All About Quats in Laundry Products

Laundry products often contain ingredients that enhance their performance, and quats are one of these key components. Let's explore what quats are, their role in laundry, and their safety.

What are “quats”?

Quats, or quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), have many different uses across a wide array of products, including cleaning, beauty, personal care, and laundry. Quats have a long history of safe use and provide unique benefits across many applications.

What are quats used for?

Quats are typically used for their unique and impactful characteristics to impart superior performance for cleaning, softening, and other functions. Some specific classes of quats have antibacterial properties, while other classes are non-antibacterial.

What are quats used for in laundry?

In laundry, a type of quat called esterquats are used as conditioners in fabric enhancers such as fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Because they are positively charged, they help neutralize the negative charge on fabric surfaces, which reduces wrinkles and static cling. This conditioning effect helps to protect and soften fabrics during the laundering process and during wear. Esterquats such as diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride are commonly used in fabric softeners to smooth fibers and make them feel softer to the touch.

Are all quats bad?

No. There are many different types of quats, each with different uses and benefits. The types of quats used in many fabric softeners called esterquats are considered safe when used as instructed during the laundry process.

Are quats safe?

Yes, the quats used in products such as cleaning, beauty, personal care, and laundry products are safe when used as instructed. The quats used in fabric softeners, such as esterquats, are also considered safe when used as directed. These quats undergo rigorous testing to ensure they do not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. Regulatory agencies like the US EPA and the EU evaluate these compounds to ensure their safety.

Are the quats used in fabric softeners the same as antibacterial quats?

No, the quats used in fabric softener and dryer sheets are different from those found in antibacterial products. The chemical structures of quats vary, which affects what they do and how they are evaluated for safety. The quats used in household products are rigorously tested to ensure safety when used as directed, including by global regulatory agencies such as the US EPA and the EU.

Learn more:

• Fabric Softeners and Enhancers Comprehensive Guide
• Dryer Sheet Ingredient Safety
• Research on Quaternary Ammonium Compounds