The soft feel and pleasant smell that fabric softeners impart may seem appealing, but these products not only damage functional and waterproof clothing, but come with environmental and health concerns.
To begin, fabric softener settles on the surface of the garment as a waxy or oily coating, severely reducing its carefully engineered breathability and moisture-transfer capacity. Aditionally, the invisible coating also prevents repair tape from sticking to the fabric.
Fabric softeners contain plasticizing ammonium compounds designed to prevent static electricity. Unfortunately, these long-lasting chemicals are also allergenic and, most often, bioaccumulative, damaging organisms and their environment. Likewise the fragrances, dyes and preservatives in fabric softeners, which consist of chemicals such as phthalates that are also harmful to the environment and human health.