How to Remove Fabric Softener Stains From Clothes

How to Remove Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheet Stains From Clothing

1. Wash in Vinegar Solution

   If you discover oily streaks on clothes as they come out of the washing machine, simply place the clothes back in the washer with no detergent or fabric softener, and add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar to the wash water. Let the clothes go through a full wash/rinse cycle, and the stains should be gone.

   Tip

   Be careful not to put undiluted vinegar directly on colored fabrics, as it contains a mild acid that can bleach color from items. Put the cup of liquid in the washer drum before you load the clothes back into the drum. Start the load right away. The water added by the washing machine will dilute the vinegar as needed.

2. Soak in Oxygen-Based Bleach

   If the fabric-softener-stained clothes already went through the dryer, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and warm water following package directions. Submerge the stained items, and allow them to soak for at least four hours or overnight. Then, wash as usual without any detergent or fabric softener. Oxygen bleach is safe to use on both white and colored washable fabrics other than wool, silk, leather, or wooden buttons.

3. Remove Dryer Sheet Stains

   If you see what appears to be grease stains on freshly dried clothes and suspect dryer sheet residue, rub the spots with a wet bar of soap like Fels-Naptha or Zote, or a bit of liquid dishwashing soap, and then rewash.

How to Prevent Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheet Stains

If you use fabric softeners and dryer sheets, then your clothes are at risk of stains. To remedy the issue follow these steps.

1. Shake Liquid Fabric Softener and Dilute if Necessary

   Shake the bottle of liquid fabric softener well each time before using it, because the ingredients can separate. Next, dilute the fabric softener with an equal amount of warm water before adding it to the washer to help disperse the liquid. This should be done whether you use an automatic dispenser, dispensing ball, or add the fabric softener manually to the rinse cycle.

   Warning

   Never pour liquid fabric softener directly onto fabric, as this often will leave an oily stain.

2. Clean Out Your Dispenser

   If your washing machine has an automatic fabric softener dispenser, clean it out regularly by flushing the dispenser with heated distilled white vinegar or very hot water, followed by a rinse cycle with no laundry in the washer. You will be amazed at all of the clumps of fabric softener residue that will fall out. Those clumps can easily stain your laundry if left in place.

3. Do Not Overload the Washer

   Avoid overloading the washer. Without room to move easily through the water and fabric softener solution, some clothes will get excessive exposure to the fabric softener, which can cause streaking or spotting.

4. Use Dryer Sheets Properly

   To avoid spots on clean clothes from dryer sheets, always place the dryer sheet on the top of the freshly loaded clothes and start the dryer immediately. Again, do not overload the dryer. Do not bury the sheet in the middle of the load where it can get trapped. The spots occur when the dryer sheet stays in contact with a fabric surface for too long.

   Tips

   Dryer sheets are activated by heat and should not be used when you are using the air fluff or low heat dryer cycle.

Additional Tips for Handling Fabric Softener Stains

If you continue to find annoying fabric softener or dryer sheet stains on your freshly laundered clothing even after following all of the above steps, try switching to a new brand. It could be that the product you have been using simply does not react well with your home's water supply, your washing machine, or the laundry detergent you regularly use.