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What detergent do you use?
I know the most popular one for babies is the Dreft brand. But I'm sure other "free and clear" detergents do the same job...and let's face it, Dreft isn't exactly cheap.
So tell me, what do you use and why?? Oh, and if you don't mind sharing, how much do you pay?
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Re: What detergent do you use?
I like ALL free and clear. I use it for everyone's laundry so that everything can go in together. Honestly, I can't remember what I pay. But I picked up 2 giant bottles last time it was on sale at Target and it lasts a long time.
I used any of the free and clear ones, like Tide. Mainly, i figured, I was holding abby a lot, and she was on my clothes, wouldn't whatever I washed my clothes iwth rub off on her? so we switched ALL of our clothes to the free and clear one and she's never had a problem! I've used ALL free and clear, too... but now we have a front load washer and they don't make HE detergent! So, we just use Tide...
oh, and the first few weeks, i bought Target baby detergent. It's way cheaper and is EXACTLY the same formulation as dreft.
I use Publix Free and Clear on all of our clothes. When you look at the ingredients, the only one listed is surfactant (which is the detergent.) It's also highly rated for cloth diapers. And it's cheap even when not on sale.
Dreft and Tide Free both have enzymes which can be hard on baby's skin. Andrew got contact eczema when I used Tide Free on vacation. It was awful.
Dreft also has fragrance.
I only use Tide Free on my husband's sweaty work clothes. I figure that's what the enzymes are for!
::takes Tide Free & Clear off BRU registry::
i didn't know about the enzymes! we've never had a problem with abby's skin, and she's got really sensitive skin, so I'm hoping it stays that way! i wonder if publix has an HE brand...
Not all babies have problems with enzymes. britishbride's Abby above is an example! You can always try it if that's the brand you prefer.
You can make sure that you use a small amount of detergent so it doesn't build up as much. And doing an extra rinse cycle can help cut down the additives that are left in the clothes but that's not very eco friendly.
Even grown ups can have trouble with enzymes. My grandfather breaks out with a rash from Tide Free.
It can be worse if your baby has a leaky diaper overnight. By the time she wake up from getting wet and cold, the enzymes could be activated from the water and start to eat the baby's skin.
That's what started Andrew's contact dermatitis when on vacation at 7 months. I partly blame bad daddy diaper skills. The rash just kept getting worse after it started from one leaky diaper and spread to his whole body. I guess once the skin was broken the enzymes kept at it.
If you haven't been having trouble then I wouldn't worry too much about it.
I have sensitive skin too but Tide Free was all that I used prior to Andrew. I don't want to do separate loads of laundry so I just use the Publix F&C on all of our clothes now.
Publix does make a HE F&C version if you want to compare it.
Ditto! I washed Riley's first clothes in the target brand version but now we use Tide HE for everyone's clothes
Jenny: I just bought the Publix b/c I want to switch all our clothes to F&C. I have front loaders...so the HE is a big pain in the rear. But Publix F&C does make theirs HE. And it worked REALLY well.
You are not alone or the only one crazy...lol. I still use it and I prefer to wash their clothes on a separate load so its not big deal for me. I have used All F&C before but will always do their clothes apart from ours....its easy to put away for me that way too....