Call me crazy, but...

fitmama418

It's totally possible to think a laundry detergent that claims to be "fragrance free" has a "smell" to it, right? I started washing some of LO's "early days essentials" today and I used the Babyganics fragrance free laundry detergent I got at my shower this weekend. As I was putting away dishes, I SWEAR I could smell the detergent as it was washing in the other room. Now, I'm washing some of MY clothes for my hospital bag in my Target brand "free and clear" detergent, and I smell nothing.  Needless to say, I probably will just save my money and use Target's stuff as opposed to wasting any more moolah on the fancy shmancy stuff.

Also, is anyone bothering with baby friendly dryer sheets? I don't use fabric softener but I do use dryer sheets for mine and DH's clothing and sheets and whatnot. I just dried these two loads of baby stuff with no dryer sheets but...yeah, just figured I'd ask!

katie.725

I thought about using Dreft, but my mom said it never really did much for her.  All that is really needed for baby's clothes is hot water.  I've washed all of his clothes in warm water and dried without dryer sheets.  

I use the All free and clear and there's not too much of a scent.  It's the better one at CostCo in bulk, but I haven't tried Kirkland's brand.  anyone?

I have been paying people to do my nesting for me though... getting carpets cleaned etc... I have no desire to clean out my cupboards...yet...

amberrrjade

I used Biokleen Free & Clear and I didn't really smell anything. Also, no on the dryer sheets. I never use them, waste of money in my opinion.

JaysonandKristin

We use Tide F&C, and there is no fragrance.  For DH and my clothes and non-kid linens, I use Bounce Fragrance Free dryer sheets.  

I use nothing but Tide F&C for the boys' clothes.  

sands42

I like Purex Free & Clear. It's cheap too.

ATXMamaDoll

I'll be using free and clear detergent from Whole Foods, and no dryer sheets on baby stuff. I don't know that I've ever seen baby friendly dryer sheets. Maybe Honest brand? Dunno.

3Dewdrops

I stopped using dryer sheets when I started using cloth diapers with DD2.  I never went back to using them.

I also use the target brand free and clear and don't notice a scent so I'm no help there. I will start using the Tide original when baby comes.  It cleans cloth diapers so much better so I'm hoping this LO isn't sensitive.  I didn't have any issues using it with my first two.

fitmama418

@GOBLU1274 naaaaah not at all. Think about it...I'm sure none of this crap existed when our parents brought us up and we all turned out ok (for the most part). ;-)

Maimes10

Yup, I paid the $20 for a bottle of Dreft to wash all of his Newborn and 0-3 clothes in.  I'm SURE I will not continue to do that forever but I LOVE the smell of that stuff, I'm a sucker for things that smell amazing.

katie.725

nciesla said:

@GOBLU1274 naaaaah not at all. Think about it...I'm sure none of this crap existed when our parents brought us up and we all turned out ok (for the most part). ;-)

Except for @SweetHeartSparkles and @Tess024

amberrrjade

GOBLU1274 said:

I feel like a shitty mom.  I didn't buy any special detergent.  I just used my everyday Tide with an extra rinse cycle.  Is this flame worthy?

Ha! No, I only use a certain detergent because I cloth diaper and it was recommended. It's not even really a children's brand, just a free and clear yada yada.

mmm50

I got the Babyganics at my shower too and I swear it smells so you aren't crazy-- or I'm crazy too!  I plan to use it until it's gone- but I won't be buying it again.  Since DH and I are cloth diapering we have Charlie's and Rockin Green at home so we'll probably use that on LO's clothes and diapers after the Babyganics is gone.  

We stopped using dryer sheets when we decided to cloth diaper a couple months ago.  I really don't notice the difference in our clothes other than that they don't smell like Bounce.  But I do keep a few around for things that get really static-y like sweaters.  

Kim22

I used dreft with the first for a year, the second for 1 bottles worth and now I use All free and clear for everyone so that's what number three is getting. I don't use dryer sheets at all because DD and I are both have very sensitive skin.

mom2curlygirls

I didn't use anything special with my first two daughters. Neither one had sensitive skin so it was not a big deal. This time someone gave me the same detergent you were talking about: Babyganics. I bought their dryer sheets that smell wonderful!!! I doubt I will continue once this stuff runs out but I even washed my own clothes in it.

AlisonM12

katie.725 said:

I thought about using Dreft, but my mom said it never really did much for her.  All that is really needed for baby's clothes is hot water.  I've washed all of his clothes in warm water and dried without dryer sheets.  

I use the All free and clear and there's not too much of a scent.  It's the better one at CostCo in bulk, but I haven't tried Kirkland's brand.  anyone?

I have been paying people to do my nesting for me though... getting carpets cleaned etc... I have no desire to clean out my cupboards...yet...

I've been using the Kirkland brand free and clear to wash LO's clothes. It really seems to be no different from any other free and clear and I can't detect a smell.

hegriff

GOBLU1274 said:

I feel like a shitty mom.  I didn't buy any special detergent.  I just used my everyday Tide with an extra rinse cycle.  Is this flame worthy?

This.

I use nothing special. Mom never did with us; if he starts to show reactions/etc then ill switch but until then ill continue to buy the giant cheap bottles of Purex since I do laundry for 4 (soon to be 5) people

dobrydney

FTM here but we washed and put away LO's clothes the other day and used Purex without any scent.  It's what we normally use, and if it works out okay it'll be a lot more convenient just to wash all of the clothes with the same thing!

GopherBaby13

We use Tide free and clear, mainly because I was so sick at the beginning that I could.not.stand the smell of laundry anything. Just walking by the aisle at the store made me want to vomit. Now that I am not as sensitive to it, I still don't like the smell of regular detergent.

CarrieB.

I use 7th Gen free and clear detergent and no dryer sheets, because I get rashes from scented things and DH has asthma. DD also has sensitive skin, so it works for her too.

Personally I think scented laundry detergent is gross anyway.

LibberDuck

I'm using All free & clear for now while baby is itty bitty, but only until the bottle is gone. After that, everything will just be washed in our regular detergent. I use Bounce dryer sheets and I love them, though I think you need to be careful with dryer sheets because they will lower the effectiveness of flame retardent clothing (like certain pajamas).

inlove0509

We've used free and clear (I think tide or All) for over two years now. Works great! I love the BabyGanics brand though-- I might have bought that had I known that existed! I too heard that dryer sheets can be skipped b/c they mess with the flame retardant ability of certain baby clothes. With baby clothes, we never have issues with static cling so we never felt a need for dryer sheets as DD1 got older.

JamieCallow

We have switched to Purex mostly because of some reviews I had read and figured we would give it a shot. I read this review before I saw the price and when I went to purchase it, it was only $9.00 for a HUGE bottle!! I really like it and it does not have a strong smell and it is clear. I have wash all of DS's clothes in it and we will see if there is any reaction. If there is then we will try again!

amberrrjade

GOBLU1274 said:

amberrrjade said:

GOBLU1274 said:

I feel like a shitty mom.  I didn't buy any special detergent.  I just used my everyday Tide with an extra rinse cycle.  Is this flame worthy?

Ha! No, I only use a certain detergent because I cloth diaper and it was recommended. It's not even really a children's brand, just a free and clear yada yada.

I use Tide powder on my CDs.

Yeah, I heard a lot of people just use that but I was getting really paranoid since I have a front loader and hard water. Someone in my city me with the same set up says that's what she uses +calgon and has no problems. So, I figured it best just to do what she does and go from there.

Justnooch

Not a lot to add here but I do use wool dryer balls. I splash a little lavender oil on them which makes the clothes smell nice. Things dry faster and fluff out more when I use them. I like them for my cloth dipes (although I don't add lavender oil to them for dipes).

ranaverde

CarrieB. said:

I use 7th Gen free and clear detergent and no dryer sheets, because I get rashes from scented things and DH has asthma. DD also has sensitive skin, so it works for her too. Personally I think scented laundry detergent is gross anyway.

Similar here.  We also use the 7th Generation stuff, because the regular detergents give my husband a rash, and I don't like the smell of most detergents.  (I call the detergent aisle in the grocery "The Toxic Chemical Aisle" because it smells so strong - sometimes it makes me cough, even.)