Cationic surface active agents as fabric softeners

Rinse cycle, wash cycle, and dryer type softeners are reviewed and their compositions discussed. Ashland’s conclusions are: (a) Rinse cycle softeners give the best performance from a softening and anti‐static point of view. They are, however, less convenient to use since they must be introduced into the final rinse, (b) Wash cycle softeners are convenient to use, but higher use levels are necessary to impart adequate softening and anti‐static properties making their use more expensive. They also tend to decrease the cleaning properties of the detergent used, (c) Dryer type softeners are convenient to use, but they impart less softening because of nonuniform deposition of softener on the fabric. The anti‐static properties, on the other hand, imparted by these softeners are very good.