If you are putting a load of washing into the washing machine and you know you will be drying it in the tumble dryer, do you still use fabric conditioner? We always have done, but tumble drying naturally softens the fabrics so fabric conditioner shouldn’t be required.
I tested this out yesterday by washing a load of towels without adding fabric conditioner. When they came out of the dryer they felt no different to when using conditioner. Testing them against towels already in the airing cupboard showed no difference at all.
Of course using the tumble dryer instead of hanging laundry out to dry naturally is not environmentally friendly, but most people will be tumble drying some of the time. Using the every little helps philosophy it’s still good to save something whenever possible.
Related:
I wonder if there are still housing estates where hanging washing out on the line is banned in the lease or tenant agreement purely for aesthetic reasons? Many people in that situation will be forced to use the dryer. Is that imposition tenable these days? Surely it’s extremely environmentally un-friendly?
Addendum:
Fabric conditioner also has a water-proofing effect, which isn’t ideal for towels as it affects their absorbency.
You’ll find the towels will dry you better too. Conditioner makes them less absorbent.
Quote:
‘I wonder if there are still housing estates where hanging washing out on the line is banned… purely for aesthetic reasons?’
Here in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK, the majority of flats and some houses have this ban written into their deeds, so even owner-occupiers are prevented from drying washing outside. I suppose we local residents should club together and try to change these out-dated laws, especially with global warming now such a concern.
Unforunately, I believe the local Council would probably object, as they are overly obsessed with aesthetics (being a popular seaside resort), to the point where, for example, many properties in ‘conservation’ areas look hideous due to rotten window frames as the Council won’t let residents replace them with modern units, even wooden-framed double glazing!
Nickynockynoonoo: That’s a good point, one which I forgot to make. The fabric conditioner has a water-proofing effect on towels and reduces their absorbancy.
Haushinka: I would think the time has come when the argument that it looks prettier even though it’s damaging the environment will no longer stand up.
Hi , Just discovered that according to a lease we can’t see and haven’t seen that washing is banned from being pegged out on our balcony, no reason given other than its in a twenty year old lease. any ideas were to go from here if we want to actually have dry clothes ? Thank you
P.S Hope this isn’t too far of the topic , thanks
Joshua: Rules like that were made many years before environmental issues became important. The rules are simply to make the estate look nicer. You can try arguing it’s damaging the environment (and costing you money) by being prevented from drying laundry naturally (and presumably being forced to use a tumble dryer).
You’d presumably have to take it up with the lease holder. If necessary you could try taking advice from the local council or consumer advice centre to see if such a rule is still relevant.
I find the thought of being banned from hanging out washing hilarious- but suppose Alan Bennett would find hung out washing “common”.
On a different matter also mentioned here, why was fabric conditioner invented- it did not exist when I was a child?
Another moneyspinner from the detergent business?