Category AI Visibility Report
Fabric Softeners AI Visibility Report 2026: Top Brands & Buyer Topics in AI Search
Data updated 2026-08-27 · 30-day window · ChatGPT · Google AI Mode · Google AI Overviews
≈4,439
Est. AI queries / month
6
Buyer topics monitored
10
Brands on the AI shelf
Key insights
- Over the last 30 days, GEOly monitored 6 buyer topics in Fabric Softeners across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews — an estimated 4,439 AI queries per month.
- Downy leads the AI shelf with 27.4% of brand mentions, followed by Seventh Generation (11%) and Gain (10.4%). The top three hold 48.8% combined — a concentrated shelf where challengers need a differentiated topic wedge.
- The highest-demand topic is “fabric softeners for sensitive skin” (top keyword “downy fabric softener free and gentle”, ~1,900 searches/mo).
- AI answers lean on goodhousekeeping.com most (15.9% of citations) — earning presence on these sources is the shortest path to being recommended.
Brands AI recommends most
Share of brand mentions across AI answers in the last 30 days (Share of Model).
| # | Brand | AI mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Downy | 905 | 27.4% |
| 2 | Seventh Generation | 364 | 11% |
| 3 | Gain | 343 | 10.4% |
| 4 | All | 314 | 9.5% |
| 5 | SNUGGLE | 302 | 9.1% |
| 6 | ATTITUDE | 206 | 6.2% |
| 7 | BOUNCE.ME | 191 | 5.8% |
| 8 | Molly's Suds | 157 | 4.8% |
| 9 | Suavitel | 102 | 3.1% |
| 10 | Mrs. Meyer’s | 50 | 1.5% |
What shoppers ask AI
Buyer topics monitored in this category, with estimated monthly AI queries and the top Google keyword behind each topic.
| Topic | Est. AI queries / mo | Top keyword | Search volume / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| fabric softeners for sensitive skin | ≈2,339 | downy fabric softener free and gentle | 1,900 |
| fabric softeners for he washers | ≈2,100 | when to put fabric softener in top loader | 110 |
| non toxic fabric softeners | — | non toxic fabric softeners | 1,600 |
| fabric softeners for long-lasting smell | — | downy fabric softener beads | 9,900 |
| best fabric softeners | — | fabric softeners | 33,100 |
| fabric softener sheets | — | fabric softener sheets | 5,400 |
Sources AI cites in this category
Root domains AI engines cited most when answering category queries in the last 30 days.
| Domain | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| goodhousekeeping.com | 97 | 15.9% |
| downy.com | 77 | 12.6% |
| lowes.com | 59 | 9.7% |
| reddit.com | 52 | 8.5% |
| seventhgeneration.com | 38 | 6.2% |
| ewg.org | 34 | 5.6% |
| target.com | 29 | 4.8% |
| thespruce.com | 29 | 4.8% |
Related category reports
FAQ
Which brands do AI assistants recommend most for fabric softeners?
Over the last 30 days the top brands by AI mention share are: Downy (27.4%), Seventh Generation (11%), Gain (10.4%), All (9.5%), SNUGGLE (9.1%). Data from GEOly's continuous monitoring across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews.
How many people ask AI about fabric softeners?
GEOly estimates ~4,439 AI queries per month in this category across 6 buyer topics, led by “fabric softeners for sensitive skin”.
Which sources do AI engines cite for fabric softeners?
The most-cited domains are: goodhousekeeping.com, downy.com, lowes.com, reddit.com, seventhgeneration.com. Building brand presence on these sources is the most direct way to win AI recommendations.
Methodology
GEOly continuously runs category buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and records which brands are mentioned and which sources are cited. Figures aggregate a 30-day window; AI query volumes are modeled estimates from keyword demand and AI-adoption share. Data: GEOly MCP Server, updated 2026-08-27.
See your brand inside this category
GEOly tracks how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews mention, rank and cite your brand against every competitor above — and what to fix to win the AI shelf.