I'm supposed to buy Dreft, right?

dmsny · January 2012

To wash all things baby or should I just get something like Tide Free & Clear? Does it matter? I need to catch up on prepping for baby!

elizxu · January 2012

We're using Tide F&C...less perfume/additives.

emmasue18 · January 2012

My pediatrician said anything "All and Clear" or "Free and Clear" is fine. Usually each brand had one that is like that. Tide is the favorite over here, it works so much better than Dreft! the only thing we use by Dreft is the spray and wash. :-)

kms34 · January 2012

No, Dreft is not necessary. Any Free and Clear detergent is better than Dreft, IMO.

We recently switched from our homemade detergent to Ecos and really like it. We are able to use it on all clothes as well as cloth diapers. It has a very mild, natural ingredient based scent.

avalovesart · January 2012

IMO Tide Free and Clear or any of the other natural brands without chemical fragrances are better than Dreft. Dreft has a lot of chemical fragrances added that aren't really necessary and can be allergens for your baby.

kms34 · January 2012

avalovesart:
IMO Tide Free and Clear or any of the other natural brands without chemical fragrances are better than Dreft. Dreft has a lot of chemical fragrances added that aren't really necessary and can be allergens for your baby.

Yes

Plus, it leaves a weird residue I think. It smells funky.

hillbillysunshine · January 2012

We use regular Tide. It never irritated DD#1's skin, and the "Free & Clear"s don't normally have enzymes...which help break down anything that leaks out of a diaper and/or spit-up.

mkarns · January 2012

Ditto, regular Tide. I'm almost out, so I might switch to Free&Clear, but I asked the nurse at our childcare class...Her answer was that eventually we are going to expose the baby to regular detergent anyway and it doesnt really matter if its now or later. I'm washing things now, I don't really expect it to have any effect on him months later. If it does, I'll rewash it all in Free & Clear.

Ya Never Know · January 2012

I'm using Tide Free and Gentle.. which I'm assuming is the Canadian version of Tide Free and Clear? LOL

It has no perfumes or dyes anyway, and I think that's what's important.

GeekMom · January 2012

kms34:
avalovesart:
IMO Tide Free and Clear or any of the other natural brands without chemical fragrances are better than Dreft. Dreft has a lot of chemical fragrances added that aren't really necessary and can be allergens for your baby.

Plus, it leaves a weird residue I think. It smells funky.

Also, don't use too much fabric softener! Or any at all! Use dryer balls! Even the plastic ones are better!

ChristinaL27 · January 2012

We are going to use our regular detergent which is Era. DH made a good point- she is going to be against our clothes a lot and it's what we use and love...

If she has a reaction we will switch to Tide- that is another one of my favorites

kms34 · January 2012

GeekMom:

Also, don't use too much fabric softener! Or any at all! Use dryer balls! Even the plastic ones are better!

Exactly! You don't realize all the crap that's on your clothes until you stop using it. We've been fabric softener free and dryer ball users for about 2 years. I could never go back.

novasouthanblond · January 2012

I've heard fabric softners can reduce fire retardants but what do you mean about all the stuff it leaves on clothes?

noryang · January 2012

Most conventional detergents are made from petroleum. IMO they contribute to our oil dependence, are bad for the environment and I don't want a petroleum based detergent on my clothes - nevermind babies. I prefer to use detergents that do not use any petroleum products. Unfortunately, some of these detergents that are readily available don't seem to clean as well (7th Generation, etc.). I love Nellie's.

https://www.amazon.com/Nellies-NLS-100T-Natural-Laundry-soda/dp/B001GODIEE/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326204757&sr=1-2-catcorr

Everyone that has every tried it on my recommendation switches to it too. Great stuff and you only need a tiny bit.

tawniac1010 · January 2012

We (DH and I) are both very sensitive to scented products, so we've been using All Free and Clear (or whatever) for the past three years. We were planning on washing everything using that, but my MIL washed all the clothes we received at our first shower with Dreft. I really appreciate her doing it, but the smell is noxious to me.I'll probably rewash everything.

We haven't used dryer sheets since we switched to the All, and I swear we have less breakouts and less skin irritation. We also air dry everything but underwear and socks, and I know that's why our clothes have lasted longer.

(Wow, didn't realize I was so passionate about laundry!)

nickert2000 · January 2012

I found and love Green Works it has a light sent but is still safe for people with allergies and I noticed it seems to leave our clothes softer and fluffier [if that makes any sense] than the Gain and Tide I had been using.

And yes fabric softener does decrease flame retardants [which I do not like the idea of those being in the clothes to begin with...] and increase flammibilty of all clothing.

balihaigirl · January 2012

Any kind of F&C is just fine.

runrinserepeat · January 2012

We're using the Rock N Green that we bought for the CDs. We'll probably switch washing her clothes to Tide F&C when we buy a new bottle, but for now, we'll stick with the RNG.

avalovesart · January 2012

mkarns:
...eventually we are going to expose the baby to regular detergent anyway and it doesnt really matter if its now or later. I'm washing things now, I don't really expect it to have any effect on him months later. If it does, I'll rewash it all in Free & Clear.

You'll only expose them to "regular" detergent if you use that. We use natural detergents for all our laundering, so...that argument may only work for some families.

lissag24 · January 2012

My doctor told me any laundry detergant is fine if you notice they are having a reacation to it then change it but its all the same for the most part

SeptemberBride'08 · January 2012

Agree with everyone else. We are using our free and clear organic detergent.

Jeter1028 · January 2012

Oh - great post! I'm glad to see that it's okay to use Tide F&C. I have very sensitive skin and have only ever been able to use Tide myself.

Shmogan09 · January 2012

lissag24:
My doctor told me any laundry detergant is fine if you notice they are having a reacation to it then change it but its all the same for the most part

This. Oh and the pp's who said Dreft smells bad... I completely agree! Yuck, it's the worst. We always use free and clear because it's actually the same price as the regular stuff. (for me it's all about bargains)

dmsny · January 2012

Wow, thanks so much for all the great replies! Someone at work told me to use Dreft, so I thought that was the standard. He has 3 kids - I assumed he knew best!

avalovesart · January 2012

dmsny:
Wow, thanks so much for all the great replies! Someone at work told me to use Draft, so I thought that was the standard. He has 3 kids - I assumed he knew best!

A long time ago Dreft used to be the standard for baby care, that was before they started adding all the fragrances. Many ppl from our parents generation tell their kids to use Dreft for our kids and many ppl do so without questioning what's in it. Also, the Dreft advertising is misleading, saying things like "Gentle as mother's touch" or "#1 Choice of pediatricians" or "A clean you can trust" making you think it's perfectly safe and natural, when in fact the FDA does not require products to identify what or how many chemicals are used in the ingredient listed as "fragrance."

cheese.fiend · January 2012

We are using Rockin Green for CDs and I've been prewashing all of the baby's clothes with that as well. Not sure if I'll switch to something else for clothes and keep Rockin Green just for dipes or if I'll continue to use it for both. I was pleased to read that if you have HE appliances, you only need half the recommended amount per load!

sanriobaby · January 2012

kms34:

No, Dreft is not necessary. Any Free and Clear detergent is better than Dreft, IMO.

We recently switched from our homemade detergent to Ecos and really like it. We are able to use it on all clothes as well as cloth diapers. It has a very mild, natural ingredient based scent.

THIS! I also use Ecos and have for a while now, it leaves our clothes soft, static free, and yet it cleans effectively and gets the stains out w/o being harsh on our clothes or fading dark colors either. We get it at Sams Club b/c it's bigger and bulk price is almost the same price of the regular and MUCH smaller size you find in the stores, which makes it very affordable, even against the popular brands. One large bottle lasts quite awhile in our home and can be used in both top and front loaders too.

Debra4869 · January 2012

My MIL told me to use Ivory so I washed everything in that. It is a gentle, clear detergent.

GeekMom · January 2012

avalovesart:
mkarns:
...eventually we are going to expose the baby to regular detergent anyway and it doesnt really matter if its now or later. I'm washing things now, I don't really expect it to have any effect on him months later. If it does, I'll rewash it all in Free & Clear.
You'll only expose them to "regular" detergent if you use that. We use natural detergents for all our laundering, so...that argument may only work for some families.

Yes

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