15 Best Baby Laundry Detergent 2023: Clean, Safe and Sweet
Do you have a baby?
Baby laundry detergent is specially formulated to be gentle on your little one’s skin. It also has a light, pleasant scent that will make the whole house smell fresh and clean. You’re always on the go. Now you can simplify your life with a little help from Baby Laundry Detergent. It’s gentle enough to use during diaper changes and robust enough that it won’t leave white marks on dark clothes. What could be better?
Best Baby Laundry Detergent 2021
Best Baby Laundry Detergent Overall
1
Dreft Stage 1: Newborn
Dreft Stage 1: Newborn is specially formulated for your baby’s delicate skin. It’s hypoallergenic and free of dyes, fragrances, optical brighteners, phosphates, and chlorine. Plus, Dreft cleans clothes just as well as the leading detergent brands at a fraction of the cost. You can use Dreft Stage 1: Newborn to wash all your family’s clothes with confidence that they will be gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin while still getting them super-clean! And because it’s so gentle on fabrics too, it won’t leave residue or cause colors to fade over time. You can feel good about using this product knowing that dermatologists and pediatricians have tested it to ensure its safety for babies’ sensitive skin.
What we like:
- Dreft is gentle, hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested.
- Dreft has been trusted for over 100 years to keep your baby’s skin healthy and dry.
Best on Budget
2
Purex Liquid Baby Laundry Detergent
Purex Liquid Baby Laundry Detergent has no dyes or perfumes to irritate their sensitive skin. Plus, it leaves their clothes smelling fresh and clean with a soft baby scent. It even works great on adult clothing! Purex Baby is hypoallergenic, dye-free, and contains no phosphates or optical brighteners. Our premium formula is safe for all fabrics, including delicates, silk & wool. It’s gentle on the environment too! You can feel good about using Purex Baby because we care about our planet as much as we do our customers’ babies’ clothes! That’s why our bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%.
What we like:
- Specially formulated for babies and sensitive skin
- Leaves clothes smelling fresh and clean.
Best for the Whole Family
3
Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Seventh Generation’s Baby Laundry Detergent is made with plant-derived and naturally derived ingredients, including essential oils. It’s also hypoallergenic, which means it won’t irritate sensitive skin or cause rashes. We know how important it is to be gentle on your little one’s skin – especially when they’re still so young! And we think you’ll love the fresh scent of our detergent too. Our formula is tough on stains but gentle on fabrics – even delicate ones like silk and wool – so they stay soft after washing. You can feel good about using our detergent for every load of laundry in your house.
What we like:
- Cleans clothes thoroughly and effectively.
- Contains a high concentration of plant-based cleaning ingredients.
4
ECOS® Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent
It is essential to keep your babies safe, especially when they are so little. ECOS® Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent – a powerful laundry detergent made from plant-derived cleaners. It’s 100% vegan, free of dyes, optical brighteners, parabens, phosphates, and 500+ other nasty ingredients. Dermatologist-tested hypoallergenic & pH-balanced. U.S. EPA Safer Choice certified! You can feel good about using this product on all of your clothes – even those with special stains like spit-up or food stains!
What we like:
- Push with your hands, not your arms.
- The ergonomic handle is easy to use and move around.
Best for Sensitive Skin
5
ATTITUDE Liquid Laundry Detergent for Baby’s Sensitive Skin
ATTITUDE Liquid Laundry Detergent for Baby’s Sensitive Skin is specifically designed to work in both HE (High Efficiency) and standard washing machines. It contains no animal-derived ingredients and is ECOLOGO Certified, PETA Certified: 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and contains no animal-derived ingredients. This gentle, eco-friendly, and dermatologically tested baby laundry detergent is free of dyes, irritating enzymes, and known allergens.
- Removes tough stains and odors.
- Leaves clothes soft, bright, and static free.
6
PURE Natural Cleaners Natural Baby Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin
Pure Natural Cleaners natural laundry soap is the perfect solution for your little one. This plant-based formula cleanses gently without harsh chemicals like dyes, fragrances, or optical brighteners. It’s hypoallergenic and eco-friendly, so it’s safe for even the most delicate of skin types. With confidence, you can use this on all your baby’s clothes, sheets, blankets, and towels. Your child deserves to be clean and comfortable in their clothes every day of their life. Now you can give them just that with our gentle yet effective product! Our plant-based formula will leave your baby’s clothes soft and smelling great!
What we like:
- Safe and gentle on baby’s skin.
- Hypoallergenic and free of fragrances, dyes or chemicals.
Best for Fighting Stains
7
The Laundress New York Laundry Detergent, Baby Scented
The Laundress New York Laundry Detergent, Baby Scented is the first laundry detergent that washes clothes clean and keeps them smelling fresh. The plant-based formula with essential oils gently cleanses your clothing without fading color or damaging fabric, while the light scent of baby powder will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. With up to 64 washes per bottle, this laundry detergent is powerful yet gentle enough for everyday use. Available in a 16oz bottle.
What we like:
- Safe for all fabrics, colors, and whites.
- Helps to remove stubborn stains with every wash.
- Leaves clothes smelling fresh and looking bright.
- It’s gentle on clothes and washes away dirt and stains.
8
All OXI Laundry Booster for Sensitive Skin
The Laundress New York Free Clear Laundry Detergent Booster will make your laundry whiter, brighter and cleaner without dyes or perfumes. The booster is gentle on sensitive skin. Also, it’s great for all around the house, fighting stains in and out of the washer. Use all Free Clear fabric softener and dryer sheets for clean and soft clothes with static cling reduction in the dryer. This laundry booster is safe to use in any washer and any water temperature. This pack comes with one 52-ounce tub.
What we like:
- Keeps your clothes looking and feeling like new.
- Eliminates those pesky odors that make you cringe.
Best for Eczema
9
DAPPLE Baby Laundry Detergent
DAPPLE Baby Laundry Detergent is best product for babies with eczema and other sensitive skin conditions. It’s 3X formula works better on the stains babies make most, including poop, spit-up, and formula. Yet it’s gentle enough for your little one to use every day! Independent tests prove that DAPPLE removes up to 50% more stains than other brands. Made with natural ingredients and without the things moms worry about! This product is hypoallergenic, pediatrician and dermatologist tested, and never tested on animals.
What we like:
- Safe for all machine types.
- Contains no harsh chemicals, dyes or perfumes.
10
Puracy Natural Liquid Laundry Detergent
Puracy Natural Liquid Laundry Detergent-powered formula cleans clothes, less waste. The Puracy Plant-Powered Formula is a concentrated liquid laundry detergent made from natural ingredients derived from plants. Our laundry soap is free of harsh chemicals such as sulfates (SLS, SLES), petrochemicals, phosphates, or bleach. It does not contain animal products. You don’t need to worry about irritating your child’s delicate skin anymore! Using safe, plant-powered ingredients, you can now have clean laundry and reduce waste (less plastic, water, and energy; accurate dosing).
What we like:
- Safe for sensitive skin and gentle on clothes.
- Contains no phosphates, chlorine bleach, or optical brighteners.
Best Unscented Detergent
11
Molly’s Suds Laundry Detergent Powder
Molly’s Suds Laundry Detergent Powder has 4 stain-fighting natural ingredients that deep cleans and gently deodorize 1 load of clothes. It’s free of artificial scents, so it won’t irritate your baby’s skin or cause allergies. Get stains out for good with our concentrated laundry detergent. If you want to get rid of all those nasty chemicals in your life, this is for you! Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder is made with 4 stain-fighting natural ingredients that are gentle enough for sensitive skin, the environment, and most fabrics, excluding silk and leather.
What we like:
- Laundry smells fresh and clean.
- Clothes come out soft and fluffy.
Best Hypoallergenic Detergent
12
Woolite Baby Laundry Detergent
Woolite Baby is the perfect laundry detergent for your baby’s clothes. It contains no dyes or perfumes so that it won’t irritate your little one’s skin. Our hypoallergenic formula works on all fabrics and can be used in standard washers and high efficiency (HE) machines! You can even use Woolite Baby to hand-wash delicates like sweaters or silk blouses. The lavender scent will leave your baby smelling fresh, while the original scent leaves clothes with a light, clean fragrance that lasts all day long!
What we like:
- Protects your baby’s skin and clothes from irritation.
- Eliminates tough stains and dirt.
Best All-Natural Detergent
13
Tide Purclean Plant-Based EPA Safer Choice
Tide Purclean is the first liquid laundry detergent that cleans like Tide and makes your clothes look and feel better. With a smaller, more compact bottle that fits in tight spaces, you can clean more loads of laundry per week. The larger dosing cup delivers the right amount of soap every time – no guessing or over pouring. And it’s made from 50% less plastic than 2 bottles of our regular liquid detergent. You will never worry about harsh chemicals on your baby’s skin again! Our product was created to be gentle on sensitive skin while still getting tough stains out without fading colors like other products do.
What we like:
- Safer for your clothes and the environment.
- Helps keep colors from fading.
14
Generation Laundry Detergent Ultra Concentrated
This product is made by Seventh Generation, which has been around since 1988. They are known for their commitment to the environment and sustainability. Also, their products are all-natural and safe for your family. The flip-top lid makes it easy to measure out the perfect amount of detergent needed per load, so there’s no need to guess how much you should use anymore! You can feel good about using this product because it doesn’t have any dyes or fragrances in it that could potentially irritate your baby’s skin or cause an allergic reaction.
What we like:
- Takes up less space in your laundry room.
- Saves you money by using less detergent per load.
Best for Diapers
15
Charlie’s Soap Laundry Liquid
Charlie’s Soap Laundry Liquid is the ultimate eco-friendly, non-toxic laundry detergent that cleans your clothes naturally. With powerful ingredients like washing soda and plant-based enzymes, Charlie’s Soap effectively removes stains, odors, and residues from previous detergents without harming the environment. The fragrance-free formula rinses completely, leaving nothing behind but clean clothes. This product is safe for hand washing and will not irritate sensitive skin or cause allergic reactions. Ideal for those with allergies to artificial fragrances or dyes.
What we like:
- Safe for all washable fabrics.
- Eliminates odors and even stains.
- Gives your baby’s clothes a fresh, clean scent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you really need baby laundry detergent?
For decades, people have debated whether you should use soap or detergent. Some people think soap is better because it does not contain chemicals. But other people believe that detergents are better because they clean your clothes really well. You can use whichever one you want because both will work to wash your clothes.
How do you wash newborn clothes for the first time?
You can wash your baby’s clothes by hand to make sure they don’t shrink in the dryer. Clothes do not need to be washed until they smell like pee or poop. You can use regular laundry soap on cloth diapers, but you should wash these separately from other clothes so that the soap does not irritate your baby’s skin.
Should I use fabric softener for baby clothes?
Many parents put fabric softener in baby clothes. It makes the clothes softer and helps get oil stains out of them. But some people are allergic to it because it smells bad. You can use fabric softener if you want, but make sure to rinse it out well, or else your baby might be allergic.
Should you wash baby clothes separately?
It is best to wash baby clothes separately from other garments. This will happen if you wash them together because the baby clothes are made from delicate fabrics. It is better not to take any chances with your child’s safety! If a pet has touched a piece of baby clothing, you need to use a stronger detergent and also wash it on a hot cycle.
How do I choose baby detergent?
Choosing best baby detergent is tricky because there are so many products. You want to find products that are free of chlorine bleach, fragrance, and other harsh chemicals. For example, Seventh Generation has created an eco-friendly line for babies with skin conditions instead of hurting them more.
Can you use regular detergent on baby clothes?
Depending on the detergent, you can use some detergents only when washing clothes in cold water, and some never used on babies. Read the label before you wash your baby’s clothes.
When can you use regular laundry detergent for babies?
If you’re using baby clothes, use baby laundry detergent. It’s milder and will be less irritating for a child’s skin, there are more enzymes to help clean without bleach or fabric softener, and it does not have any fragrance.
Baby Laundry Detergent Buyer Guide
Buying a laundry detergent for washing your baby’s clothes, diapers, and bedding can be a daunting task as there are so many options available in the market with many features. Baby detergents should be gentle and as natural as possible because the baby’s skin is very delicate and the harsh chemicals and preservatives in many laundry detergents can cause rashes and itching. However, the detergent needs to be tough on stains also. Keep in mind that the laundry detergent you choose is appropriate for your baby so that the clothes remain clean and fresh all day long without irritating the skin for babies with sensitive skin. Your baby spends a lot of time on you or around you so it is also important that you wash your clothes with a safe detergent which does not harm the baby. We have put together a Baby Laundry Detergent Buyer Guide for you to chose best detergent for washing your baby’s clothes without hampering the skin or causing rashes.
What kind of laundry detergent is best for babies:
It is important to consider the following factors before choosing best detergent for your baby:
1) Skin-friendly ingredients
The first and foremost thing to understand before buying laundry detergent for your baby is that it should be free of all chemicals and preservatives that can cause itchiness or rashes on the baby’s skin or trigger allergies. The skin at that age is very sensitive and even the normal chemicals can harm it in the long run. Choose a brand which focuses on making natural laundry detergents. Babies suffering from eczema need an even more delicate detergent as using a harsh product can cause intense itching and formation of hives which can be painful for the baby. Look for products which are dermatologist and pediatrician recommended. Some detergents can leave a residue on the clothes and those products should be avoided. Gentle plant-based ingredients which soothe the skin should be chosen over harsh products. Strong fragrances can also trigger allergies so go for fragrance-free products. Read the ingredients carefully before buying the product.
2) Powder or Liquid Detergent
Many brands offer detergents in both liquid and powder consistencies. There are detergent pods also available which can be used readily but there are many theories dissuading the use of pods for washing baby clothes as they are not that much effective. Choose between liquid and powder depending upon your usage. Liquids generally cause a build-up which is hard to rinse completely. Also, it is very easy to go overboard with liquid detergents as it is difficult to handle the quantity. Using more detergent than required can damage delicate clothing in the long run. Go for powder detergents as they are easy to remove and last longer than liquid ones.
3) Stain Removing Power
If there is one thing expected from a box of detergent, it is removing tough stains. Babies can be quite mischievous and spill food and other items on the clothes more often. It is important to choose a product which is tough on the stains and gentle on the skin. If your detergent is completely natural but does not work on stains, it is useless. Pre-soaking the clothes can save your time during the wash and spot treatment also works well if you want to use a delicate detergent in the washer. Choose the product which is known to handle touch stains like that of milk, formula, food, poop, and other nasty stuff that babies indulge into. Try a sample of the product first for knowing its stain removing powers. Go for the one which is natural yet effective on hard stains.
4) Diaper Friendly Detergent
If you use disposable diapers for your baby, you can skip this step but if you are using cloth diapers, this feature is very important. Many detergents can cause build-up on the diapers and reduce their absorbing power. Oils can particularly cause this problem so choose a product which does not contain oil as one of the ingredients.
5) Price
Lastly, it is also important to consider the price of the detergent as this is something you are going to use a lot and buying an expensive detergent every other day can make a considerable dent in your wallet. If you settle on the perfect detergent, try buying a bigger packaging as it costs to be cheaper in the long run than buying small packets every week. Do not keep the price above all the other factors but it is still one of the factors which affect the buying patterns of consumers.
Apart from these main factors, there are some other general shopping tips you need to know before you go shopping for the safest baby detergent for your baby:
- Clean your washer every other week as the residue in the machine can damage the clothes even when you use the ideal detergents.
- Look for SLS free detergents as they are healthier for the skin and reduce allergic reactions.
- Try and avoid fabric softeners as they coat your clothes in a layer of grease to make the clothes look soft. This grease will also cling on to the diapers you wash and will make them less leak-proof.
- Go for products which work with your baby’s skin as all babies are different. Something which works for somebody else might not work for you depending on the skin of the baby. Try samples and stick to the products that work for your baby.
So these are some of the factors you should consider before buying the perfect detergent for washing your baby’s clothes and other items. Go not experiment too frequently as this can cause adverse reactions on the skin. Stick with one product and use it diligently. If you do not want to go for a separate detergent for the baby and adults, try buying a product which is gentle enough for the baby and removes stains well. Do not skimp on the money as the cheaper detergents are very harmful for the skin because of the harsh chemicals they contain. Once you are sure that the detergent you are using is working well, you will have a much healthier and happier baby who will love the freshly washed clothes.
The Honest Company is my favorite in this list. I tried a few of them but I always go back. The scent and the feel is just, well, CLEAN! I also use this wash for my bras and panties since I have sensitive skin. I highly recommend them if you never tried them (anyone reading this). The company itself is very caring about what chemicals go in and what they keep out.