I tried sensitive fabric conditioners from Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco to see if any of them could compete against Comfort.
While fabric softeners aren’t a must-have, they do more than just add a pleasant scent and softness to your clothes. They also help garments maintain their shape, provide protection against bobbling and guard against colour fading.
Although it’s a staple in my fortnightly shop, I noticed the prices creeping up, with my go-to Comfort Pure nearly £5 for 80 washes.
Given my sensitive skin, this is the only one I can use, but I began to see supermarkets offering their own versions for sensitive skin. So, I recently put sensitive fabric softeners from Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco to the test to see if any could hold a candle to Comfort.
I was evaluating the fragrance and its longevity, the softness of my clothing, and, of course, the price, reports the Express.
Lidl Doussy Sensitive Fabric Softener – £3.85 (120 washes)
The Lidl fabric softener was only available in a larger bottle at my local store, providing me with 120 washes. It had a subtle yet fresh scent, although the bottle was far too large to pour easily.
My clothes felt soft and clean, but the fragrance was a bit too synthetic for my liking. That said, it offers good value for money and doesn’t irritate my skin.
Score: 5/10
Morrisons Pure Fabric Softener – £1.29 (40 washes)
I found this liquid a bit thin and watery compared to other fabric softeners. I didn’t notice that this impacted the final outcome, apart from a slight film on the clothes, but this could have been because more liquid was dispensed than necessary.
Despite having a spout, I found it slightly difficult to pour, and the bottle was made of quite soft plastic, which easily lost its shape over time.
Score: 4/10
ASDA Pure Cotton Sensitive Fabric Softener – £2.78 (80 washes)
This bottle is two litres, making it quite challenging to pour, but it did smell fantastic, and it’s excellent value for money.
It has a nice and fresh scent, and my clothes seemed less wrinkled than usual, which was convenient. However, I had to transfer this into a smaller bottle as I found it kept spilling in the larger bottle.
Score: 8/10
Sainsbury’s Fabric Conditioner Gentle Pure – £1.29 (40 washes)
This fabric softener had a light and fresh fragrance, but this didn’t carry through to my laundry, particularly when dry. Having said that, this is when the clothes were dried indoors, and they did have more of a scent when dried outdoors.
For the price, I would definitely buy this again, and it didn’t irritate my skin or leave a slimy feel on the clothes.
Score: 5/10
Aldi’s Almat So Soft Fabric Conditioner – £1.35 (40 washes)
I was surprised to find that this fabric softener in my local shop was pricier than Sainsbury’s alternative, which, in my view, performed better.
While it did have a fresh scent, it didn’t last long, and my clothes didn’t end up smelling of anything at all.
Score: 4/10
Essential Waitrose Fabric Conditioner Gentle – £2.95 (75 washes)
I found this fabric conditioner to be quite pricey, but it was pleasant to use. It left my clothes soft, smelling great, everything you want in a fabric softener.
Would I buy this again? I think only if it were on offer, as the price is not that affordable compared to other ones I’ve tried.
Score: 6/10
Comfort Pure Gently Fresh Sensitive Fabric Conditioner – £1.85 (31 washes)
My go-to fabric conditioner, Comfort Pure, smells great and leaves my clothes nice and soft. While it is easy to pour and comes in a sleek bottle, I do tend to find my clothing doesn’t stay smelling fresh for very long.
This means I often couple it up with scent boosters, which aren’t the best for sensitive skin. It’s also slightly more expensive than other fabric conditioners in the test, and I personally think they worked better.
Score: 7/10
Tesco Pure Fabric Conditioner – £1.61 (50 washes)
Lightly fragranced with a delicate pear and a hint of apricot, this fabric conditioner smelled delicious, and my clothes had a long-lasting fragrance.
They were also left feeling soft, and the softener didn’t irritate my skin at all. This was my favourite I tried, and found it better than Comfort as the smell lasted much longer.
Paired with the affordable price point, I’d highly recommend trying out this fabric conditioner.
Score: 10/10
M&S Sensitive Concentrated Fabric Conditioner – £3.50 (50 washes)
This sensitive, plant-based conditioner softened my clothes well, and it’s also fragrance-free to help reduce irritation.
The bottle, although very aesthetically pleasing, is quite chunky and hard to pour as it doesn’t have a grip, which makes it hard to use.
It’s also quite expensive, and although I’m not sure I’d buy again at this price point, it did soften my clothes well.
Score: 7/10