WE TEST… fabric conditioner
Things we considered: What’s the scent like? Are clothes soft? Good value for money?
Lenor Outdoorable
Tropical Sunset, £3.50 for 490ml, Sainsbury’s
This bottle may be the smallest on test, but it packs a punch – the ultra-concentrated formula means that you use less of the liquid in each laundry load. Its Outdoorable Range has been designed to recreate the freshness of drying clothes outside, and even when using a small amount, clothes were left with a fruity, summery smell which also wafted throughout the home. It left clothes noticeably softer, too.
Almat So Soft Pure & Gentle fabric conditioner, £1.19 for 1.26L, Aldi
As the cheapest option on test, Almat So Soft is a savvy buy for busy households with lots of large washloads. We didn’t notice that our laundry was particularly softer than usual, but we did like the fragrance. The Pure & Gentle scent is noticeable with the suggested 50ml dose, but not overpowering – a faint baby powderlike smell is left on clothes for days afterwards.
Fabric conditioner in Apple Blossom & Almond, £5 for 1.5L, Ecover
This palm-oil free, cruelty-free, vegan formula, in its recycled plastic bottle (and also available from refill stations) ticks all the eco-friendly boxes. Your house smells gorgeous while the clothes are airing, and the fragrance lasts well. Bedding and clothes were left softer, with no irritation on sensitive skin. We did have to use quite a generous measure – the suggested 30ml dose (which would provide 50 washes per bottle) was only enough for small loads.
Fairy Outdoorable fabric conditioner, £4 for 770ml, Amazon
Hypoallergenic and dermatologically-tested, this fabric conditioner is great for sensitive skin. The ultra-concentrated formula provides 55 washes per bottle and is bursting with a fresh fragrance. It left clothes noticeably softer and continued to release its outdoorsy fragrance when drying and once clothes were in the wardrobe.
The bottle is made from 100 per cent recycled materials, so its eco-credentials aren’t bad.