Best laundry detergent for LO's clothes..

SandyAli · April 2012

Hi ladies,

Sorry if this question was already posted but FTM and I am looking for a great detergent that is gentle on baby and leaves clothes really clean. I've got a lot of baby clothes that I want to wash and put away but I have been putting it off because I just don't know what kind of detergent to buy.

What kind do you use or are thinking of using? Also, what about softener? Do you use it and if you do, do you use liquid or the sheets?

jen812 · April 2012

I asked this question last week or so. Then general consensus was to to Tide Free & clear. Specific baby detergents like Dreft are overpriced, doesn't clean that good & has many unnecessary chemicals.

SweetHurricane · April 2012

Use anything that is free of scents and dyes. Do not use fabric softener.

We use All or Tide Free & Clear.

Gismo123 · April 2012

We're going to be using soap nuts because we are cloth diapering and soap nuts can be used on both clothes and cloth diapers. We're also going to stop using fabric softener....both liquid and the sheets because they can ruin the diapers. Instead we are going to use wool dryer balls.

SandyAli · April 2012

Gismo123:
We're going to be using soap nuts because we are cloth diapering and soap nuts can be used on both clothes and cloth diapers. We're also going to stop using fabric softener....both liquid and the sheets because they can ruin the diapers. Instead we are going to use wool dryer balls.

Soap nuts? Never heard of these..I to am planning to cloth diaper so this is a good idea. Are the soap nuts available in stores or only online?

selder25 · April 2012

I bought All Free and Clear detergent that I am going to try. Usually I use Tide so I might switch to a perfume and dye free Tide after I use the All. I have heard not to use fabric softener. I found a Bounce Free and Gentle dryer sheet to use.

SweetHurricane · April 2012

Gismo123:
We're going to be using soap nuts because we are cloth diapering and soap nuts can be used on both clothes and cloth diapers. We're also going to stop using fabric softener....both liquid and the sheets because they can ruin the diapers. Instead we are going to use wool dryer balls.

We CD part time and still use All Free & Clear on clothes and diapers.

mwitter80 · April 2012

We took a baby care class last night where she said you should not use any fabric softner, no dryer sheets either. She suggested using a cap full of white vinegar in with each washer load, as it's a natural fabric softner. Who knew!

geauxfrogs · April 2012

We use All Free & Clear on our clothes. When DD was in CDs we used Charlie's soap on clothes and diapers.

kincaid44 · April 2012

We are using Rockin' Green detergent for our cloth diapers and baby's clothes

https://www.amazon.com/Rockin-Green-Classic-Naked-Babies/dp/B003N0JXUW/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1333758385&sr=1-1

vbrooksutk · April 2012

I have hyper-sensitive skin, so we use All Free & Clear detergent and Bounce Free & Clear (or whatever it's called) dryer sheets anyway - that's what I've been using! Way cheaper than Dreft, although the Dreft stain remover is AWESOME. It took out a huge marianara sauce stain from when my husband dropped a container of pasta all over his work clothes. Big Smile

Gismo123 · April 2012

SandyAli:
Gismo123:
We're going to be using soap nuts because we are cloth diapering and soap nuts can be used on both clothes and cloth diapers. We're also going to stop using fabric softener....both liquid and the sheets because they can ruin the diapers. Instead we are going to use wool dryer balls.

Soap nuts? Never heard of these..I to am planning to cloth diaper so this is a good idea. Are the soap nuts available in stores or only online?

I got mine online....I haven't seen them in any store. I ordered them through babysteals but this is the website to the company that they are from:

https://stores.yoreganics.com/-strse-49/LAUNDRY-TRIO-DEALS/Detail.bok?category=LAUNDRY:SOAP+NUTS

Some people who cloth diaper use Tide, Rocking Green or charlie's soap. The reason why I choose soap nuts is because I have bad eczema and these soap nuts are organic and cater to sensitive skin. Since it's hereditary DS could possibly have have eczema too so better for me to be safe than sorry

Kaiterz · April 2012

selder25:
I bought All Free and Clear detergent that I am going to try. Usually I use Tide so I might switch to a perfume and dye free Tide after I use the All. I have heard not to use fabric softener. I found a Bounce Free and Gentle dryer sheet to use.

I've always used original Tide.

I asked a pedi about detergent before DD was born and he said that rarely is there a skin issue that is caused by detergent so go ahead and use what you have.

My DD has really sensitive skin. She will get rashes from wearing new clothes that haven't been washed and for even being out in the cold for 20 minutes, etc. But she has never, ever had a reaction to Tide.

Also, the reason you aren't supposed to use Fabric Softener is because it will cause the flame retardant stuff on baby clothes disintegrate. I use white distilled vinegar in the wash and try not to over dry and her clothes and bedding are always soft and static free.

rissa_n · April 2012

Tide Free & Clear here too, and no softener. I didn't know about the vinegar trick though, so I might try that for softener.

PrimReaper · April 2012

We use Method right now but have used Seventh Generation and Eco-Wise in the past. We cloth diaper DD2 so we use whatever is CD safe for all of our clothes.

We haven't used fabric softener for years, but use wool dryer balls instead.

sferg2010 · April 2012

As a FTM I only knew about Dreft but with research I now know that Tide and All free and clear will do the same job( if not better) at a fraction of the cost. I just picked up two bottles of All which was on sale this week. Very soon I'll been doing many more loads of laundry...

jiggycole · April 2012

I will be using Purex, they make a special detergent for babies/sensitive skin without all the dyes, etc. I cannot remember the name off the top of my head, but I do know it comes in a white bottle and its dirt cheap

As for dryer sheets, I will be using them. They say that it will reduce the fire resistance of the clothing, but take it from someone who has had a run in with fire during a racing accident in a firesuit that is made for 30 second protection from fire, dryer sheets will have minimal effect on your babies clothing. In reality, babies clothing are not made for a very long contact with flames. Hopefully that makes sense. Tongue Tied

SummerMama12 · April 2012

We use Purex Baby. It's much cheaper than some of the other options mentioned and worked very well for us with our first child. Plus, it smells great.

ReginaLV · April 2012

Gismo123:
We're going to be using soap nuts because we are cloth diapering and soap nuts can be used on both clothes and cloth diapers. We're also going to stop using fabric softener....both liquid and the sheets because they can ruin the diapers. Instead we are going to use wool dryer balls.

Just wanted to share my personal experience with soap nuts for anyone thinking of going this route...

I plan on CDing, so I got a trial size of soap nuts on amazon so I could see how I liked them. I had an extremely bad reaction to them. I got a very painful rash after I wore clothes I had washed with the soap nuts. So, I've since gone back to Tide free and clear. My experience was probably not typical, and maybe even rare, but definitely something to consider.

Actually, I still have some unused soap nuts, so if you want to give them a try, PM me. I'll totally send them off to you!

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Best laundry detergent for LO's clothes..

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