What is Fabric Softener Made Of?
Fabric softeners are a huge industry today — raking in approximately one billion US Dollars (USD) annually. While many people rely on their favorite fabric softener to reduce static cling, soften their laundry and make ironing easier, they rarely stop to think about the science behind softening fabric. Fabric softeners were first devised in the early 1900s as a way to reduce the stiff, rough feeling of newly dyed cotton fabric. Early “cotton softeners” were developed using water, soap and oil — the oils most often used being corn, olive and tallow. Clothing manufacturers and consumers began to see the value in fabric softeners, and an industry was born. Products like these have evolved to meet additional consumer needs, with the addition of fresh scents, dyes and the ability to reduce wrinkles, make ironing easier, and added stain protection. The typical fabric softener contains chemicals and additives to make the fabric soft, and static free. Traditionally, the chemicals in fabric sof
