General Discussion

Liberal_in_LA

(44,397 posts) Thu Dec 22, 2016, 02:03 AM Dec 2016

Millennials blamed for the decline in fabric softener sales. Dont know its purpose [View all]

Blame the millennials!
The generation that everyone loves to blame is being accused of killing off yet another beloved household product: this time, it's fabric softener.

The tale of yet another product dying off due to its (lack of) millennial customers is being told by Procter & Gamble. Sales of fabric softener has been declining for years, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, and Procter & Gamble saw its own fabric softener sales decrease by 26 percent.

The reason? According to the company's head of global fabric care, millennials "don't know what the product is for."

Of course, there are other factors that probably play into the product's downturn — improvements to washers, dryers and detergents, athleticwear that can't be washed in fabric softener, as Consumerist points out — but it just seems that consumers (in general) don't see the point of fabric softener anymore.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Millennials-blamed-for-yet-another-product-s-10805204.php

93 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Millennials blamed for the decline in fabric softener sales. Dont know its purpose [View all] Liberal_in_LA Dec 2016 OP

This Gen Xer was amused by this article. LonePirate Dec 2016 #1

You buy it by the bucket full? Liberal_in_LA Dec 2016 #2

No. I don't think I have ever purchased it. I just like blaming Millennials for anything. LonePirate Dec 2016 #3

Me neither, but I love a good clueless Millennial anecdote! tandem5 Dec 2016 #10

Was it over when the Millennials bombed Pearl Harbor? FrodosNewPet Dec 2016 #37

I buy it by the bottle full BlueSpot Dec 2016 #16

not a healthy product KT2000 Dec 2016 #21

That's why this baby boomer stopped buying it. It's completely unnecessary and potentially harmful. randome Dec 2016 #41

Nor are perfumes and colognes. LanternWaste Dec 2016 #50

Yup, baby boomer here. Never bought it. TexasBushwhacker Dec 2016 #53

Or they could be buying cheaper house brands--which is what I do. nt tblue37 Dec 2016 #24

This old boomer never bought fabric softener. Ever. n/t Binkie The Clown Dec 2016 #4

Here is what you are missing Liberal_in_LA Dec 2016 #5

Thanks. n/t Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #8

I own nothing but jeans and T-shirts, and I don't iron them. Binkie The Clown Dec 2016 #9

and it isn't good for you burrowowl Dec 2016 #11

What part is toxic, and in what way? Maru Kitteh Dec 2016 #13

The surfactants are toxic to pets. Hugin Dec 2016 #40

Somehow I've survived so far with insufficient lubricity in my clothing . . . hatrack Dec 2016 #43

This Middle Boomer RobinA Dec 2016 #44

What IS the purpose? Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #6

I've never used it; neither has my 86 year old mother, or any of my 4 sisters. cyberswede Dec 2016 #7

My washing machine doesn't have a fabric softener dispenser Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2016 #12

I use dryer sheets. Cheap ones. nt tblue37 Dec 2016 #25

I hate dryer sheets too! I just use the "free and clear" unscented stuff. Whatever seems the best brewens Dec 2016 #26

I use them because of problems with static cling--and with fur from 4 cats. nt tblue37 Dec 2016 #27

They should never be used on cotton. Only on synthetics and they are helpful in the winter OregonBlue Dec 2016 #63

Those Are Worse otohara Dec 2016 #60

I'm 44-years-old, been doing my own laundry since middle school TlalocW Dec 2016 #14

Napkins and paper towels...? Freddie Dec 2016 #78

No TlalocW Dec 2016 #80

Understandable Freddie Dec 2016 #81

Accordingto the article, millenials don't like... TreasonousBastard Dec 2016 #15

... handmade34 Dec 2016 #32

I will take the portion of sex they dont want Kilgore Dec 2016 #51

toxic chemicals in the fabric softener scent have given people migraines. It did me. demigoddess Dec 2016 #17

There's a good reason. silverweb Dec 2016 #18

Dryers have balls??? Kilgore Dec 2016 #52

lol silverweb Dec 2016 #67

I did, but could not resist a smart assed comment. Kilgore Dec 2016 #71

Just checking. silverweb Dec 2016 #75

Post 70 and 72 may be of interest Kilgore Dec 2016 #83

Yes, I saw those. silverweb Dec 2016 #92

A lot of the ones I know are using felted wool dryer balls Warpy Dec 2016 #19

Technically a millennial and I don't buy P&G anything. LeftyMom Dec 2016 #20

The shit makes me itch madokie Dec 2016 #22

If you dislike us millennials, you are going to HATE what follows us, iGen Grey Lemercier Dec 2016 #23

aka Generation Z Achilleaze Dec 2016 #35

Is This About Hating Millennials? otohara Dec 2016 #85

was more just a generic statement, not directed at anyone in particular, as we take a lot of shit Grey Lemercier Dec 2016 #86

Ugh do you know any? Generator Dec 2016 #88

I am a millennial (I just turned 26) Grey Lemercier Dec 2016 #91

Soap, Water, Clothsline The River Dec 2016 #28

I'm a Gen Xer and I've never used it. Starry Messenger Dec 2016 #29

our kids learned something from us... boston bean Dec 2016 #39

They don't watch broadcast TV, so they don't see the little miracle dramas of fabric softener NBachers Dec 2016 #30

I'm solidly Gen-X and I don't think I've ever bought fabric softener. I never saw the point. kysrsoze Dec 2016 #31

i use it on my wool sweaters only. less static. pansypoo53219 Dec 2016 #33

"Fabric softener" - what sorcery is this? I need an instruction flow chart. JHan Dec 2016 #34

Bar soap MountCleaners Dec 2016 #36

Body wash is a wonderful invention Freddie Dec 2016 #82

I don't see the point Renew Deal Dec 2016 #38

I find without it the clothing is filled with static electricity. Especially in the winter. Vinca Dec 2016 #42

I used to have the same experience Renew Deal Dec 2016 #45

Good. One more thing I'm blamed for. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #46

And the music those young kids listen to! Bettie Dec 2016 #48

I'm 50 and I've never used fabric softener Bettie Dec 2016 #47

Hives. tosh Dec 2016 #49

Could someone explain to me what the years are for panader0 Dec 2016 #54

Here you go: silverweb Dec 2016 #76

Fabric softener doesn't play nice with our hard, aggressive water, and it makes me itch. hunter Dec 2016 #55

If you use a solar dryer (clothes line) you don't need it. yellowcanine Dec 2016 #56

I am most likely allergic to fabric softener crazycatlady Dec 2016 #57

Gen-X'er here. Never use fabric softener or sheets. Neither did my baby-boom mom Heddi Dec 2016 #58

Excellent News otohara Dec 2016 #59

I don't see why this has to be considered "blame" treestar Dec 2016 #61

I'd rather destroy fabric softener sales taught_me_patience Dec 2016 #62

They just need to change the fragrance to AXE! MineralMan Dec 2016 #64

Never bought it....until... Xolodno Dec 2016 #65

i am a baby boomer and never used fabric softener kimbutgar Dec 2016 #66

I'm a millennial and I never liked the smell of fabric softener TimeChaser Dec 2016 #68

Wanna soften jeans up? Wash new ones twice, then never wash 'em again. Eleanors38 Dec 2016 #69

Don't they get a bit gamey after a while? Kilgore Dec 2016 #73

Never noticed. Eleanors38 Dec 2016 #93

We use alpaca balls to keep our clothes soft! csziggy Dec 2016 #70

Do the alpacas mind? Kilgore Dec 2016 #72

BWAHAHAHAA! I don't know - I never met the beasts. csziggy Dec 2016 #74

Maybe those balls are less noisy Generator Dec 2016 #89

They don't seem to make any noise above the usual csziggy Dec 2016 #90

Buried deep in there is the fact that millennials seem to have taken the anti-vax bait. KamaAina Dec 2016 #77

Now that's some hard hitting news... tenderfoot Dec 2016 #79

White vinegar works just fine QED Dec 2016 #84

I rarely use it. GoCubsGo Dec 2016 #87