Fabric softeners are one of those special laundry additives that give your clothes a softer feel and a pleasant scent. They coat the fabric with a thin layer of chemicals that reduce static cling by making the clothes smoother.
It is not a good idea to put fabric softener in the bleach dispenser. This is because when some chemicals in the softener when coming into contact with bleach
Can I put Fabric Softener in the Bleach Dispenser?
The truth is, using a fabric softener in a bleach dispenser is not recommended. Bleach and fabric softener are laundry products that serve different purposes.
Bleach and fabric softener should not be mixed, especially in the washing cycle. When these two are mixed and washed together, they form an acid-like substance that can have corrosive effects on your washer.
If the chemical reaction does not damage your washer, it will affect your clothing by leaving spots or discoloring them. However, there are instances when you can use the dispensers interchangeably if you only need to wash one item of clothing at a time.
What Happens If You Put Fabric Softener in the Bleach Compartment?
A lot of people make the mistake of putting fabric softener in the same compartment as bleach but this can cause problems.
Fabric softeners are acidic and mixing them with bleach can produce toxic chlorine gas in the long run, which can cause breathing problems and even burns. The smell of chlorine will also be hard to get rid of.
Also mixing the two would make your machine unable to release liquid bleach during the cycle.
So it is not a good idea to use fabric softener and bleach at the same time because these chemicals can react with one another and cause an unwanted chemical reaction.
What Happens If You Accidentally Put Fabric Softener in Detergent Dispenser
Some people like to use both a fabric softener and a detergent together. Some people like to use both a fabric softener and a detergent together. In that case, it doesn’t matter where you put the fabric softener as long as you don’t put it in the compartment that has the bleach.
If you put fabric softener in the detergent compartment, it will probably not do any harm, ruin your washing machine, or do anything else bad.
Fabric softener does have some sort of mild soap in it, so it would probably clean your clothes just like bleach does when added during the wash cycle.
I’d say throw it in with the detergent and give it a go.
What Happens If You Use Too Much Fabric Softener
There are a few reasons why you should avoid using too much fabric softener on clothes. Too much of it could damage your clothes over time.
If you use too much of it can make your clothes feel a bit sticky. This could especially be a problem if your washing machine doesn’t rinse the fabric softener properly out of the load.
Just like when you pour too much detergent into the washing machine, too much fabric softener can leave a residue on your clothing, which can make them feel stiff even after drying.
To make sure you don’t overdo it with the liquid fabric softener, add a quarter-sized dollop at a time until you get the level of scent that you like.
What Will Happen If You Put Bleach in the Fabric Softener?
Bleach is a product that’s used in the home to clean and disinfect surfaces. It’s also used to remove stains from fabrics and whiten clothing.
The only thing that could happen if you accidentally combine bleach and fabric softener would be the formation of chloroform gas, which is a health hazard.
Fabric softener contains an organic compound called quaternary ammonium cation, so it will react with the bleach to form chloroform gas.
When this gas is inhaled in small quantities, it irritates the eyes and lungs of the victim.
How to Get Fabric Softener Out of Bleach Dispenser
The bleach dispenser is a white plastic cup that sits on top of the agitator in your washing machine. It dispenses bleach automatically during the wash cycle.
If you accidentally pour fabric softener into the bleach dispenser, you must remove it from the top of the washing machine.
Here are steps to clean fabric softener out of bleach dispenser.
- Run hot water for about a minute to loosen any remaining fabric softener.
- Dump out the water and dry the dispenser with a clean rag or paper towels.
- Fill the dispenser with a solution of detergent and hot water, using enough to submerge the build-up of the fabric softener in the dispenser.
- Let the solution soak for about five minutes, then dump it out and rinse the dispenser with water at least twice to remove all traces of the solution
- Dry the dispenser with a clean rag or paper towels, and fill it with warm water again for another rinse and dry cycle to remove any final traces of fabric softener residue.
Where Do I Put Fabric Softener in My Washing Machine
Washing with fabric softener can leave clothes feeling softer and smelling fresher. Depending on your washing machine, there are two ways to add fabric softener to a wash. Some machines have a designated compartment for fabric softener, while others mix the softener in with the detergent.
If you’re not sure where to put fabric softener in your washing machine, you should look for a small compartment that is indicated with a star or flower icon.
It is important to add fabric softener at the correct time during the washing machine cycle.
Where to Put Fabric Softener in Washing Machine Without Dispenser
Top-loading washers with agitators generally do not have a dispenser for liquid fabric softeners. But you can still take advantage of the benefits of softener in these machines.
You can add fabric softener directly to the wash cycle like you would with most detergents. However, fabric softeners are made to be added at the very end of a load, during the rinse cycle.
This is not possible for top load washers without a fabric softener dispenser as there is no way to set this on the machine.
The easiest way to get around this issue is to pour it into the water as it fills at the beginning of the rinse cycle.
If you don’t want to do that, measure out your normal amount and pour it into a small plastic container with a cover. Keep it by your washer until you need it and then simply pull off the cover and pour some in.
In front load machines with no dispenser, add the fabric softener directly into the drum of your washing machine.
Conclusion
While fabric softener is a helpful product in the laundry, it’s important to be aware that it isn’t meant to be part of your bleach cycle in place of bleach itself. So if you think you can avoid the bleach by using fabric softener, don’t do it—keep the two separate and use both for maximum effectiveness.
