Dreft and detergent question/poll

PennyLane26 · December 2012

Hi! Sorry to be a post hog! I wanted to start washing some of the baby clothes we've purchased/received but wanted to poll you ladies on what your plans for with washing. I've heard to wash with something like Dreft, but couldn't another sensitive skin laundry detergent be used instead? Down the road, I know I'll just be using my regular Tide on Gracie's clothes anyways! Thoughts? Recommendations?

Will you only be washing baby clothes in Dreft (or a similar baby detergent)?

If you are not using Dreft, can you recommend a detergent?

And just for fun, on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being important,10 being most ridiculous), how do view the detergent debate?

Jbromberg1985 · December 2012

This is a great question... I think I actually registered for Dreft and will use it initially just to be safe because baby's skin is so sensitive, but eventually I'll use regular detergent as well. I know there are plenty of detergents out there that are baby safe, I just haven't researched any of them so I'm sorry I'm not much help.

As for your poll, I don't want to be over dramatic so I'll give this topic a 5... it's definitely important, but it's a learning game because obviously all babies are going to be different and each mom needs to do what she feels is best!

amd1982 · December 2012

I use the Purex (dye free, fragrance free) on my own clothes because my skin is really sensitive. I have just been using that for washing all the baby clothes. I personally think Dreft is a waste of money. However I do agree that baby clothes should be washed in something that is fragrance free since there is a potential for an allergic reaction. So I think the issue itself is important, but the Dreft to me is a little overboard.

kaf7 · December 2012

I think it's more of an issue if you're cloth diapering as certain detergents can break down the diaper more...but I haven't looked into it too much. I also give it a 5.

moosegal · December 2012

Dreft is actually one of the worst detergents you can use if there are concerns about skin sensitivity, as it's so heavily perfumed. Dreft has done an excellent job marketing themselves as the go-to baby detergent, which is why you hear so many people stress that you HAVE to use it.

If you're worried about a newborn's sensitive skin, definitely use one of the free & clear detergents. But keep in mind baby will be against you and your clothes quite a bit, so if you're highly concerned, wash your clothes in the same free & clear detergent.

My opinion is you should use the same detergent on your clothes, baby's clothes, etc just to keep laundry easier. If you notice any skin issues on baby, try going for a milder detergent (free & clear).

4legsRbest · December 2012

I think of it as a non-issue. It only becomes something me for to think about if he gets a rash. I will use what I use on our stuff, regular old tide. My sister used ALL and dreft with her first, but by the time number 2 and number 3 arrives it becomes NBD - her others were totally fine with regular detergent.

Aegis2005 · December 2012

I plan on using what we use now. All Free & Clear and Downy Free & Clear. I think Dreft is a giant rip off.

jmorta04 · December 2012

My plan is to use one of the free and clear detergents. That way everything can get washed together and save both time and money with the laundry.

tdoyen · December 2012

Aegis2005:
I plan on using what we use now. All Free Clear and Downy Free Clear.

I think Dreft is a giant rip off.

This seems to be the consensus on all the other boards. Everyone uses free and clear.

jillychris · December 2012

Dreft still has lots of chemicals in it. We use tide or all free and clear.

Killer Tomato · December 2012

Yup, free and clear here too. (All Small and Mighty, to be precise.) I have sensitive skin, and it works well for me. If baby seems to react, we will switch. We plan on cloth diapering as well, so the only change I might make not based on baby reaction is if I could find a way to buy the military version of All Free and Clear, which doesn't come with brighteners. (Apparently these brighteners can show up in blacklight/night vision scopes, and the military prefers their clothing not do this.)

I too have heard that Dreft is just a load of marketing hype.

kseav · December 2012

I've been told as long as you pick one whether its tide whatever as long as you don't switch it up its fine.

Ruthie04 · December 2012

Our baby care class instructor was anti-Dreft, saying it was a total rip-off. Her response to a question, "Listen, the hospital uses industrial strength, hospital grade detergent on those little shirts and blankets. If your baby doesn't have a reaction to that, he isn't going to have a reaction to anything you use at home." We wash the boys' laundry 1x/day with my clothes (I wash our underwear/sheets/towels separately though). No issues with Tide Free:).

Mrs.AmyDylan · December 2012

I'm using the Kirkland environmentally friendly (I think it is bio degradable). I use that on our clothes, I'm going to use it on the baby clothes. If we have an allergy problem, I will explore options.

I would give it about a 7. I think for most people it is a non-issue (fabric softener sheets are prob worse).

lily_721 · December 2012

I have a few bottles of Dreft -- I had coupons. My SIL's doctor told her to use All free and clear. I use the free and clear versions from All and Purex for my family. DH has tons of allergy skin issues. After I use the Dreft I have, I will use our regular detergent and only switch if there is an issue.

keg · December 2012

We used the Costco/Kirkland Free and clear on our clothes and just used that for DDs. We did switch over to the baby oxy-clean when we needed it for a while, but switched back to the regular after a little while and it was clear that they had no issues. We also skipped dryer sheets for a while. I'm leaning towards just keeping our normal routine for this LO (the joys of being #3!).

nycitygirl1 · December 2012

I'm using Babyganics "Loads of Love" Unscented.

https://www.amazon.com/BabyGanics-Concentrated-Detergent-Unscented-35-Fluid/dp/B0038QQ7PK

I heard that Dreft was awesome for getting out stains though, so I got their stain spray as well as a travel size one for the diaper bag.

MrsCK · December 2012

We already use All Free and Clear here too, so we will stick with that. However, we do plan to do cloth diapering too -- so I'm not sure if I can still use the free and clear stuff with that. I registered for a box of BumGenius detergent just in case.

KaliChick · December 2012

Lurking but as a momma of an eczema baby thought I'd chime in.

I use Tide Free & Clear. I've even used the regular tide. Bren has eczema though and once it really started getting bad I switched to the Free & Clear. I honestly don't know that it really makes a difference.

I use dryer sheets or Downy as well.

lynn0926 · December 2012

All free and clear is what we currently use and will use for the babies.

Gregermis · December 2012

We use All free and clear... it's my DH's favorite anyway and babies can be more sensitive to scents and stuff. That being said, a minor rash seems to be about the worst thing that is going to happen

BabyRN2006 · December 2012

We will use a Free and Clear detergent as well, I usually pick up All or Tide brands. We use this on our clothes as well. I definitely think the Dreft is a waste of money and it has tons of perfumes. I had very sensitive skin as a baby (and still do somewhat) so I suppose there is a chance my baby will so I don't want to use anything with perfumes. We will use a free and clear fabric softener as well. I will be getting the Dreft stain remover to try, I hear it works really well.

albjag · December 2012

We use Free and clear detergent-any brand- generic target brand, all, etc. We wash our clothes and his clothes in it.

Doesn't dreft has a scent anyways? which defeats the whole free and clear hypoallergenic aspect of baby detergent.

We used free and clear before I got pregnant, so no change.

I won't use dreft.

If you do end up using different detergent for your stuff vs your baby's stuff you can always decide if you really need it- b/c if your LO is sensitive to it they will probably react when you hold them. Think of it you'll be spending lots of time holding LO against your clothes.

ETA- LO hasn't had any reactions or problems with free and clear detergent

Want a personalized experience?

Dreft and detergent question/poll

Re: Dreft and detergent question/poll

Choose Another Board

Search Boards