Best fabric softener UK

Which is the best fabric softener in 2024?

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Best of 2024: Find the right fabric softener in the UK

Finding the best fabric softener is always worthwhile: Not only does it leave your clothes feeling soft and gentle, but a good fabric softener also reduces static, makes ironing easier, and leaves your laundry smelling fresh. However, with so many products to choose from, knowing the best fabric softeners for your laundry needs is not always straight forward. In our handy buying guide, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know to find the best fabric softener!


The 10 best fabric softeners in the UK (December 2024)

The bestseller list compares fabric softeners from multiple brands
Best choice TOP 1
Image of Comfort 8720181324970 fabric softener
Comfort 8720181324970
  • Softness: Smooth fibers for extra-soft clothes in every wash.
  • Scent: Long-lasting notes of zesty orange for a summery daydream.
  • Freshness: Enjoy 100 days of fresh, lasting fragrance with Stay Fresh technology.
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TOP 2
Image of Comfort 8720181324963 fabric softener
Comfort 8720181324963
  • Fragrance: Long-lasting zesty scent takes you to a fresh meadow.
  • Softness: Smooths fibres, making clothes extra soft to the touch.
  • Freshness: Enjoy 100 days of lasting fragrance with Stay Fresh technology.
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Offer TOP 3
Image of Comfort 8720181324987 fabric softener
Comfort 8720181324987
  • Recognition: Approved by British Skin Foundation and Mumsnet Rated.
  • Endurance: XXL pack lasts for 160 washes.
  • Gentleness: Hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested for sensitive skin.
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TOP 4
Image of Lenor 8001090742094 fabric softener
Lenor 8001090742094
  • Protection: Guards fabrics against fading, bobbling, and stretching.
  • Scent: Enjoy the Summer Day scent with citrus, buttercup, and ocean notes.
  • Freshness: Experience outdoor-like freshness even when drying inside.
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TOP 5
Image of Comfort 8720181489129 fabric softener
Comfort 8720181489129
  • Fragrance: Soft, fresh scent suitable for the whole family
  • Concentration: Ultra-concentrated formula; provides softness with a minimal dose
  • Sensitivity: Dermatologically tested; ideal for sensitive skin
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TOP 6
Image of Comfort 8720181043833 fabric softener
Comfort 8720181043833
  • Concentration: Ultra-concentrated formula means you only need a small amount.
  • Fragrance: Leaves clothes with a gorgeous, long-lasting scent.
  • Protection: Provides complete clothes protection with PRO-FIBRE technology.
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TOP 7
Image of Ecover 4006116 fabric softener
Ecover 4006116
  • Packaging: Bottle is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, widely recyclable.
  • Fragrance: Clean and gentle Apple Blossom & Almond scent.
  • Eco-friendly: Made with plant-based ingredients, dermatologically tested, and vegan-friendly.
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TOP 8
Image of Fairy 8001090707314 fabric softener
Fairy 8001090707314
  • Protection: Prevents fading, bobbling, and stretching.
  • Freshness: Fresh outdoor scent even when drying inside.
  • Sensitivity: Voted #1 for sensitive skin, tested and hypoallergenic.
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TOP 9
Image of Lenor 8001090719751 fabric softener
Lenor 8001090719751
  • Protection: Prevents fading, bobbling, and stretching during washing.
  • Concentration: Ultra-concentrated formula for long-lasting effects.
  • Freshness: Experience outside-like freshness even when drying inside.
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TOP 10
Image of Lenor  fabric softener
Lenor
  • Softness: Ensure it promises to make fabrics exceptionally soft and comfortable.
  • Concentration: Go for a product that offers higher concentrate for effective fabric care.
  • Scent: Choose a fragrance that complements your preferences and laundry needs.
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Table of contents
  1. Read the definitive fabric softener buying guide
  2. View the fabric softener picks and see how they rank in the top list

fabric softener buying guide

Do you want to buy a good fabric softener? This is all you need to know.

A short explanation: What are fabric softeners?

Image of fabric softeners

A fabric softener is a laundering product used to provide optimal softness to fabrics including clothing and towels. A great addition to your washing, fabric softeners work with your detergent to leave your laundry looking, feeling and smelling great. They work by embedding positive electric charges into the fabric of your clothes, neutralizing the negative charges and leaving the clothes much softer.

What are the benefits of good fabric softeners?

A quality fabric softener is used to achieve a variety of benefits when laundering clothes. This includes:

  • Softer Clothes: The most obvious benefit of using fabric softener is softer clothes. After using a fabric softener your clothes feel a lot more comfortable to wear, especially with fabrics like towels and bedding.
  • Reduced Static: Another great benefit of using a fabric softener is less static in your laundry. This makes it easier to dry clothes and more comfortable to wear as well.
  • Better Smell: Fabric softener is an excellent way to freshen up your laundry. Your clothes smell great and feel much fresher when removing them from the wash.

How to choose the best fabric softener in 2024?

Additional image of fabric softener

With so many options available, finding the best fabric softener can be difficult. Here are some things to consider before buying:

  • Scent: While some love a strong scent on their clothes, others might prefer a more subtle fragrance or no scent at all. Most fabric softeners have a flowery fragrance, typically lavender, although citrus, apple, and other fruit fragrances can be found as well. Be sure to go with a scent the is appealing as this is the lasting aroma your clothes, towels, and bedding will have. Or simply go for an option with no scent for a smell-free alternative.
  • Skin: While all good fabric softeners are safe to use on skin, not all are friendly to skin types. If you have sensitive skin, it is recommended to buy a hypoallergenic fabric softener. These are designed to reduce the risk of irritating skin conditions. You may need to use a little more to get the desired softness from your clothes, so it can cause a bit of irritation, but most should be fine as long as you are careful to buy a suitable one!
  • Condition of Clothes: If your clothes are already really soft, lightweight, and static-resistant, then a softening fabric softener may not be needed! It is softening agents in the fabric softener that make towels and linen soft while reducing static on lighter materials, so if your clothes are fine unsoftened, then look for a different type. For clothes that are quite thick, heavy, rough, or coarse, then a thickening fabric softener is what you need to buy! This will help restore the garments' original texture, making a suitable for the items mentioned.

Which types of fabric softeners are available to buy in the UK?

There are three options when it comes to types of fabric softener:

  • Dryer Sheets: Dryer sheets are small sheets that are placed along with your laundry before it goes into the dryer. They do an excellent job softening clothes and prevent any static build-up. Another benefit of using a dryer sheet is the refreshing odour it leaves on the clothes.
  • Fabric Softener Balls: Fabric softener balls are used in the washing machine and do a great job softening the fabric as it is being washed. It does not need to be refilled like liquid softener and produces much less static.
  • Fabric Softener Liquid: The most widely type of fabric softener, it’s added to a compartment of your washing machine and leaves textiles feeling incredibly soft. Clothes are also less likely to wrinkle and static is reduced, while your laundry takes on a pleasant fresh fragrance.
…are you ready for the best picks of 2024?

VIEW THE TOP 10 LIST →