Many of us add fabric softener to our washing load, especially to make children's clothing, bedding and towels extra soft. Who can forget the famous "Mummy - why are my towels so snuggly?" television ad?
But now one laundry expert is warning against using fabric softener when washing the clothes of infants and children - and not just because it can be a known skin irritant.
Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap, warns that fabric softener can dramatically lower the effectiveness of the flame-resistant chemicals children's clothes are often treated with, making the material more susceptible to catching fire.
"For this reason, avoid using fabric softener on your baby and children’s clothing and sleepwear, or fabrics such as velour, chenille, terry cloth, fleece, or any garments that are labelled as flame resistant," Dimitrov told the Mirror.
"If in doubt, check the clothing label."
Instead of using a softener, Dimitrov recommends washing children's clothing on a more gentle setting such as the wool setting, and at lower temperatures.
In New Zealand, it is compulsory for all pyjamas and nightwear to have a fire risk label.
The labels come in three colours - red, orange and white and each label colour carries a different meaning.
The labels cover four categories that relate to the flame propagation properties of the fabric the pyjamas are made from.
