As a new parent you pick the best outfit for your little one, be it the material, color, or fashion, you choose not to compromise a bit. But are you equally concerned while you throw them in the washer?
Clothes are forever in touch with the soft and sensitive skin of your baby, hence extra care must be given to the products used to clean and maintain those. Detergents are the main agents that keep the clothes safe and clean from stains and germs. While cleanliness is a priority we cannot compromise on the safety of our little one’s skin, as they tend to be very sensitive.
Now without further ado let’s dive into knowing what to opt for and what to avoid while choosing the best baby detergents.
What to Avoid for the Best Baby Detergent?
Keeping a few components at bay will give you mild yet effective detergents apt for your little ones’ clothes.
Fragrance
Products with fragrances are in general prone to irritate sensitive skin. Detergents with fragrance are a big no-no for baby laundry as it tends to cause irritation for their soft and sensitive skin.
While there are ample fragrance-free products available in the market we must not mix it up with unscented. Unscented detergents are those, where the fragrance of the product has been masked using additional chemicals. These products all though seem free of fragrance will still tend to irritate the skin.
Brighteners
Brighteners are a component in the detergents that add to the color of the clothes making them look brighter after wash. But this component does not facilitate cleaning the cloth. Brighteners tend to leave residues on the cloth post-wash, this leads to unnecessary skin-irritating reactions.
Hence this is an ingredient to stay away from while choosing detergent for the baby.
Hypoallergenic
Allergens are major irritation-causing elements in any product. Hypoallergenic detergents claim to be comparatively less in terms of allergy-causing components when compared to regular detergents. However, since this criterion is not regulated by the FDA, we can not assure that claims made by the manufacturers are true to their sense. Hence we cannot completely tag a detergent that claims to be hypoallergenic in nature totally compatible with the baby.
Dyes
Dyes are another culprit to avoid in your detergents. The high-use blue dye is to counterattack the presence of yellowness. This component of the detergent does not aid in the cleaning of clothes. They tend to leave residues on the clothes leading to skin irritation.
Best Baby Detergents:
Here is a list of the best baby detergents available, which are devoid of unnecessary chemicals and additives.
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Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day
Mrs. Meyer’s clean day detergent is an all-time favorite. This cleansing agent is power-packed with plant enzymes that clean the clothes well. Infused with essential oils it has a mild scent of blossoms. In addition to these features, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day is also biodegradable.
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Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent
Purancy natural detergent is a completely plant-based option that removes stains easily off clothes. Due to its high concentration, the quantity required for each wash is less, hence the bottle of 24 ounces can complete close to 100 washes.
This composition is definitely free of harmful chemicals and animal cruelty.
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Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear
The seventh generation is a liquid detergent option that is apt for sensitive skin. Devoid of allergy-causing agents such as dyes, fragrances, and brighteners, this variant is efficient in keeping the clothes squeaky clean.
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ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergents
ECOS is one of the best choices for sensitive skin. This plant-based detergent has not just eliminated the usual allergy-causing agents but also toxic chemicals such as parabens and phosphates.
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Tide Free & Gentle
While this is not a plan-based option, it is still safe for the baby’s soft and sensitive skin. This detergent also works for the whole family because, though mild in nature, it is tough on stains.
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Dreft Stage 1: Newborn HE Liquid Laundry Detergent
Dreft detergent is specially designed for newborns. It’s ultra-mild on the clothes yet does the job seamlessly. Having been in the market for over 80 years, Dreft is a dermatologically tested brand. Though the detergent is hypoallergenic in nature, it carries a distinct smell.
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Babyganics 3x Laundry Detergent
This plant-based detergent is packed with the power of plant enzymes that do stain removal with ease. Highly concentrated in nature, this one leaves no scent residue on the clothes post-wash. Along with other allergens, this option is also devoid of sulfate.
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Free Clear
Free Clear is a laundry baby detergent that is mild on the skin while doing its job. Totally free from harmful chemicals, this highly concentrated composition can last long. This is also an economical option.
9. Tide Purclean
Tide Purclean is a plant-based detergent from the brand Tide. This variant is free of chlorine and phosphates along with allergens. This further comes in two options of completely fragrance-free and mild honey scent.
Conclusion:
The best baby detergents have to be good cleansers yet mild on the skin of the baby. Detergents that leave the least amount of residues on the cloth itself is safer for the baby. Opting for chemical-free plant-based detergents can be a good choice as they tend to be soft on the skin and devoid of the major irritation-causing elements such as brighteners and dyes.
Plant-based detergents work their magic with powerful enzymes that clean the clothes without leaving any residue post-wash. They do leave a mild scent post-wash, which is induced by the essential oils or other plant derivatives infused in the composition.
FAQ:
- Do baby clothes require special detergents?
As we know, a baby’s skin is much more soft and sensitive in nature. Hence products that work fine for adults might still cause allergies and rashes on their skin. Hence it is better to opt for milder detergents that are free of fragrance, brighteners, and dyes for their laundry.
- Is fabric softener a good choice for baby clothes?
Fabric softeners are a great choice to keep the baby clothes soft for longer. It can add to the shelflife of the clothes. But do check the ingredient list of the product used to avoid toxic and allergy-causing substances.
- From what age can we use regular detergents for the young ones?
After the age of 1 or 2 years, you can slowly start washing their clothes with regular detergents. Newborns are very sensitive, they tend to react fast to external allergy-causing elements hence washing their clothes with regular detergent must be avoided.
- Should I wash baby clothes separately?
It is advisable to wash baby clothes separately if you are not opting for baby-friendly detergent for the entire household laundry. Baby clothes tend to pile up fast so it is easier to wash them together as a single load. This also keeps the clothes in better condition.
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