STMs: the importance of detergent?

mizjodi · September 2012

This just occured to me last night, as I've been cleaning some of Pumpkin's things, and have a lot more to wash; how important is it truly to get a different detergent for baby's things? We are currently using a generic unscented. Is this going to be okay?

I'm sure it's a silly sounding question!

ThatWasAHoot · September 2012

You never know what kind of skin your baby will have. Our son has really bad eczema, so we were really grateful that we used a free and clear to start off! We noticed that once we switched to regular detergent, it flared up pretty bad. Once he hit like 10 months, we were able to use whatever we find [we think]. But we stick to a free and clear for him just in case.

That being said, we will definitely be using a free and clear for LO2!

Also, not a silly question!

efs83 · September 2012

Anything unscented/free and clear should be fine! I would avoid dreft, it has a lot of fragrance and softeners, and I've heard of many babies having reactions to it. GL!

Starry Again · September 2012

I just started using Charlie's soap and Woolzies for all of our clothes and so far I really like them. The Charlie's in particular is cheaper than normal detergent and seems much more environmentally friendly.

https://www.amazon.com/Charlies-Soap-Powder-2-64-Loads/dp/B0018B15FE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346951174&sr=8-1&keywords=charlie%27s+soap

https://www.amazon.com/Woolzies-Dryer-Natural-Fabric-Softener/dp/B0067STK3C/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1346951196&sr=1-1&keywords=woolzies

Rachelilly23 · September 2012

DS1 had pretty bad eczema, and still does sometimes. His skin gets patchy and responds to weather changes. So we will always use a free and clear, not just for him, but for the whole family. When I used Tide free, I noticed his skin still stayed patchy, but with the All free and clear, it's much better. Different babies will react differently, so you won't know until LO is here, but I would start off with something fragrance free. If you don't like what you got or if LO seems to be reacting poorly to it, you can always try something new.

rnbeth477 · September 2012

I agree with pp. Until you know how your LO will react to regular detergent, I'd keep using the free and clear. I'm using the Tide free and clear to wash DDs clothes.

With DS, it didn't take long for us to figure out he was fine with using the detergent we all use and then we stopped buying special detergents.

danienross · September 2012

We use Purex Free and Clear. I've heard it's best to wash the whole family's clothes in the same detergent since baby will spend lots of time touching parents and siblings clothes.

Calabaza78 · September 2012

We use a free and clear detergent and no dryer sheets and have been happy with the results. I have noticed that if dryer sheets get added to the laundry (I don't use them at all, but sometimes they get thrown in by the grandmas or someone else), LO seems to react.

kross605 · September 2012

We use All Free and Clear for all of our laundry and I think anything free of fragrance/dyes etc is fine. I do use the Dreft stain spray because its PHENOMENAL but I dont use the detergent. I also use oxy clean in every load of laundry and DD seems fine with it, but Id probably wait to test something like that until the baby is here and you can do one load of clothes and try it out on LO directly before washing everything in it.

alyson686 · September 2012

It really depends on the baby. If you're using something unscented, you should be fine. I started off always using a free and clear with DS, but occasionally I'd run out and would use a "regular" detergent, and he never had any issues, so now I just use whatever.

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daronsmommy · September 2012

We use All Free and Clear. I switched to it before Daron was born and have stayed with it for the whole family since then.

signarvi · September 2012

In my case, it didn't make a difference at all with DS. Started using baby detergent adn then switched to regular. I use regular tide on all of our laundry and everyone is fine. I haven't switched at all for the new baby and don't plan to do so unless she has some sort of reaction. I hated using the "baby" detergents because, in my experience, they made the colors fade like crazy.

badkitty2012 · September 2012

rnbeth477:
I agree with pp. Until you know how your LO will react to regular detergent, I'd keep using the free and clear. I'm using the Tide free and clear to wash DDs clothes.

With DS, it didn't take long for us to figure out he was fine with using the detergent we all use and then we stopped buying special detergents.

This! We use Seventh Generation and no fabric softener.

Wally3 · September 2012

Niether dh it I have sensitive skin. I use regular tide. Ds never had a problem used it for new baby stuff as well. If I notice a problem with lo I will switch detergent then.

emaddock · September 2012

I actually didn't think it was that important until my daughter started reacting to regular detergent with a skin rash. So we still wash her stuff in Dreft.

queenie521 · September 2012

efs83:
Anything unscented/free and clear should be fine! I would avoid dreft, it has a lot of fragrance and softeners, and I've heard of many babies having reactions to it. GL!

THIS!

mdsharr · September 2012

DH has sensitive skin and I use tide. I never switched to another brand when we had kids. DS has allergies, but detergent doesn't seem to be one of them. I figure baby spends so much time laying on us, being held etc. that it only makes sense that everyone's clothes get washed together. If after baby is here and he seems to have an issue then I will change. but not before.

jillybean800 · September 2012

I used to use free and clear for all of us, then when I got a free economy bottle of Tide, I used that. Most new washers are capable of rinsing very thoroughly that the detergent shouldn't really be a problem. FWIW, my son also has very sensitive skin and never reacted to his clothing.

irish city girl · September 2012

We used Tide Free and Gentle for DS1's clothes for a while. We then tried using regular Tide as that's what we use for our stuff and he would get really upset when we put his diapers on (we use cloth). DS1 also has eczema so we've stuck with the gentle stuff. Every kid is different though.

Alaskamom1 · September 2012

I guess I'm a hippie - I make my own detergent and then I don't use dryer sheets but wool balls. My family thinks Im nuts, but my clothes get clean and are chemical free!!!

povo · September 2012

We use All's Free and Clear for all of our laundry. Only in the beginning did I do DD's clothes separately. All of our clothes are now washed together. Heck, DD's clothes are sometimes dirtier than ours.

With this LO I will probably do theirs separate for the first month or two and then its all together!

valkyriemama · September 2012

Any free and clear is way better than Dreft. I personally use Method brand because I only use eco friendly cleaners.

ladeebri · September 2012

With DS I used Dreft until he was 8 months or so. This time I'm actually going to start making my own for the whole family. My girl I know has a blog called Raising Colorado and has a detergent tutorial I'm going to give a try.

numberonemama · September 2012

It's really up to the baby's skin, but I have very sensitive skin and some of the free and clears (like Tide and All) break me out. I currently use Dreft and it doesn't bother me at all. I've tried some natural free and clears also and they broke me out also. I plan on trying a couple more but for now we just buy dreft.

nealbl · September 2012

Most of the time DH makes our laundry detergent. I found a recipe on pinterest that we both like. It is all natural ingredients. From time to time we run out before more is made and just go out and buy some. We just make sure to get Free and Clear of whatever brand we buy.

MichelleL1118 · September 2012

We use whichever free & clear detergent is cheapest, for all of our clothes. DH has sensitive skin, so we expected DS (& probably DD) to have sensitive skin as well. As long as you're using something without added dyes/scents/etc, I'm sure it's fine. There's no need for the "baby" detergents like Dreft, they actually have a lot of added scents that can irritate a baby's skin.

tevagirl · September 2012

DH is SUPER sensitive to scents in laundry. When we go on vacation, I bring him sheets and towels that I've washed at home or he gets a rash. So we only use Free & Clear detergents, typically Purex. Since DH is so sensitive, we will assume for the time being that LO will be just as sensitive. Since we are already using a free & clear, I've just been washing LO's stuff with that. I have been washing them separate from ours because DH really likes dryer sheets. Personally, I find that vinegar in a downy ball works just as well.

cubberss · September 2012

We all use the same free & clear detergent. Baby doesn't need his/her own detergent if you're already using f&c.

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