Laundry Detergent.

KMW08 · April 2014

This is a really early topic, but it's been on my mind.

Dreft. Is it really necessary in the beginning?

Any STMs who didn't use dreft? What did you use?

Also, does anybody make their own that's baby friendly? I bought stuff (washing soda, borax, naptha-fels) to make my own but haven't yet as I've been collecting detergent bottles.

abbyful · April 2014

Dreft is never necessary and is a waste of money. And it isn't good for babies because it's scented and has questionable ingredients.

Just use a "Free & Clear" detergent, or make your own like you mentioned.

Edit to add: In case you can't see my sig, I'm a STM.
And also, another benefit of just using a free & clear, it's easier to just wash baby's stuff along with yours instead of doing separate loads.

brichar31 · April 2014

I do use dreft still and my little guy is 17 months. I think as long as the detergent is "baby friendly" it shouldn't matter.

icaughtfire · April 2014

I never used Dreft. I used/still use All Free & Clear (no dyes/perfumes, etc) or the store brand of it, whichever is cheapest.

missnacholover · April 2014

abbyful said:

Dreft is never necessary and is a waste of money. And it isn't good for babies because it's scented and has questionable ingredients. Just use a "Free & Clear" detergent, or make your own like you mentioned.

Yeah, I heard that just using a fragrance/dye free detergent is just as good.

momtojad · April 2014

Dreft is gross, smells nasty. We use Charlies or Powder Tide.

JPerona0205 · April 2014

If you make your own, try a recipe that's borax free. If you gave the washing soda it's really not necessary and has some gross stuff in it.

KMW08 · April 2014

Thanks for the reassurance & advice on what you ladies use. Dreft is just so expensive & I thought it seemed ridiculous as it's really the only one that markets itself specifically for babies.

marajay6 · April 2014

Whoa - you have to use different /special laundry detergent for baby clothes? This is news to me...

SarahHeck · April 2014

I make my own detergent and have been trying to find info too. Everywhere I have read says that home made detergent is good for babies. One website I was on said to leave out the Borax and use more washing soda, because sometimes Borax can irritate baby skin (not often)

KMW08 · April 2014

kegcrc said:
Just keep in mind not to use fabric softener if you want to keep the baby's clothing fire retardant. It will destroy that quality. (I took fiber related chemistry courses in college and I always remembered this...)

Just a random tidbit.

I don't use that anyways - my washing machine is smarter than myself and my mom! Haha, I think the cap where you're supposed to put in the fabric softener is super stuck. Neither of us could get it open or figure out where else it would go (other than a fabric softener ball) :-/

pennyandandy · April 2014

Personally, I think Dreft smells nasty. We use All F&C as well, and have made our own, and sometimes get the Honest Co. detergent. My son has super sensitive skin and all of those have been fine for him, but Dreft makes him break out.

ccam · April 2014

I use Tide Free & Clear. No need for Dreft.

meeshybee · April 2014

sj+cm131 said:

Whoa - you have to use different /special laundry detergent for baby clothes? This is news to me...

Baby skin is super sensitive and can react to dyes/scents that are in a lot of detergents. But like PP's said, usually one of the "Free and Clear" types is fine.

CoffeeAndWine · April 2014

I also use All Free & Clear. I've never used dreft - never liked the smell and it's expensive.

jf198400 · April 2014

I used Dreft with my first only b/c my mom bought me a giant bottle of it. But with my 2nd I just used free and clear any brand, whatever is on sale. Much easier to wash all clothes together especially since I'll be doing laundry for 5.

suzyrenee · April 2014

I bought Dreft a few times, but yes, it's expensive. After that I just started using our regular detergent around the time DS was 8 months old. There are a lot of things I worry about, but decided that just wasn't one of them. I am interested in making detergent myself. I've never thought about that.

jlove253 · April 2014

I used dreft at first and then when I ran out switched to home made recipe, sounding similar to yours, for her too. I heard that the baby's skin gets used to what you are using for your clothes, and since I was only using dreft on hers, I figured "what the heck" and switched. No problems.

mander82 · April 2014

Oh geez....I planned on just using our regular soap.....I guess I can get a couple bottles of the free and clear stuff just for baby clothes. Where would I be without you guys ?

rahkitt · April 2014

I make my own using this recipe: https://theparsimoniousprincess.blogspot.com/2013/03/i-made-laundry-detergent-again-easy.html

It's super easy and cheap! Just don't add the dish soap until you have all the water in there or it will be a sudsy mess.

TexWisJen · April 2014

I bought one bottle of dreft before dd was born and then started using free & clear for our whole family's clothes and wash everything together. I also use Oxi-Clean powder, free & clear.

jaminjeff · April 2014

We already used Tide F&C because my stepson and I both have sensitive skin. So that's what we used with LO and it didn't bother him.

We also used dryer sheets with no perfume or dyes in them either; however when my son was born he broke out from us using the dryer sheets on our clothes and then holding him. We ended up getting those dryer balls to help with the static electricity since it was so dry in our house. They worked okay...

Allisonville · April 2014

abbyful said:
Dreft is never necessary and is a waste of money. And it isn't good for babies because it's scented and has questionable ingredients.

Just use a "Free & Clear" detergent, or make your own like you mentioned.

Edit to add: In case you can't see my sig, I'm a STM.
And also, another benefit of just using a free & clear, it's easier to just wash baby's stuff along with yours instead of doing separate loads.

Exactly all of this. I also stopped using dryer sheets.

After a little while, maybe 6 months, I did a load in regular, scented detergent again and when it was clear that my daughter didn't have any reaction to it I switched back.

Kristy774 · April 2014

I use scented Gain. My kids never had sensitive skin.

cyndi1439 · April 2014

I did the research while I was pregnant with our 7 month old-and I decided to switch the whole family to "ALL Free and Sensitive". I have very sensitive skin but didn't want to have to purchase multiple detergents. The problem I had with using "baby" detergent was when to make the switch to "regular" detergent. Our LO hasn't had any issues with the detergent and our clothes are getting cleaned just like before.

lisaren · April 2014

I use what is on sale. Never had issues.

moroccojade · April 2014

We use Nellie's all the time for everyone in the family. Works great... All natural.

https://nelliesallnatural.com/internal/

mrs.vanillacafe · April 2014

I used All Free & Clear or Kirkland Free & Clear with DD's clothes until she was about 6 months old. Then I started to wash her clothes with our regular detergent. Since she didn't develop a reaction or rash, I just phased the F&C out. Dreft isn't necessary.

alysonmh · April 2014

I used normal detergent with my daughter and she never had any type of issue with her skin. Why waste the money? I will use normal detergent this time around too unless it starts to cause a problem.

lisaren · April 2014

I don't think I've ever seen a thread so long for laundry detergent.

Kristy774 · April 2014

lisaren said:
I don't think I've ever seen a thread so long for laundry detergent.

Was just thinking the same thing....actually I was like damn 8 new comments, did this become an argument?

2ndGeneration · April 2014

Dreft makes me sneeze. I have used Tide Free for many years.

Me and oldest DS are allergic to fabric softener so I just don't use it.

wallygirl · April 2014

I hate dreft detergent but I like the stain remover. We already used either tide or all free and clear so that's what I was DD's clothes in as well. I was not about to buy teo different detergents.

snarlingkitty · April 2014

babyganics doesn't have all the chemicals and harsh perfumes that the others have

KMW08 · April 2014

Kristy774 said:

lisaren said:
I don't think I've ever seen a thread so long for laundry detergent.
Was just thinking the same thing....actually I was like damn 8 new comments, did this become an argument?

Is it bad that I LOL'd for real when I came back to the board and saw "1 new post" on this thread??

KatzKiss · April 2014

I'm a detergent snob! I have to have good smelling laundry. I used Dreft when DS was born and it does not work! I did a load with our normal detergent and DS was fine. I never looked back.