiers
140:, etc. New
29:conditioner
1190:Categories
1175:Tvättstuga
1155:Dhobi Ghat
1063:Clothespin
926:Box mangle
882:Dryer ball
708:2020-12-06
683:2015-11-20
662:2015-10-24
641:2009-06-04
620:2021-01-17
590:(15): 47.
371:References
293:monoesters
972:Shrinkage
919:Finishing
908:Laundroid
903:FoldiMate
826:Washboard
766:Chemicals
658:. Medline
596:0009-2347
462:236596597
454:0737-3937
338:flammable
126:cellulose
114:olive oil
90:lubricity
86:aliphatic
950:Concepts
334:perfumes
310:smectite
299:and the
277:(DSDMAC)
153:emulsion
142:silicone
118:corn oil
106:emulsion
82:Cationic
1020:Culture
967:Posting
962:Fulling
936:Ironing
891:Folding
799:Washing
750:Laundry
190:of the
33:laundry
1165:Lavoir
1143:Places
1083:Posser
1073:Hamper
877:Mangle
845:Drying
773:Bleach
594:
559:
493:
460:
452:
409:
122:tallow
1027:Dhobi
977:Stain
679:. CBC
514:(PDF)
458:S2CID
320:Risks
157:soaps
130:nylon
120:, or
788:pods
592:ISSN
557:ISBN
526:2023
491:ISBN
450:ISSN
407:ISBN
363:2016
332:and
330:dyes
112:and
110:soap
1097:Law
549:doi
483:doi
440:doi
399:doi
159:as
108:of
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172:pH
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.