7 Best Fabric Softeners for Clothes, Tested by Laundry Experts

The gold standard of fabric softeners, Ultra Downy is a long time Good Housekeeping Seal Star for good reason. It always imparts the most noticeable softness in our tests. Its recognizable and long-lasting floral scent is one that most testers love, though it may be a bit strong for anyone sensitive to fragrances. Downy was the first brand to coin the term fabric "conditioner" as it also protects clothing from stretching, fading and fuzz, ultimately adding to the longevity of your favorite items.

While April Fresh is Ultra Downy's most iconic scent and can also be found in dryer sheets and scent beads, there are other Ultra Downy liquid versions available that provide extra softening benefits and luxurious scents, like lavender, vanilla bean, eucalyptus and cedarwood.

One of the first things dermatologists often recommend for patients with sensitive skin is to eliminate the use of fabric softener. But for babies or anyone irritated by dyes and fragrances, Downy makes a Free and Gentle liquid version of its beloved fabric softener (though not dryer sheets). And softer fabrics are more soothing on sensitive skin. It's dye-free and perfume-free and also carries our Good Housekeeping Seal.

Our Lab tests consistently show that no fabric softener leaves clothes as soft as Downy, and that's true for the Free and Gentle formula as well. Plus, it's dermatologist-tested and recognized by the National Eczema Association and the National Psoriasis Foundation. And a little goes a long way — all you need is a small capful so it's also a great value.

Dryer sheets work their magic when heat from the dryer transfers the softening and static-zapping ingredients from the sheet to your wet load. And in GH tests, Bounce does it best. Our towels were lightly softened and scented and the socks we tumbled with other synthetic materials emerged cling-free and ready to pair up without having to peel them off other items.

Bounce is perfect for those who want a bit of softening, some scent and static control, but it can also be used in conjunction with a liquid softener for maximum benefits. Bounce is available in several scents, unscented and even in oversized sheets for three times the benefits along with a version that helps remove pet hair clinging to fabrics which we've tested and found worked well.

Though these single-use sheets are disposable and are usually tossed after every use, you can't beat them for convenience. There's no heavy bottle to lug around — great for anyone who heads to the laundromat to do their wash — and no messy drips, spills or gunky dispenser residue to scrub away.

We were pleasantly surprised when we tested Beyond dryer sheets for a previous Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Award program for a number of reasons. These sheets are a 99% USDA Certified Biobased Product, which means that not only are Beyond's softening ingredients derived from plant-based materials, but the non-woven sheet is made from renewable fibers as well. In addition, the fragrance is made with essential oils and the product is responsibly packaged and labeled, without any exaggerated environmental claims.

Though Beyond is a bit more expensive per use than other sheets and available in only one scent, both our Lab experts and consumers were impressed by its performance. We noted ample softening and static control without any waxy residue. “I liked the long-lasting, natural scent," a tester told us. "It leaves clothes smelling very clean and fresh, but without the perfume-y smell that I am so accustomed to with typical dryer sheets.”

Liquid softeners get a bad rap because they can leave fabrics feeling waxy and coated, especially when used too often or too generously. This was not the case with Ensueño Max. In our tests, this plant-based formula — a previous winner of a Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Award — softened without leaving items feeling slippery. And one tester praised the product for how well it reduced static.

Those who like a long-lasting scent should take note. Ensueño Max uses essential oils in its formula and, like other brands that emit fragrance over time, contains micro-capsules that release scent as clothing items are touched and worn. And we like that the formula is biodegradable and the bottle is made with 80% recycled plastic.

Some noted that the product is very thick — although we didn't find so in our testing — but it is concentrated, so make sure to follow package dosing instructions carefully to avoid using too much.

Though technically not a traditional fabric softener, Downy Rinse & Refresh gets added to your washer's fabric softener compartment and dispensed into the rinse cycle like a traditional conditioner. The difference: It contains citric acid to rinse away trapped odors and hard water, detergent and other build-up to make stiff, smelly items, like towels, fresh and soft again. It's safe on all fabrics — even those you can't typically use fabric softener on, like athletic wear, microfiber and flame-resistant clothing and won't lessen absorbency.

In our tests, Downy Rinse & Refresh — a Good Housekeeping Seal Star — impressively softened up old, stiff washcloths and it helps keep newer items residue-free, so there's no need for a separate "laundry stripping" step.

The manufacturer recently made the product more concentrated so some versions now tout three times the odor-eliminating power of detergent. The slightly floral, fresh scent it leaves behind is praised by users as "amazing," though there is a Free & Gentle formula for those who prefer it.

HEX Performance is a brand designed around caring for athletic wear and in our Cleaning Lab experience, its detergent works very well in cleaning and removing odors from workout fabrics. And while it's not recommended to use fabric softener on items like microfiber and workout apparel, this formula is an exception to the rule. It's specially designed to be thinner than other fabric conditioners to penetrate tightly knit fabrics, rinse out odors, prevent buildup, and maintain absorbency and moisture-wicking properties.

Though the Fresh & Clean formula does have a subtle scent, it's made with sensitive skin in mind — without heavy fragrances or irritants — so the scent may not be long-lasting enough for some. But for those who prefer, there is a fragrance-free version as well.