This is a study of the influence of repeated laundering and the use of fabric softener in the context of mechanical properties of fabrics with respect to textile parameters. In the large competitive market of fabric softener, the fabric softener producers claim benefits for fabric hand as well as the mechanical properties of textiles. The main aim of this study is to investigate the influence of ageing and the use of fabric softener on the mechanical properties of textiles during their cradle to grave life with respect to fibre type, fibre fineness, knitting construction and number of wash cycles. The low stress mechanical properties were evaluated by means of the Kawabata Evaluation system for fabric (KES-F) and Universal Surface Tester (UST). The tensile, shear, bending, compression and surface properties and changes in these parameters due to wash-ageing and the use of fabric softener during laundry were evaluated. These mechanical properties or combinations of them are the deciding factors for comfort aspects of apparel during wear. Hence, these mechanical properties need to be correlated with the sensory attributes. In Part I, we examine the change in mechanical parameters due to wash-ageing and the use of softener, while Part II deals with Fuzzy-Logic modelling to correlate these mechanical parameters with sensory attributes.