You don’t have to use a detergent marketed towards babies for your little ones’ clothes and diapers. However, you do want to use a gentle formula free of common allergens. These are the purest and cleanest formulas out there.
This list includes non-toxic detergents specifically for babies’ clothes and ones that the whole family can use. I chose a variety of formulas based on different surfactants. That way if one type irritates your loved one’s skin, another on this list will likely work.
While I do focus on naturally derived products with simple ingredient lists, organic products like soapberries are not always the most hypoallergenic (I’m actually allergic to soap nuts/soapberries).
You might also try a liquid detergent instead of powder if you are noticing skin irritation as they usually wash out more fully.
Avoid dyes, fragrances (especially synthetic ones but even natural ones can be a problem), and fabric softeners.
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1. Molly’s Suds Baby Laundry Detergent Powder
Molly Suds Baby Laundry Detergent is made with safer, simple ingredients.
It’s based on washing soda, baking soda, and magnesium as well as enzymes. It contains no dyes or artificial fragrances (it comes in fragrance-free), and is hypoallergenic.
The enzyme formula removes breastmilk, formula, and baby poop stains from clothing and cloth diapers.
The super-concentrated powder is long-lasting and affordable.
INGREDIENTS: Sodium Carbonate sourced from the Green River Basin in Wyoming, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Sulfate (Heptahydrate), Unrefined Sea Salt, Naturally-Occurring Enzymes (Protease, Mannanase, Lipase).
2. MamaSuds Laundry Detergent Soap
MamaSuds Laundry Detergent is an all-natural Castile Soap made specifically with no extra fat so there is no residue left behind. It cleans and rinses out well.
Their formulation is based on a need for a laundry soap that would clean cloth diapers and be gentle enough not to irritate a baby’s skin.
This detergent will work for your clothes and your baby’s clothes.
They have an unscented option, free of SLS, dye-free, biodegradable, safe for septic systems, and free of any synthetic ingredients.
INGREDIENTS: Water, Potassium Olivate (saponified olive oil), Sodium Carbonate, and Sodium Borate, pure Essential Oil of lavender, lemon, or unscented.
3. Whole Foods Market, Organic Baby Laundry Detergent
Whole Foods Organic Baby Detergent is based on organic soapberries and other plant-derived ingredients. This biodegradable formula is USDA organic.
It’s gentle on skin & hypoallergenic. There are no added fragrances or dyes. No added phosphates, chlorine, or petrochemicals.
This formula works just as well on adult clothes.
INGREDIENTS: Water, Sapindus Mukorossi (Organic Soapberry) Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Organic Coconut) Oil & Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Lonicera Japonica (Organic Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol (Organic), Sodium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Glycerin (Organic).
4. Biokleen Free & Clear Natural Liquid Laundry Detergent
BioKleen Free and Clear is a plant-based fragrance-free formula that is gentle on the senses and skin without sacrificing cleaning power. Plant-based surfactants and extracts of grapefruit seed (with no scent) clean tough stains and odors. Rinses clean and leaves no harsh fumes or residues on fabrics.
This is one of the favorite laundry detergents of the extremely chemically sensitive. It works great on baby’s clothes as well.
It uses a hypoallergenic formula that works great in high-efficiency and standard washers, and is gentle on sensitive skin. No artificial fragrances or dyes. No phosphates, chlorine, ammonia, or brighteners. Certified U.S. EPA Safer Choice.
INGREDIENTS: Water, C12-16 Pareth-7 (plant-derived), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (plant-derived), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (plant-derived), Lauramine Oxide (plant-derived), Sodium Chloride (mineral-based), Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Inulin (plant-derived), Glycerin (plant-derived), and Sodium Citrate (plant-derived).
5. Branch Basics
Branch Basics is an all-purpose concentrated cleaner with a very pure formula. Many highly chemically sensitive folks like this brand. It is fragrance-free – the chamomile extract in this does not have a scent.
It works well as a laundry soap and is ideal for baby’s clothes and those with sensitive skin.
Ingredients: Water, Coco Glucoside, Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Phytate.
Their Oxygen Boost product is as pure as it gets. This is great for baby clothes. The ingredients are Sodium Percarbonate and Sodium Bicarbonate.
6. Clean Laundry Stain Remover Stick
This stain remover stick from Meliora Cleaning Products is made of simple non-toxic ingredients. Use it on the affected area, then wash as usual – it can tackle everything from mildewed shower curtains to toddler laundry.
No dyes, preservatives, fragrances, borax, or palm oil.
INGREDIENTS: Vegetable Soap [Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Water].
PS. This is a plastic-free organic cotton laundry mesh bag for those tiny and delicate baby items.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Derek
Do you have a suggestion how to find a washer and dryer to clean clothes in if you don’t own them and can’t buy your own (like when you are travelling)? The goal being to try to avoid the smells of fragranced detergents from other’s washes still in the machines. Paying someone else to do it that has access to these machines would be even nicer.
jason
Have you considered Charlie’s soap detergente? Fewest ingredients I’ve seen. Water (7732-18-5); C12-16 Pareth-9 (68551-12-2) [surfactant]; C10-14 Alcohol Ethoxylates (66455-15-0) [surfactant]; Sodium Carbonate [water softener]
Corinne Segura
looks good