Fabric conditioner
A cationic coating deposited on the fibre at the end of the wash. It is not a cleaner, and the coating is why several fabrics say never to use it.
What not to do
Fabric conditioner is unsafe on Microfibre
Unsafe
Do not do this. The risk is established, and it is described below.
It does not damage the cloth so much as switch it off, and nothing about the cloth shows it.
Evidence
Supported
Sources
The dos and don'ts on how to wash microfiber cloths and mop heads
Unger Global · Manufacturer documentation
Relied on for: That fabric softeners clog the fine microfibre fibres and reduce their ability to pick up dirt and moisture. (states this directly)
In detail
Fabric conditioner does not clean anything. It works by depositing a thin layer of cationic surfactant — a positively charged molecule that is attracted to the negatively charged surface of a wet fibre — which lubricates the fibres so they lie flatter, reduces static and softens the handle. Everything that follows from it is a consequence of that coating being there. On technical outerwear the coating blocks the breathable membrane and interferes with the water-repellent finish, which is why the manufacturer's care guidance excludes it. On microfibre it fills the split-fibre structure that does the cleaning, destroying the property the cloth was bought for. On towels it reduces absorbency for the same reason. On flame-retardant childrenswear it can compromise the finish. And in a washing machine the residue accumulates in the drawer, the drum and the door seal, where it feeds the smell people then try to remove with a hot wash. None of these is a rare edge case, which is why 'is fabric softener fine on everything' has a short answer, and the answer is no.
Properties
- pH
- Mildly acidic
Why
- Fabric conditioner is explained by Adsorption of odour molecules
- Fabric conditioner is explained by Static and dust
Sources for this page
Sources
W. L. Gore & Associates (GORE-TEX brand) · Manufacturer documentation
Relied on for: That the manufacturer's care guidance for waterproof breathable outerwear excludes fabric conditioner. (states this directly)